Research Assistants
PhD Graduate Students
Lymarie DÃaz-DÃaz
PhD Graduate Student
​
I am currently characterizing the role of microbiota during regeneration processes on sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima. The intestine is associated with a high density of microorganisms that regulate multiple processes, from metabolism to development and homeostasis of the whole body. With an organism that has an amazing potential to regenerate the whole digestive tract, we can study this processes in more depth. With this project, I aim to decipher the microbial associations that are pivotal to regeneration, and what processes are influenced by those microorganisms.
Samir Bello
PhD Graduate Student
samir.bello3@gmail.com
Arisnel Soto
PhD Graduate Student
arisnel_07@hotmail.com
Jorge Viera-Vera
PhD Graduate Student
jvieravera@gmail.com
Rey Rosa
PhD Graduate Student
reyrosa@hotmail.com
Masters sTUDENTS
David Quispe
Masters Student
davidjquispe@gmail.com
Vanessa Torres
Masters Student
Culture Room Technician
vanessa.torres7@upr.edu
José Alexis RodrÃguez
Masters Student
jose_rodriguez_1988@yahoo.com
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Angel Sirfa
Undergraduate Student
NIH BP-ENDURE (NeuroID Program) Research Fellow
angel.sirfa@upr.edu
Angela Colón
Undergraduate Student
angela.colón2@upr.edu
Alexandra Amador
Undergraduate Student
alexandra.amador@upr.edu
Ashley Soriano
Undergraduate Student
ashley.soriano@upr.edu
Carlos MartÃnez
Undergraduate Student
NIH BP-ENDURE (NeuroID Program) Research Fellow
carlos.martinez32@upr.edu
Charlotte De Jesús
Undergraduate Student
charlotte.dejesus@upr.edu
Daniela DÃaz Rubayo
Undergraduate Student
ddiazrubayo@gmail.com
Eduardo Quesada
Undergraduate Student
eduardo.quesada@upr.edu
Edward Lugo
Undergraduate Student
edwardlugo041@gmail.com
Eveliz Peguero
Undergraduate Student
​
Eveliz Peguero's research project consists on characterizing the components of the retinoic acid pathway in the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima. Our aim is to determine the role of retinoic acid during intestinal regeneration by measuring the expression level of the components found as markers. I am a senior student studying Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. My objective is to pursue a PhD in Developmental Biology.
eveliz.peguero@gmail.com
Gabriela RodrÃguez Morales
Undergraduate Student
NIH BP-ENDURE (NeuroID Program) Research Fellow
grodrÃguez372@email.suagm.edu
Javier Jusino
Undergraduate Student
javier.jusino@upr.edu
Josean Reyes Rivera
Undergraduate Student
josean.reyesrivera@gmail.com
Luis Medina
Undergraduate Student
luismedina2119@gmail.com
Mayra Betancourt
Undergraduate Student
mayra.betancourt1@gmail.com
Natalia Torres
Undergraduate Student
natalia.torres3@upr.edu
Pablo Rosado
Undergraduate Student
pablorosado@me.com
Paola Figueroa-Delgado
Undergraduate Student
NIH BP-ENDURE (NeuroID Program) Research Fellow
paola.figueroa2@upr.edu
Rolando Vargas
Undergraduate Student
rolando_v1@yahoo.com
Raúl GarcÃa-Rosario
Undergraduate Student
raul.garcia1@upr.edu
Rubén GarcÃa
Undergraduate Student
NIH BP-ENDURE (NeuroID Program) Research Fellow
rubengarciareyes@gmail.com
Sarah Colón
Undergraduate Student
colon.sarah01@gmail.com
Sebastián Cruz
Undergraduate Student
​
Sebastián Cruz is an undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. He is currently completing his Bachelor’s degree in Science, with a concentration on Molecular and Cell Biology. Ever since he can remember, Sebastián has possessed and immense passion for knowledge and curiosity, determining factors in his becoming and undergraduate researcher at this lab. Sebastián’s work involves cell characterization, as well as β-characterization in the process of intestinal regeneration in H. glaberrima. Sebastián hopes to become a Neurosurgeon with a heart of gold in the near future.
seba.2550@gmail.com
Sergio Maldonado
Undergraduate Student
sergio.maldonado@upr.edu
Sonya Jadaas Malavez
Undergraduate Student
​
Sonya J. Malavez is a senior student at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus. Her major is Nutrition and Dietetics/ Cellular Molecular Biology and the expected graduation date is May 2018. As for graduate studies, she plans to pursue a PhD degree in Neuroscience with a focus in development. Since 2015 she’s been working at DevNeuro Lab and her main project is studying the effect of the gut microbiota on the regeneration of the enteric nervous system.
sonyamalavez17@yahoo.com
Stephanie Colón
Undergraduate Student
stephanie.colon11@upr.edu
Thaybeth Malave
Undergraduate Student
thaybeth.malave@upr.edu
Valentina Grillo
Undergraduate Student
MARC Research Program Fellow
​
Valentina Grillo Alvarado is an undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus (UPRRP). She is currently completing a major in Biology with a Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration. She graduated with honors from high school in her homeland of Venezuela in 2013. She was recruited to join the UPRRP Swimming Team so she moved to Puerto Rico to start her college career in 2014. She was given the Most Valuable Student of Puerto Rico Inter-University Athletics League Award (2014-15) in short course swimming conference. Valentina also joined Dr. GarcÃa Arrarás’ research team in the summer of 2016, where she has been receiving mentoring and studying the effects of retinoic acid signaling in the intestinal regeneration of the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima. She plans to pursue a PhD in Biotechnology.
tinitagrillo@yahoo.com
