Meet the Team

Imilce A. Rodriguez-Fernandez

Principal Investigator

Originally from Guayama, Puerto Rico

B.Sc. | Microbiology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez

Ph.D. | Human Genetics, University California, Los Angeles

Postdoc | Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato CA & Genentech, Inc. South San Francisco, CA. Aging and stem cell research

Outside the lab | love painting, gardening, enjoys the great outdoors, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, watching documentaries & traveling.

Natalia Peta

Master's student

Originally from Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico

B.Sc. | Biology (major), Psychology (minor), Iowa State University

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M.S. (in progress) | Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

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Outside the lab | love to spend time with friends and family, play sports, exercise, model, go to the beach, watch movies, and travel.

Melanie Reinoso Arnaldi

Master's Student

Originally from Carolina, Puerto Rico

B.Sc. | Biology - Human Approach, University of Puerto Rico Bayamón.

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M.S. (in progress) | Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

Outside the lab | love reading, watching movies, drawing, listening to music and audiobooks, video gaming and traveling.

Astrid Gonzalez-Castro

Undergraduate Researcher

Originally from Carolina, Puerto Rico

B.Sc. (in progress) | Interdisciplinary Program in Natural Sciences, with a minor in Medical and Health Humanities, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.

Outside the lab | I love makeup, road trips, and traveling with my fam.

Camila Colon-Ortiz

Undergraduate Researcher

Originally from Bayamon, Puerto Rico

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B.Sc. (in progress) | Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.

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Outside the lab | I like baking, traveling and, track and field

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Caroline Casiano-Rivera

Undergraduate Researcher

Originally from San Germán, Puerto Rico.

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B.Sc. (in progress) | Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.

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Outside the lab | I enjoy reading, hiking, and cooking. 

Ricardo Rubin Balardin

Ph.D. student researcher (collaborator)

Originally from Julio de Castilhos, RS, Brazil.

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B.Sc. | Agronomy Engineering, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil.

M.S. | Soil Science (Soil Biology), Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil.

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Ph.D. (in progress) | Biology, University of Puerto Rico Intercampus Doctoral Program, San Juan, Puerto Rico

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Outside the lab | I love to cook, watch movies and animes, listening music, and play games in my free time.

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Keislamari Cintrón Berrios

Ph.D. student researcher (collaborator)

Originally from Barranquitas, Puerto Rico.

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B.Sc. | Environmental Science with a minor in Marine Science. Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus.

Ph.D. (in progress) | Biology, University of Puerto Rico Intercampus Doctoral Program, San Juan Puerto Rico.

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Outside the lab | I'm a certified diver who loves the ocean and being outside. I enjoy watching movies and shows in my free time.

Cecilia M. Fadhel-Alvarez

Undergraduate researcher, NSF IDgene Program

Originally from Ciales, Puerto Rico.

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B.Sc. (in progress) | Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.

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​Outside the lab | I love sports, especially soccer, and enjoy writing, skating, and going on road trips.

Naomi Zoé Serrano Colón

PhD student

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B.Sc. | Integrative Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras.

Ph.D. (in progress) | Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras

Outside the lab | I love outdoor activities like camping and go to the beach, working out, watching movies and photography.

Maria V. Mendoza Dasilva

Undergraduate researcher

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Patricia Pujols

PhD student

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Luna Segarra Alonzo

Undergraduate Researcher

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Kerianalee Rivera-Cruz

Undergraduate Researcher

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Jan Bilbao Del Valle

Undergraduate Researcher