{"id":15879,"date":"2024-01-11T21:15:48","date_gmt":"2024-01-11T21:15:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/biologygrad\/?page_id=15879"},"modified":"2024-04-23T20:45:32","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T20:45:32","slug":"biology-grad-mentors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/biologygrad\/biology-grad-mentors\/","title":{"rendered":"Mentors"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Want to be part of a research? Here you can see what is being done by our distinguished faculty.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJos\u00e9 E. Garc\u00eda Arrar\u00e1s, Ph.D. - Neuroregeneration<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"\"<\/p>

Dr. Garc\u00eda-Arrar\u00e1s has a wide range of scientific
interests, but most recently he has pioneered the
development of a novel model system to study regeneration:
the use of the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima (an
echinoderm). His present research focus is to decipher the
cellular and molecular mechanisms that these animals use to
regenerate their digestive and nervous systems. He also runs
several training programs for graduate and undergraduate
students.<\/p>

Email: jegarcia@hpcf.upr.edu<\/p>

Phone: 787-764-0000 ext. 88152<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\"\"<\/p>

Utilizes powerful high-end approaches in genomics and functional genetics to address fundamental questions in evolutionary and developmental biology. His work aims to better understand the interplay between molecules and gene networks underlying the evolution of novel phenotypes and finally how to protect and conserve the diversity of animal forms with specific focus on the one in the tropics. His current research is at the forefront of the evolutionary genomic and developmental fields, which focuses on a simple but extremely complex fundamental question in biology: How do changes in DNA result in changes in phenotype? Leveraging phenotypic diversity in butterfly populations with cutting-edge DNA sequencing methods and functional validation, his lab explores how genetic changes impact the evolution and diversification of adaptive traits.<\/p>

Email: rpapa.lab@gmail.com<\/p>

Phone: 787-764-0000 ext. 88145<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\"\"The acquisition of remotely sensed data at a variety of spatial and times scales, is providing unprecedented opportunities for evaluating the impacts of global and regional changes, as well as the consequences of these changes for couple natural-human systems. A second project in the lab focuses on the plantmicrobiota-soil associations in landslides and landslide-prone environments. Students in the Restrepo lab will acquire skills in remote sensing, big data, and geographical information systems tools to test hypotheses and perform data analysis.<\/p>

Email: crestre@hpcf.upr.edu<\/p>

Phone: 787-764-0000 ext. 88086<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\"\"The ongoing work in the lab has three goals. The first goal is aimed at characterizing the behavioral and molecular effects of spatial novelty on the acquisition of intravenous cocaine self-administration (SA). The second goal of the present proposal is to focus on the functional role of CREB phosphorylation within the NAc and limbic-related structures in novelty-elicited acquisition of cocaine SA. This aim includes using antisense oligonucleotide technology to examine the role of newly synthesized CREB in recognition of spatial novelty prior to cocaine SA. Findings from these proposed experiments will provide new data on the involvement of CREB regulation within Nac in eliciting novelty-induced behaviors related to cocaine reward. Finally, the last goal of the present proposal is to characterize the role of the protein kinase C (PKC) within the Nac in the phosphorylation of CREB elicited by spatial novelty effects on cocaine SA in rats. Experimental results from this goal will also contribute to establishing the specific role of protein kinase C (PKC) within the NAc in regulating CREB phosphorylation in novelty-elicited acquisition of cocaine SA. To accomplish these goals, direct brain drug microinfusions will be used in conjunction with cocaine intravenous SA and novelty protocols in rats. Protein analysis of CREB phosphorylation will be conducted in all studies.<\/p>

Email: carmen.maldonado7@upr.edu<\/p>

Phone: 787-764-0000 ext. 88154<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlfredo Ghezzi, Ph.D. - Epigenomics of Drug-neuroadaptation and Addiction<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"\"<\/p>

Dr. Alfredo Ghezzi is a faculty member in the Department of Biology at the University of Puerto Rico,\u00a0Rio Piedras Campus, since 2016. His interests revolve around the molecular basis of neural adaptation. In his laboratory, he strives to resolve how the nervous system utilizes a finite number of genes to carefully modulate its activity and adapt to an ever-changing environment through the integration of molecular genetics, behavioral analyses, and neurophysiology in a Drosophila model system. A central component of this effort is directed at understanding the mechanisms of transcriptional memory that perpetuate adaptations to drugs, such as alcohol, and how these adaptations result in addictive behaviors.<\/p>

Email: alfredo.ghezzi@upr.edu<\/p>

Phone: 787-764-0000 ext. 88137<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\"\"<\/p>

Jos\u00e9 Arcadio grew up in Dorado, Puerto Rico. He got hooked on research after his first undergraduate research experience. In 2016, he returned to his alma mater to lead a research team in the Biology Department. The Rodr\u00edguez-Mart\u00ednez research team aims to understand how proteins interact and interpret genetic information stored in molecules like DNA and RNA. Their discoveries contribute knowledge on how genomes work and how changes to the genome contributes to diseases. Equally important, the group strives to inspire and mentor the next generation of researchers to identify and tackle challenging and important problems. When not in lab, Jos\u00e9 Arcadio enjoys spending time with family, reading, cooking, and traveling with his wife Sarah and their dogs Louie and Lestat.<\/p>

Email: jose.rodriguez233@upr.edu<\/p>

Phone: 787-764-0000 ext. 88131<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\"\"Dr. Peterson is a Latina Cancer Biologist, an NIH-funded
investigator, and a science educator. She has more than 15 years
of experience in human genetics, cell biology, and cancer biology,
focusing on breast cancer.<\/p>

Email: esther.peterson@upr.edu<\/p>

Phone: 787-764-0000 ext. 88130<\/p>

Web and Social Networks:<\/p>

epetersonbreastcancerlab.weebly.com
@EPetersobnLab_PR
IG peterson_breastcancerlab<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImilce A. Rodr\u00edguez-Fern\u00e1ndez, Ph.D. - Microbiology & Genetics<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"\"Dr. Rodriguez-Fernandez (aka Dra. Imilce), is a Latina scientist with in-depth training in stem cell biology, stress signaling, tissue homeostasis, microbiome, and aging with +14 years of combined research experience in Academia and Industry. Dra. Imilce has a bachelor\u2019s degree in microbiology from the UPR Mayaguez and a Ph.D. in Human Genetics from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) under the mentorship of Dr. Esteban Dell\u2019Angelica. She obtained a postdoctoral training from the lab of Dr. Heinrich Jasper that started at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging located in Novato CA (where she was awarded an F32 NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral fellowship) and completed at the biotech company Genentech Inc. in South San Francisco, CA (Fun fact: She was part of the only fruit fly lab at Genentech!). Dra. Imilce joined the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras in 2021 as an assistant professor at the College of Natural Sciences, Department of Biology.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Email: imilce.rodriguez1@upr.edu<\/strong><\/p>

Phone: 787-764-0000 x88140<\/strong><\/p>

Lab webpage: https:\/\/www.draimilcelab.com\/<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGary A. Toranzos, Ph. D. - Environmental Microbiology<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"\"Dr. Gary A. Toranzos has been Professor of Microbiology at the University of Puerto Rico for the last 37 years except for a short stint at the National Science Foundation as Program Director (2002-2003)\u00a0 Toranzos has dedicated his professional life to Environmental Microbiology and lately to Paleomicrobiology and the microbiota of ancient ethnic groups<\/span>. <\/span><\/i>Toranzos obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in 1986, followed by post-doctoral studies at the University of Florida (Environmental Virology) and a second post-doc at the University of Puerto Rico (Microbial Ecology). His areas of interest are <\/span>Environmental Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Development of Microbial Indicator of Risk in Waters, Paleomicrobiology and the Elucidation of Lifestyles of ancient Caribbean Ethnic Groups.<\/span><\/p>

Email: gary.toranzos@upr.edu<\/b><\/p>

Phone: 787-764-0000 ext. 88119<\/b><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJames D. Ackerman, Ph. D. - Orchidology<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"\"James D. Ackerman publishes on many facets of tropical biology, primarily focusing on orchid biology (ecology, taxonomy, floristics, reproductive biology, biogeography), and lately has added invasive species biology to his repertoire. He works as a\u00a0<\/span>Professor, Researcher and is also the Director of the UPRRP Zoology Museum and Herbarium. Dr. Ackerman areas of interests are\u00a0<\/span>Orchidology<\/span>, <\/span>Plant taxonomy<\/span>, <\/span>Tropical ecology, Epiphyte ecology, Plant reproductive biology, Invasive species biology, Biogeography, Caribbean floristics.<\/span><\/p>

Email: <\/b>ackerman.upr@gmail.com<\/span><\/p>

Phone: <\/b>787-764-0000 ext. 88166<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJos\u00e9 Lasalde Dominicci, Ph. D. - Biochemistry & Biophysics<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"\"Dr. Lasalde Dominicci spent 28 years as a
professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics of ion channels at
the University of Puerto Rico. Dr. Lasalde Dominicci has a
strong background in biochemistry, ion-channel biophysics,
electrophysiology, lipid-protein interactions, and nicotinic
receptor structure-function relationships.<\/p>

During the past 28 years the
research in this NIH-funded laboratory (www.nachrs.org\/) has
been focused on ion-channel structure, ion-channel lipid
interactions, and ion-channel-related disorders. Research
areas include: (1) the structure-function relationships of
nicotinic receptors, (2), the role of lipid-protein interactions
and lipid composition in acetylcholine receptor function, (3)
the question of how genetically abnormal ion channels give
rise to neurodegeneration in congenital myasthenia, (4) the
disruption of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory response
(CAR) regulated by \uf0617-nAChRs in macrophages in HIV-
seropositive patients, (5) regulation of the 7-neuronal nicotinic
receptor in HIV-associated dementia, (6) HIV vaccine
development initiative, and (7) studies toward a high-
resolution structure of the Torpedo californica nAChR and,
more recently, \uf0614\uf0622-nAChR.<\/p>

Email:<\/strong> jose.lasalde@upr.edu
Phone:<\/strong> 787-764-0000 ext. 88127\u00a0
Lab webpage:<\/strong> www.nachrs.org\/
http:\/\/cobrepr.com\/,
https:\/\/cbcupr.com\/<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Want to be part of a research? Here you can see what is being done by our distinguished faculty. Jos\u00e9 E. Garc\u00eda Arrar\u00e1s, Ph.D. – Neuroregeneration Dr. Garc\u00eda-Arrar\u00e1s has a wide range of scientificinterests, but most recently he has pioneered … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15879","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/biologygrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/biologygrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/biologygrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/biologygrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/biologygrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15879"}],"version-history":[{"count":76,"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/biologygrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16220,"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/biologygrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15879\/revisions\/16220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/biologygrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}