Ciencia Puerto Rico

My undergraduate training in biology at the University of Puerto Rico in Bayamón spanned a wide range of topics in the life sciences, from genes to ecosystems. I have been involved in research projects since 2006 thanks first to Dr. Concepción Rodriguez (UPR-B) and Dr. Alex Sloan (UPR-B) and to the support of SEEDS (Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability) program of the Ecological Society of America.

My research experiences in and out of Puerto Rico, mostly looked at species-habitat relationships. Under such broad topic, I have studied native bee nest-site selection, elephant utilization of important riparian tree species, intertidal pool community structure, land-use legacies influencing contemporary ant communities, among others. I value the importance of incorporating molecular techniques into traditional ecological studies to better understandorganisms, their relationships, and their evolution.

My professional goal is to serve as an educator in Puerto Rico with the objective of providing undergraduate students the tools to be exceptional scientists and instill in them the values of scientific research which carry major implications for our society.