Annual RaMP-UP Retreat 2026
On Friday, March 6, 2026, the RaMP-UP Program hosted its Annual RaMP-UP Retreat & Pre-SACNAS UPRRP Local Conference Meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn San Juan Condado. The event began at 5:00 p.m. and brought together RaMP-UP students, their mentors, and conference guest speakers to celebrate student research and promote scientific exchange.
During the event, students presented their research, exchanged ideas, and received constructive feedback from faculty and colleagues. Mentors attended the event to support their mentees. The annual retreat also provides opportunities for participants to learn about other scientific innovations, approaches and a wide range of biological topics like genomics, environmental, neuroscience, computational and more.
Students presentations:
Student | Title | Mentors & Co-mentors |
|---|---|---|
Cooper Malone | Characterizing the Cooperative DNA-binding Properties of the Optix Transcription Factor | Mentor: José A. Rodríguez-Martinez, PhD Co-mentor: Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, PhD |
Alexander Y. Ortiz Rivera | Evolutionary imbalance in the naturalization success of alien plants across Mediterranean regions | Mentor: Trevor Fristoe, PhD Co-mentor: David Ortiz, PhD |
Elizabeth De La Torre | Investigating the Genetic Diversity of Hemileia vastatrix in Puerto Rico | Mentor: Paul Bayman, PhD Co-mentor: Martha C. Giraldo Zapata, PhD |
Julián A. Soto Pérez | Uncovering Intra-Population Genome Variation Through De Novo Reference Genome Assembly | Mentor: Riccardo Papa, PhD Co-mentor: Marie Lluberes, PhD |
Nathalie Torres Serrano | The transcription factor basonuclin-1, a key player in the progression of triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer | Mentor: Esther Peterson, PhD Co-mentor: Josué Pérez Santiago, PhD |
Melvin O. Pagán Figueroa | Functional Characterization of GABA-Associated Genes in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum | Mentor: Imilce A. Rodriguez-Fernandez, PhD Co-mentor: Carlos Rios Velázquez, PhD |
Isabelle Pillow | Functional Traits of Proliferating Climbing Plants Shift Across Environmental Gradient | Mentor: Carla Restrepo, PhD Co-mentor: José Dumas, PhD |
Haley Arbon | Investigating the virome of Puerto Rican honey bees(Apis mellifera) after Hurricane Maria | Mentor: Trugul Giray, PhD Co-mentor: José L. Agosto, PhD |
Arelys Del Mar López Pérez | Gene Expression Responses of Thalassia testudinumUnder Simulated Herbivory Pressure | Mentor: Kelcie Chiquillo, PhD Co-mentor: Juan S. Ramírez Lugo, PhD |
Matthew Luchs | Single-Nucleus RNA Sequencing Reveals Distinct Nerve Cord Cell Populations in the Sea Cucumber Holothuria glaberrima | Mentor: José E. García Arráras, PhD Co-mentor: Humberto Ortiz, PhD |
In addition to showcasing students’ work, the retreat strengthens the mentoring component of the RaMP-UP Program by creating a space where scholars and mentors can engage in meaningful discussions about research findings and results.
Through activities such as research presentations, discussions, and networking, the retreat continues to support the RaMP-UP Program’s mission of promoting student development and strengthening the community of emerging researchers in the biological sciences.
