Team:UPRM/Team
UPRM Team 2019
Team Members
Nathan González Cordero
Chief Operations Officer & Programming Team Member
Senior student majoring in Industrial Biotechnology at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and is the co-captain of our team. His primary goal is to obtain literacy in the STEM areas, specifically in the biotechnology cluster, and implement such knowledge in the right environment using an entrepreneurship approach. After obtaining his B.S, he intends to pursue a double M.S. in Biomanufacturing (Upstream) & Bioscience Management with a Functional Genomics Minor and eventually develop an international biobusiness specializing on Synthetic Biology and sequencing solutions.
Fun fact: I’m very interested and invested in federal politics.
Claudia M. Mañán Mejías
Chief Operations Officer & Engineering Team Member
She is a currently a sophomore Chemistry student at University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez. She became part of the Activities Board for IEEE-EMBS (Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society). She also participates in an Undergraduate Research Project under the advisement of Dr. Nilka Rivera whose goal is to identify possible antioxidant and cytotoxic properties in medicinal plants. She was the co-founder of the IGEM UPRM team in May 2018 and is currently the team's Vicepresident. Her efforts and initiatives were crucial to the creation of the first Synthetic Biology Summer Camp. After graduating, she wishes to continue studies in the Bioengineering and Biomedical fields.
Fun Fact: I like to keep with current news and I love cheese and really spicy foods.
Lucía P. Colón Ramos
Chief Scientific Officer
Sophomore Pre-Med student at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. She is the Research Director of our team. Previously, she’s had the opportunity to work as an undergrad assistant in a genetics laboratory in a Echinodermata research investigation. She would like to continue her studies in genetics and would love to combine synthetic biology approaches to her future line of work. Overall, she feels like iGEM has given her the necessary tools to further her professional involvement within the synthetic biology.
Fun fact: I like being bossy and house museums.
Elba M. González González
Chief Financial Officer & Biology Team Member
Senior student pursuing a Biology Major at UPRM, with a Minor in Italian. Currently the Chief Financial Officer and Biology team member. Among her interest, the list includes bioethics, molecular and genetic engineering. She has held leadership positions at different student associations and projects, ranging from molecular engineering to community service associations. Once she graduates, she wishes to work on a laboratory setting and eventually pursue a PhD in bioengineering. The value she attributes to iGEM in her undergraduate career is immense and she is incredibly grateful to be part of the team.
Fun fact: I love theatre, old rock bands and I have an unhealthy love for coffee.
Andrea N. Guilloty Rodríguez
Chief Communications Officer & Social Impact Team Member
Sophomore student at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) who is currently majoring in Biology with a minor in Business Administration. Andrea has worked in Special Projects in Biology at UPRM in the laboratory of Dr. Sandra Maldonado with graduate student Zuleimary Vélez in the practical part of her master's thesis on Aerobiology. She is interested in pursuing a PhD in Life Sciences and is excited about what’s to come. She plans to continue her graduate studies in a related field, applying everything learned in her Bachelors and Minor, and in this experience as the CCO of iGEM RUM.
Fun fact: I am obsessed with Reik.
Natalia M. Ortiz Rivera
Chief Networking Officer & Engineering Team Leader
Natalia is currently in her fourth year of Chemical Engineering. Discovering new ways of integrating engineering with biology has always been an interest of her. iGEM UPRM has been that happy place where she feels like she is part of the discovery of Synthetic Biology in their little universe. She has realized that majoring in Chemical Engineering does not close the doors to biology, but instead opens a whole new level of puzzles to be solved using both. Thanks to the experiences with the team, she has been able to step out of her comfort zone and mix and match with different research projects like electrochemistry and bioinformatics. She will continue to pursue a career where she can always combine engineering and biology because that is what she is truly passionate about.
Fun fact: I am obsessed with my birthday and glitter
Alondra V. De Jesús Martínez
Biology Team Leader
Sophomore student majoring in Industrial Biotechnology in the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez University campus. Within the University, Alondra has had the opportunity to develop her knowledge extensively through research, programming courses, workshops, among many others. She is honored to be the leader of the Biology research and development team. Through IGEM RUM, she has learned what is the passion for science, how easy it is to get creative and how hard the work is to perform what seems impossible. IGEM for her means the power to change the world. One lesson she learned is that we should never forget that there are no secret formulas for success.
Fun fact: I lift more weight than the guys of my gym in leg press.
Adriana A. Rosado Vega
Biology Team Member
Senior student obtaining a bachelor's degree in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus. Adriana is part of the research team of Biology and is interested in the fields of genetic engineering, medicine and molecular biology. She has taken specialized courses in genome biology and synthetic biology. I'm interested in continuing developing as a professional and human being to contribute to our society sharing knowledge and providing tools that contribute to the greatest extent possible. I am currently part of the research laboratory of IGEM RUM and I volunteer in the area of health. My short-term goals include being admitted to the School of Medicine to acquire a doctorate with specialization in Neurology.
Fun fact: I love the beach but hate the sand.
Paula M. Mañán Mejías
Biology Team Member
Paula Mirelis Mañán Mejías is currently a sophomore in Industrial Biotechnology at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez. In iGEM UPRM, she belongs to the Biology team. Her major and different extracurricular experiences have led her to see the field of science from very different points of views. She believes that all fields of study should be integrated and that everyone should be open to other fields apart from theirs. Apart of her interest in Synthetic and Molecular Biology, she is fascinated by the fields of Medicine and Public Health.
Fun fact: I like to read, I love dark coffee, and I love the moon and stars.
Nicole M. Zaragoza Rodríguez
Biology Team Member
She is a senior from Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, majoring in Biology with a special interest in Biochemistry. Since her freshman year she has enjoyed taking part in community outreach activities as a member of student organizations like MedLife UPRM and the National Biological Honor Society (βββ). Her major experiences have been in the field of molecular biology and has taken specialized courses in chemical synthesis and synthetic biology. Currently, she is a member of iGEM RUM’s Biology research team and wishes to pursue graduate studies in Cancer Biology to work as a translational scientist. Being part of the iGEM family has broadened her perspective on the importance of interdisciplinary research and the role of synthetic biology in tackling worldwide issues.
Fun fact: I used to play the violin!
Luis G. Montalvo González
Social Impact Team Leader
Luis is a sophomore student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Microbiology. Being part of iGEM RUM has been an opportunity to improve his molecular biology techniques and has served as a platform to positively impact disadvantaged communities in the Island. It brings him satisfaction that despite our educational efforts being aimed to younger people, it has transcended to palpable contributions to the organization and resilience of communities. The space where sciences and communities collide is so interesting and Luis feels it’s our responsibility as researchers keep informing and transmitting knowledge of emergent research fields like synthetic biology.
Fun fact: The first three movies of Harry Potter make me sleepy, but I love the rest of the movies.
Gabriela A. Otero Andino
Social Impact Team Member
Sophomore student pursuing a Bachelor in Science with a concentration in Biology in University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez. After she graduates, she would like to enter the Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Mexico to study medicine with a specialty in human genetics. One of Gabriela’s point of focus in life is to educate people around the country about the importance of science and the many opportunities and benefits it can bring along the way. She is part of The University Institute for Community Development, which helps communities in Puerto Rico who have several disadvantages.
Fun fact: I used to be a professional dancer.
Marieli Ruiz Cortés
Social Impact Team Member
Sophomore student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Microbiology at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus with a minor in Administration. Besides studying, Marieli works in a cellphone company which has made her gain many qualities like being a team player, time management, and leadership. After graduating with honors and research experience, she intends to continue her studies in a graduate school, where she will get a Pharm.D. with the purpose of working in the industry and establishing her own business.
Fun fact: I’m from Moca, Puerto Rico and I love mycology.
Esteban G. Bermúdez Berríos
Programming Team Leader
Sophomore student pursuing a degree in chemical engineering at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, focusing on its bioengineering aspects. In addition, Esteban aims to become an interdisciplinary scholar, able to incorporate diverse knowledge to approach problems, design projects and find the best solutions. To achieve this he has conducted research in biomedical engineering and joined the Engineering Student Council. All these experiences will serve as tools for promoting a culture of problem solvers in future generations.
Fun fact: I am a professional Super Smash Bros player.
Kevin J. Ruiz Márquez
Programming Team Member
Kevin is a fifth year Chemical Engineering student who works in an Analytical and Pharmaceutical Lab studying chemometric models and multivariate analysis of polypropylene films using Near-Infrared with an application in the pharmaceutical industry. He is passionate with the pharmaceutical field but also with synthetic biology where he is part of the programming UPRM team. After all these years in college, he noticed his passion to share all knowledge acquired to students who show interest in the chemical engineering and science fields where he has developed. His future plan is to continue graduate studies in the pharmaceutical engineering field.
Fun fact: I used to play chess. Add me in chess.com: kevjoelo
Eryka K. Rios Feliciano
Programming Team Member
Senior Biology student at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. Wanting to help society, she decided to study biology with the end goal of becoming a medical doctor. She is now part of CPM and Beta Beta Beta, participates in community services, takes part in different workshops to learn about coding, programming, ASL and even CPR. She was also a research assistant in the marine sciences’ laboratories in Magüeyes, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Regardless of her initial goals, iGEM has open her mind to the idea of other biological careers and loves the interdisciplinary aspect of the team. She hopes to make a difference that can help better the world and better lives with this project and in whatever career path she chooses.
Fun fact: I used to be a gymnast and I love to surf
Collaborators
Alejandro Mercado Capote
Graduate Advisor
Alejandro graduated from Syracuse University with a dual degree in Neuroscience and Psychology, and since then has been closely involved in multiple science research laboratories while pursuing higher-level education. He has an innate love and curiosity for science which has enabled him to participate in different projects in various fields including genomic sciences, marine sciences, synthetic biology, neuroscience, psychology, web development and bioinformatics. Currently he is pursuing a Master's in Biology at Universidad de Puerto Rico at Mayaguez in conservation genomics while also working as a laboratory instructor for undergraduate biology courses.
Angel Rubio Marrero
Graduate Advisor
Angel has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Microbiology and is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Microbiology. He is a teaching assistant at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and works at the Microbial Biotechnology and Bioprospecting Laboratory with Dr. Carlos Ríos Velazquez. His thesis focuses on the identification and molecular analysis of cultivable and uncultivable bioprospects capable of producing biofilm.
Dr. Carlos Ríos Velázquez
Co-Primary Investigator
Dr. Rios has a PhD in Bacteriology University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin (2000). He has performed research studies with a diverse group of microbes including fungi, bacteria, and viruses; combined with the molecular and physiological understanding of their biological processes in order to test its potential for solving problems. The Microbial Biotechnology and Bioprospecting (MBB) laboratory developed by Dr. Rios-Velazquez in 2001 at UPR-Mayaguez seek the detection of activities with biomedical and biotechnological application from microorganisms in different environments using functional genomics, and combinatorial chemistry technology.
Dr. Patricia Ortiz Bermúdez
Co-Primary Investigator
Dr. Ortiz-Bermúdez obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree (2005) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UWM) and a Bachelor of Science degree (1999) from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM). She also completed postdoctoral training in Biomolecular Chemistry (2007) at the UWM. She is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering; an Adjunct Professor in the Food Science and Technology program at the UPRM, and holds an honorary professor appointment in the Chemical and Biological Engineering program and UWM. Currently, Dr. Ortiz-Bermudez is the Coordinator of the Industrial Biotechnology Program as a Chemical Engineering liaison. Her research experience includes peer-reviewed articles in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, and Applied and Environmental Microbiology in the areas of microbial technology and biomaterials. Dr. Ortiz-Bermúdez is very active in mentoring undergraduates in research, having advised over 50 undergraduate students.
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