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Paola Zayas Borges is a senior
undergraduate student majoring in
Molecular Biology at the University of
Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. As a
PRLSAMP scholar, she conducts
research, mentored by Dr. Ana R. Mayol,
in the Educational and Outreach project:
Development and Implementation of
Interdisciplinary Educational Material.
Paola presented her research at the 2010 Puerto Rico
Interdisciplinary Scientific Meeting. On summer 2011, Paola
participated in the Opportunities in Genomics Research
Program at the Genome Institute, Washington University in St.
Louis. Currently Paola is applying for Graduate School
programs and look forward to pursue an MD-PhD.
Natasha Méndez completed her BS in
Biology from the University of Puerto Rico
Aguadilla Campus (UPR-Ag) in 2008 and she
is studying her PhD in Biological
Oceanography at the College of Marine
Science, University of South Florida. She is
using benthic foraminifera as bioindicators in
the study of coral reef health. She has a
publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences. Natasha has been awarded the Bridge to the
Doctorate FG-LSAMP and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Fellowships. As an undergraduate, Natasha participated of the
PR-LSAMP Mentored Undergraduate Research Program. About
her passion for science and research she says: “My love for
science started when I was in middle school. I've had the fortune
of being a student of many science educators through my life that
have molded me into the scientist I am today.”
Keyla Ramos Pratts obtained her Bs I Biology
from UPR Aguadilla in 2006, currently she is a
student at the Anatomy and Neurobiology
Department PhD Program at the University of
Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. She is
working on the Role of Neuropeptide Y in the
modulation of sexual behavior of adolescent rats
after exposure to anabolic steroid. She has been
recognized for her 2008 Poster Presentation at
the 3rd Graduate Research Symposium and in 2009 received the
American Association of Anatomists Travel Award. She has
presented her research at various symposia the; Puerto Rico
Interdisciplinary Scientific Meeting, St. Thomas Sc. Congress,
USVI, Nassau, Bahamas, Steamboat Springs, Colorado,
Anaheim, California, New Orleans, Louisiana and South
Carolina. Her experience at MBRS-RISE summer internship at
the UPR Medical Sciences Campus helped her decide her
professional future.
Ernesto Méndez obtained his Bs. In Biology
from UPR-Ag. in 2009.Since his bachelor days
Ernesto has been active in research since his
undergraduate years. In 2009 he presented the
“Characterization of novel interactors of the Wnt
receptor Frizzled” at the Annual Biomedical
Research Conference for minority Students
(ABRCMS). In 2007 he participated of the
Summer Medical Dentistry Education Program (SMDEP) in Case
Western University at Cleveland, Ohio. In 2009 he was admitted
to a Masters-PhD joint program between the University of Puerto
Rico Mayaguez Campus and Rutgers State University. Ernesto
is currently part of the Waksman Institute of Microbiology at
Rutgers State University and is working with the fertilization and
embryonic development of Caenorhabditis elegans, a free-living
roundworm. He is recipient the NIH National Institute of Health
Pipeline Program Fellowship.
Cinthia E. Sánchez obtained a bachelors
degree in Biomedical Science in 2006 from the
University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla. . Her
multiple undergraduate summer internship
experiences attracted her to research and helped
her earn in 2005 the American Society of
Virology (ASV) award for best poster in Virology.
Also in 2005 she was recipient of the SACNAS
Conference Award for top poster in biology and in 2006 she
received the SACNAS Conference Award for top oral presentation
in biology. In 2006-2007 she was recipient of the SACNAS
Genome Scholar. Cinthia is a PhD candidate in Molecular Virology
at Purdue University. She is recipient of the 2011 Midwest
Crossroads Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate
(AGEP) scholar and received the 2011 YEUNKYUNG WOO
(YYW) excellence achievement travel award.
Christopher Cardona obtained his BS in 2009
and is in his third year of the PhD Program in
Biology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
His research interest is in Evolutionary pathways
that led to the evolution of land plants from algae
as suggested by physiological and genetic
information. He has been recipient of the Rappel
Travel Award of the University of Wisconsin, the
American Society of Plant Biologists Travel Award and the
Advanced Opportunity Fellowship. He is passionate about botany.
In 2007 Christopher participated in a summer internship at the
Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Genomic Research at Cornell
University. Chistopher’s interest in research grew from his PR-
LSAMP internship and mentored undergraduate research
experiences.
Francisco Velázquez. As an undergraduate
student University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla
Campus (UPR-Ag) participating in the LSAMP
Peer Mentor Undergraduate Research Program.
He has completed three Summer Internships one
at Indiana University, the second in Purdue
University, and the third at Rutgers. During 2010-
2011 Francisco participated of a Post
Baccalaureate Program at the University of Chicago. In 2011, he
was admitted to the PhD Program of the Tufts Sackler Graduate
School of Biomedical Sciences, Immunology Program at Tufts
University. About his love for research Francisco says “During my
high school years I knew science was for me, and as an
undergraduate I discovered the thrill of research.”
Anthony Rodríguez completes in the
University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla Campus all
the requirements to enter Chiropractic studies
at the New York Chiropractic College. He was
a mentor student as part of the PR-LSAMP
Peer Mentoring Program in our Campus. He
was president of the recently established UPR
Aguadilla Student Chapter of the American
Chemical Society and in 2004-2005 they won their first Outstanding
Chapter Award. Anthony obtained a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree
from the New York Chiropractic College. His professional interests
are in the areas of Biomechanics, Kinesiology, and athletic
performance particularly the restoration-regeneration process and
the wellness and prevention of diseases. He has participated in the
Elite Sports Science Training Program at the Olympic Training
Facility in Lake Placid, NY. Today Anthony is working in a private
practice at New York.
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