MY STORY
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, a beautiful archipelago in the middle of the Caribbean and an unincorporated U.S. territory. While I am a US citizen by birth, my native language is Spanish. I learned English in school, reading, listening to music and watching movies, but didn’t get to use it much until I started college. I earned my BS and MS in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. My master’s project, provided insight on the effects of agricultural practices and environmental disturbances in the abundance and distribution of key aquatic species and the health of freshwater marsh systems. Cool Note – A digital database of this work, which includes a record of key taxonomic features of aquatic insects in the project area, is currently used as a research and teaching tool at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez.
Upon my MS graduation I got my first full time job as a scientist at the Museum of Entomology and Tropical Biodiversity located at the University of Puerto Rico Research Station (UPR version of UF-IFAS). At this job I primarily performed taxonomic identification of insect species of agricultural relevance, and support farmers on the implementation of sustainable pest management techniques for protection of crops and human health. Around that time, I was also working with US-Fish and Wildlife Service assessing the environmental impact left by the US military in Vieques – an island municipality located about 13 Km east of the main island of PR. Decades of military practices had left much of Vieques island contaminated and its residents sick. This experience shaped my future research vison. After this, I decided to focus on studies that would promote sustainable use of resources, remediation of contaminated sites, and that reduced the risk and increased resilience of vulnerable communities.
In 2006, I moved to Gainesville to pursue my PhD in Environmental Engineering Sciences at the University of Florida. This time my research focused on assessing the efficiency of a waste material to amend soils contaminated with mercury (Hg). The treatment demonstrated to be efficient at reducing Hg leachate and its transformation into more bioavailable and toxic forms in aquatic systems. This was a fun project, that help me gain lots of hands on experience on an array of analytical techniques and laboratory safety.
Soon after graduation I started working as an environmental consultant. Most of my work centered on Risk Assessments, Environmental Impact and Environmental Justice Studies, Environmental Toxicology and NEPA Compliance. While I learned a lot in this job, I didn’t have the flexibility to work on the projects I was most passionate about. Furthermore, research opportunities were minimal and dissemination of findings was limited (due to client confidentiality), so I decided to pursue career that would allow me to pursue my research interests. UF gave me an opportunity in fall 2017. While I started working as an adjunct faculty with a high teaching and service load, I progressively increased my research activities and earned a promotion to Lecturer. Most of my ongoing research focuses on fate, transport & remediation of pollutants and pathogens, with the end goal of achieving sustainable, resilient and healthy integrated natural, build and human systems.
I love my job! But when I am not at work, I am busy being a full time wife and mom of a human child, 3 cats and a dog…
EDUCATION
- PhD, Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2006 – 2013
- MS, Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR, 2001 – 2005
- BS, Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR, 1996-2000
Professional EXPERIENCE
| 2019 – Present |
Lecturer, Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
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| 2017 – 2019 | Adjunct Lecturer, Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL |
| 2013 – 2017 | Project Scientist/QA Manager, AMEC Foster Wheeler, Environment and Infrastructure Inc., Gainesville, FL |
| 2005 – 2006 |
Research Scientist, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Boquerón, PR |
| 2005 | Research Scientist II/Laboratory Manager and Curator, Museum of Entomology and Tropical Biodiversity at University of Puerto Rico Research Station, Rio Piedras, PR |
Scholarly Experience
| 2008 – 2013 | Teaching/Research Assistant, Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL |
| 2011 – 2013 | Community Assistant, Graduate and Family Housing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL |
| 2009 – 2010 | NSF-SEAGEP Fellow, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL |
| 2006 – 2009 | NSF-SPICE Fellow, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL |
| 2000 – 2005 | Assistant Lecturer, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR |
| 1998 – 2000 | Laboratory Assistant, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR |
Selected Service Activities, UF
- ESSIE Committee for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) – 11/2020 – Present
- Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Senator – 08/2020 – Present
- Undergraduate Adviser, Dept. Environmental Engineering Sciences – 2018-2019
- Laboratory Safety Coordinator, Dept. Environmental Engineering Sciences – 2017-2019
- Scholarship Committee, Dept. Environmental Engineering Sciences – 2017-2019
Awards and honors
- Anderson Scholar Faculty Honoree Award, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- National Science Foundation Fellowship – South East Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (SEAGEP)
- National Science Foundation Fellowship – Science Partners in Inquiry-based Collaborative Education (SPICE)
- Florida Institute of Phosphate Research (FIPR) and Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment (ESSIE), Research Fellowship
- ROSE Award – Recognizing Outstanding Student Employees, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- University of Florida Graduate Scholarship