{"id":18550,"date":"2023-01-27T18:10:20","date_gmt":"2023-01-27T18:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/?page_id=18550"},"modified":"2025-07-09T16:58:01","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T16:58:01","slug":"research-mentors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/research-mentors\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Mentors"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"18550\" class=\"elementor elementor-18550\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4dbde35 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4dbde35\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0c7836c\" data-id=\"0c7836c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bc2eae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1bc2eae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">RaMP-UP Mentors<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f72441e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f72441e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b89720a\" data-id=\"b89720a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efd2b09 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"efd2b09\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mentoring is one of the most critical factors in the success of introducing recent graduates to biological research. The mentoring is designed to equip participants with the research and professional skills needed to nurture their interest in pursuing careers in biological research. With UPR mentors, RaMP-UP scholars will be exposed to a broad spectrum of research topics, that includes Neuroscience, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Behavior, Ecology, Development, Cell and Molecular Biology, Evolution, among others.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8efabf2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8efabf2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e352c67\" data-id=\"e352c67\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0eebbab elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"0eebbab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2e13565 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2e13565\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d667e31\" data-id=\"d667e31\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4221882 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4221882\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff2e9bc elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff2e9bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;bounceInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Meet our mentors and co-mentors<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-22cd67b\" data-id=\"22cd67b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19ef468 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"19ef468\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2023\/03\/IMG-5151-768x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-18766\" alt=\"RaMP-UP Mentors\" srcset=\"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2023\/03\/IMG-5151-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2023\/03\/IMG-5151-scaled-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2023\/03\/IMG-5151-scaled-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2023\/03\/IMG-5151-scaled-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2023\/03\/IMG-5151-scaled-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2023\/03\/IMG-5151-scaled-16x12.jpg 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d7df8b elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"6d7df8b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6302628 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"6302628\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-593d9c6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"593d9c6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_top&quot;:&quot;zigzag&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-top\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1800 5.8\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n  <path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M5.4.4l5.4 5.3L16.5.4l5.4 5.3L27.5.4 33 5.7 38.6.4l5.5 5.4h.1L49.9.4l5.4 5.3L60.9.4l5.5 5.3L72 .4l5.5 5.3L83.1.4l5.4 5.3L94.1.4l5.5 5.4h.2l5.6-5.4 5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.4 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.4h.2l5.6-5.4 5.4 5.3L161 .4l5.4 5.3L172 .4l5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.4 5.3 5.7-5.3 5.4 5.4h.2l5.6-5.4 5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.4 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.4h.2l5.6-5.4 5.5 5.3L261 .4l5.4 5.3L272 .4l5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.4h.1l5.7-5.4 5.4 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.4 5.3 5.7-5.3 5.4 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5.6-5.3 5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.4h.1l5.7-5.4 5.4 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.4h.1l5.6-5.4 5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.4 5.3 5.7-5.3 5.4 5.3 5.6-5.3 5.5 5.4V0H-.2v5.8z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-da32fe4\" data-id=\"da32fe4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b77d7c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3b77d7c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">MENTORS<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5afae9c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5afae9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This ensemble of research mentor is a heterogeneous group of investigators that range from Assistant to Full Professors with extensive mentoring experience.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0f2974 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"b0f2974\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-740694b elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"740694b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-159910d elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"159910d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2261\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2261\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Jos\u00e9 L. Agosto, Ph.D. \u2013 Circadian Rhythms and Microbiomes<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2261\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2261\"><p>Associate Professor. Studies the relationship between microbiota and behavior, particularly circadian rhythms. Uses Drosophila to take advantage of the large repertoire of molecular genetic tools available, the simpler microbiome, and the deep level of neurobiological understanding. Specifically, they chose the circadian network to study its interaction with gut microbes because its behavioral outputs and molecular components are well characterized and because there is evidence suggesting that gut microbes are communicating with this network. To explore this relationship, flies are treated with wide spectrum antibiotics and found that sleep behavior and the homeostatic response to sleep deprivation are altered. They are currently manipulating gene expression to determine the gene and signaling pathways involved.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2262\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2262\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Paul Bayman, Ph.D. \u2013 Mycology, Plant Pathology, Microbial Interaction<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2262\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2262\"><p>Professor. Focused on pests and\u00a0diseases of coffee and their biological\u00a0control. Organisms of interest include the coffee berry borer (CBB,\u00a0a beetle, the most destructive pest of coffee worldwide), the coffee leaf rust fungus (CLR, the most\u00a0destructive pathogen of coffee), fungi with potential for biological control of CBB and CRR, and the\u00a0microbiome of coffee plant roots. Current projects include: (1) metatranscriptome studies, to study the role\u00a0of gene expression in virulence in the pathogen and resistance in the host, (2) population genetics and\u00a0phylogeography of the coffee leaf rust pathogen, and (3) functional and phylogenetic diversity of fungal\u00a0hyperparasites of the CLR pathogen. These projects combine field and lab experiments with \u2018omics\u00a0methods such as RNAseq and genome sequencing.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2263\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2263\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Jos\u00e9 E. Garc\u00eda-Arrar\u00e1s, Ph.D. \u2013 Organ Regeneration<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2263\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2263\"><p>Professor. Dr. Garc\u00eda-Arrar\u00e1s has pioneered the use of\u00a0the echinoderm Holothuria glaberrima to study organ regeneration. His research focuses on the molecular\u00a0aspects of regeneration of the radial nerve cord and the digestive tract, specifically on the identification of\u00a0genes and gene pathways that underlie the regeneration process. His lab has generated an expressed\u00a0sequence tag (EST) database for H. glaberrima sequences obtained from multiple DNA libraries, of normal\u00a0and regenerating organs. The lab just published a genome draft of the model animal and is finalizing a\u00a0complete genome that will provide the base for future genomic experiments and analyses. This, combined\u00a0with a recently NSF-funded project to determine the role of the microbiota during intestinal regeneration,\u00a0provides a new area of research in gene expression for incoming students.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2264\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2264\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Alfredo Ghezzi, Ph.D.  \u2013 Epigenomics of Drug-neuroadaptation and Addiction<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2264\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2264\"><p>Associate Professor. Focuses on the molecular basis of neural adaptation. Through the integration of molecular genomics, behavioral analyses, and neurophysiology, his lab strives to resolve how the nervous system utilizes a finite number of genes to carefully modulate neural activity and adapt to an ever-changing environment. A central component of this effort is directed to understanding the mechanisms of transcriptional memory that perpetuate drug-induced adaptations and promote addiction. Students in the lab combine the powerful Drosophila genetic model and a range of genomic and neurophysiological techniques to identify and categorize epigenetic regulatory mechanisms.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2265\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2265\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Tugrul Giray, Ph.D.\u00a0\u2013 Honeybee Social Plasticity<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2265\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2265\"><p>Professor. Dr. Giray\u2019s lab combines genomics, including WGA and transcriptomics approaches, with classic and new behavioral assays to study honeybee social behavior, both in the field and in the laboratory. They probe the neural and molecular bases of plasticity in a mini brain. Simple questions, such as if colony conditions influence expression of defensive response of individuals, have been answered by undergraduate research students. In a recent study, the lab demonstrated that the level of aggressive response to threats, depended on frequency of certain genotypes in a colony. No particular genotype makes a single bee more likely to sting, instead it is a group phenotype. The combination of experimentally accessible social behavior and techniques to probe underlying neurogenomics mechanisms make this research program especially suitable for undergraduate research.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2266\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2266\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Riccardo Papa, Ph.D. \u2013 Population Genomics<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2266\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2266\"><p>Professor. Utilizes powerful high-end approaches in genomics\u00a0and functional genetics to address fundamental questions in evolutionary and developmental biology. His\u00a0work aims to better understand the interplay between molecules and gene networks underlying the evolution\u00a0of novel phenotypes and finally how to protect and conserve the diversity of animal forms with specific\u00a0focus on the one in the tropics. His current research is at the forefront of the evolutionary genomic and\u00a0developmental fields, which focuses on a simple but extremely complex fundamental question in biology:\u00a0How do changes in DNA result in changes in phenotype? Leveraging phenotypic diversity in butterfly\u00a0populations with cutting-edge DNA sequencing methods and functional validation, his lab explores how\u00a0genetic changes impact the evolution and diversification of adaptive traits.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2267\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2267\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Esther Peterson, Ph.D. \u2013 Gene Expression Networks in Estrogen-mediated Non-genomic Signaling<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2267\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2267\"><p>Assistant\u00a0Professor. The goal of the laboratory is to characterize the transcriptional and non-transcriptional effects of\u00a0estrogen receptors and the gene expression network involved in their cellular function. Particular interest\u00a0focuses on rapid non-genomic receptor signaling. Students are involved in the generation and bioinformatic\u00a0analyses of large datasets including but not limited to RNAseq, ChiPseq, large scale analysis of proteins\u00a0and phospho-arrays using\u00a0<i>in vitro\u00a0<\/i>cell models. The fellows will also gather experience in working with cell\u00a0culture, molecular subcloning, gene expression, Western blot and DNA\/RNA molecular techniques.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2268\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2268\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Carla Restrepo, Ph.D. \u2013 Large-scale structure, function, and dynamics of tropical mountains<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2268\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2268\"><p>Professor. The\u00a0acquisition of remotely sensed data at a variety of spatial and times scales, is providing unprecedented\u00a0opportunities for evaluating the impacts of global and regional changes, as well as the consequences of\u00a0these 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\u00a0will acquire skills in remote sensing, big data, and geographical information systems tools to test hypotheses\u00a0and perform data analysis.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2269\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2269\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Imilce Rodriguez-Fernandez Ph.D. \u2013 Identification of genes involved in microbiota\/host communication<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2269\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2269\"><p>Assistant Professor. Aims at understanding interactions between the gut microbiome and the intestinal\u00a0epithelium.\u00a0<i>Lactobacillus\u00a0<\/i>species are commensal bacteria commonly found in the fly and mammalian small\u00a0intestines and are generally considered probiotic agents. Studies using flies mono-associated with\u00a0<i>Lactobacillus plantarum\u00a0<\/i>(<i>L. plantarum<\/i>) have uncovered significant insights into host-microbial\u00a0interactions. Recent findings have shed light onto how\u00a0<i>L.plantarum\u00a0<\/i>interact with the gut epithelium without\u00a0resulting in an activation of the immune response. Students will work towards identifying genes in\u00a0<i>L.plantarum\u00a0<\/i>that are needed for the activation of the genes in the fly intestinal cells. These students will\u00a0gather experience in working with the fruit fly\u00a0<i>Drosophila melanogaster<\/i>, performing bacterial mutagenesis,\u00a0and designing and performing genetic screenings in\u00a0<i>Drosophila\u00a0<\/i>and\u00a0<i>L.plantarum.<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-22610\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-22610\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Jos\u00e9 A. Rodriguez-Mart\u00ednez, Ph.D. \u2013 DNA-binding preferences of transcription factors<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-22610\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-22610\"><p>Assistant\u00a0Professor. Determining a transcription factor\u2019s intrinsic DNA-binding preferences is a critical step for\u00a0decoding gene regulatory networks that control cell function. Students in the lab will engage in multiple\u00a0aspects of the characterization of transcription factors, including the generation of large datasets of\u00a0transcription factor binding preferences. They will learn molecular cloning methods, protein\u00a0expression\/purification, DNA-binding assays, and the use of bioinformatics tools to integrate &#8220;big data&#8221; to\u00a0identify putative binding sites across genomes. The lab mission is to uncover the molecular mechanisms by\u00a0which proteins and small molecules bind to DNA and RNA to interpret genetic information.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-22611\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"11\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-22611\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, Ph.D. - Neurobiology of Addiction<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-22611\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"11\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-22611\"><p>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><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-22612\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"12\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-22612\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Kelsie Chiquillo, Ph.D.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-22612\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"12\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-22612\"><p>We utilize ecological monitoring tools and advanced genetic techniques to explore the ecology and evolution of marine organisms across the Caribbean. One aspect of our research centers on the hypothesis that environmental changes, alongside species interactions, contribute to phenotypic plasticity and invasive traits in an invasive seagrass,\u00a0<i>Halophila\u00a0stipulacea<\/i>. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment involving\u00a0<i>H. stipulacea\u00a0<\/i>and native seagrass\u00a0<i>Syringodium filiforme<\/i>\u00a0to assess how species interactions influence their acclimation and adaptation. Preliminary results have unveiled that the invasive seagrass demonstrated comparable growth in both reciprocal transplant sites while displaying altered vegetative traits suggestive of a distinct growth strategy. We aim to dive deeper into these findings to investigate if these changes in vegetative traits are linked to epigenetic modifications underlying the plant\u2019s invasiveness. Project participants will leverage bioinformatics tools to assemble the current Halophila\u00a0genome from raw sequencing data, predict potential genes within this assembly, and create a gene transfer file (GTF) by annotating these genes with their genomic coordinates and functional elements. While the genome has been sequenced, the assembly process from raw reads remains to be conducted. Additionally, they will align methylome sequences to identify specific methylated genes associated with invasive characteristics. This project offers a unique opportunity to gain invaluable skills in genome assembly, GTF annotation, and methylome alignment, crucial for unraveling the mysteries behind invasive seagrass dynamics.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-22613\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"13\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-22613\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Trevor Fristoe, Ph.D.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-22613\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"13\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-22613\"><p>Understanding fundamental dynamics that shape the geographic distribution of species is critical for predicting responses to global change and in disentangling the factors that generate and maintain global biodiversity patterns. Our lab works in diverse systems, from plants through birds and mammals to humans, to reveal how species persist and coexist across diverse and dynamic environments to understand the distribution of life on Earth. Our work is macroecological in scope and bridges scales of biological organization \u2013 from physiology, traits, and behavior of individuals to spatiotemporal dynamics of populations to the distributions of species and assembly of communities across and among continents. We address questions by leveraging large ecological, environmental, geographic, and phylogenetic datasets unified across disparate sources and through the creative application of computational and statistical techniques. Within these themes, research participants will choose between projects that provide opportunities to learn skills such as the management, statistical analysis, and visualization of big data in ecology, phylogenetic comparative methods, geographic analyses (GIS), or simulation approaches.<\/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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5535dae\" data-id=\"5535dae\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-702e42e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"702e42e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CO-MENTORS<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f31317 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0f31317\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResearch Co-mentors will help strengthen the quantitative, computational, and\u00a0interdisciplinary aspects of the research.\u00a0These are investigators in other departments of UPR-R\u00edo Piedras\u00a0or in the UPR Medical School Campus.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4b0aff elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"d4b0aff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f661a63 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"f661a63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2581\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2581\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Carlos Corrada-Bravo, Ph.D. \u2013 Machine Learning Development<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2581\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2581\"><p>Professor in Computer Sciences. He applies machine learning tools to address a large variety of problems. Among these he has develop web-based cloud-hosted systems that allow users to archive, listen, visualize, and annotate acoustic recordings. These tools have allowed investigators to convert the annotations into datasets that can be used to train a computer to detect the presence ro absence of animal species. Dr. Corrada-Bravo has collaborated with various members of the Biology Department<span lang=\"EN-US\">.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2582\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2582\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Filipa Godoy-Vitorino, Ph.D. \u2013 Microbial Genomics<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2582\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2582\"><p>Associate Professor in Microgiology. Has investigated an\u00a0eclectic collection of topics including evolution, community dynamics, and biofilm succession. She\u00a0developed her career studying biodiversity associated with animal and human microbiomes using and\u00a0developing metagenomic techniques. Her laboratory investigates microbiomes using various Omics\u00a0techniques to understand the co-evolution, transmission, and functions of microbial-host symbioses. Her\u00a0group\u2019s mission is to translate microbial ecology to improve human health and empower education in the\u00a0microbial sciences. Dr. Godoy-Vitorino collaborates with Dr. Restrepo on the analysis of microbial samples\u00a0from different ecological niches<span lang=\"EN-US\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2583\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2583\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Heeralal Janwa, Ph.D. \u2013 Information Theory, Network Sciences, BioInformatics<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2583\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2583\"><p>Professor in Mathematics.\u00a0Expert in Information Theory of Communication Systems, with specialization in Data Integrity and Data\u00a0Security, where he has made seminal contributions. Several influential theorems bear his name. More\u00a0recently, NASA (in three different grants) has funded his research on Novel Network graph techniques to\u00a0study the effects of microgravity on plants, mice, and humans in the International Space Station. During\u00a0the past two decades he has expanded his research in interdisciplinary direction: involving network\u00a0sciences, information theory, neural networks, and quantum computing. Dr. Janwa has collaborated with\u00a0Biology faculty in his research<span lang=\"EN-US\">.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2584\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2584\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Remi Megret, Ph.D. \u2013 Image Analysis of Insect Behavior<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2584\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2584\"><p>Associate Professor in Computer Sciences. His research focuses on image and video analysis with applications to interdisciplinary science projects. Current work aims at automating the analysis of insect behavior from video capture. It embraces a \u201cBig Data\u201d approach to produce new datasets to quantify the behavior of large numbers of individual honeybees and wild pollinators over long periods of time. Together with Dr. Agosto, he is the P.I. of an NSF BIGDATA: Collaborative Research on Large-Scale Multiparameter of Honeybee Behavior in their Natural Habitat.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2585\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2585\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Humberto G. Ortiz-Zuazaga, Ph.D. \u2013 Bioinformatics of Gene Expression<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2585\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2585\"><p>Professor in Computer Sciences.\u00a0He has developed novel methods of measuring gene expression from microarray and second-generation\u00a0sequencing data and determining regulatory gene networks from this data. He already has established\u00a0successful collaborations with scientists in biological research using Big Data. Dr. Ort\u00edz-Zuazaga is a\u00a0frequent collaborator of Dr. Garcia-Arraras; have published several articles together\u00a0and is a collaborator in the ongoing NSF grant to study the role of the\u00a0microbiota in intestinal regeneration.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2586\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2586\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Mar\u00eda E. P\u00e9rez-Hern\u00e1ndez, Ph.D. \u2013 Bayesian Biostatistics and its Applications in Life Sciences<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2586\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2586\"><p>Professor\u00a0in Mathematics. Currently involved in the &#8220;Data and Omics Core (DATAOmics)&#8221; of a U54\u00a0Collaborative 5-year Grant between UPR and MD\u00a0Anderson Cancer Center, where she is collaborating with\u00a0Drs.\u00a0<span lang=\"EN-US\">P<\/span>ericchi and Ort\u00edz-Zuazaga. Her main research interests are Bayesian Statistics, especially on\u00a0Robustness and Objective Methods. Bayesian Methods have a high potential of usefulness in the analysis\u00a0of Genomic data. She has a long history of successful interdisciplinary work with researchers in all areas\u00a0of Biology<span lang=\"EN-US\">.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2587\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2587\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Josu\u00e9 P\u00e9rez-Santiago, Ph.D. \u2013 Microbiomics<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2587\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2587\"><p>Assistant Professor of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics. Dr. Perez-Santiago has a unique set of bioinformatics and research skills that keeps him at the leading edge of the rapidly expanding fields of genetics and molecular biology. Students will be involved in the analysis of sequencing data, integration of other biomedical data <span lang=\"EN-US\">a<\/span>nd interpretation of results. Along with Dr. Peterson, he is co-P.I. of NIH R21 grant.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2588\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2588\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Luis R. Pericchi, Ph.D. \u2013 Bayesian Statistics in Genomic Studies <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2588\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2588\"><p>Professor. The\u00a0acquisition of remotely sensed data at a variety of spatial and times scales, is providing unprecedented\u00a0opportunities for evaluating the impacts of global and regional changes, as well as the consequences of\u00a0these 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\u00a0will acquire skills in remote sensing, big data, and geographical information systems tools to test hypotheses\u00a0and perform data analysis.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2589\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2589\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/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\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Liz D\u00edaz. Ph.D.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2589\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2589\"><\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b8d130 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4b8d130\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RaMP-UP Mentors Mentoring is one of the most critical factors in the success of introducing recent graduates to biological research. The mentoring is designed to equip participants with the research and professional skills needed to nurture their interest in pursuing &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-18550","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18550"}],"version-history":[{"count":115,"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18550\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20200,"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18550\/revisions\/20200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/natsci.uprrp.edu\/ramp-up\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}