Meet the Team
We seek to foster a research environment in which each team member can become an independent thinker, leader, and future mentor. We advocate for multidisciplinary and collaborative research and strongly believe that diversity and inclusion are key for innovation.

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
M.S. (in progress) | Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
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.
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
B.Sc. (in progress) | Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.
Outside the lab | I like baking, traveling and, track and field

Caroline Casiano-Rivera
Undergraduate Researcher
Originally from San Germán, Puerto Rico.
B.Sc. (in progress) | Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.
Outside the lab | I enjoy reading, hiking, and cooking.

Ricardo Rubin Balardin
Ph.D. student researcher (collaborator)
Originally from Julio de Castilhos, RS, Brazil.
B.Sc. | Agronomy Engineering, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil.
M.S. | Soil Science (Soil Biology), Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil.
Ph.D. (in progress) | Biology, University of Puerto Rico Intercampus Doctoral Program, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Outside the lab | I love to cook, watch movies and animes, listening music, and play games in my free time.

Keislamari Cintrón Berrios
Ph.D. student researcher (collaborator)
Originally from Barranquitas, Puerto Rico.
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.
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.
B.Sc. (in progress) | Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.
Outside the lab | I love sports, especially soccer, and enjoy writing, skating, and going on road trips.

Naomi Zoé Serrano Colón
PhD student
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
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Xavier Maldonado Ramírez de Arellano
Undergraduate Researcher
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Past Team Members

Angelie Nuñez-Colon
Summer undergraduate researcher, NSF IQ-Bio REU program

Kysha M Fernadez Adorno
Volunteer Research Assistant

Arianna Cruz-Rotger
Undergraduate Researcher