Puerto Rico
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation
Cohort IV Bridge to the Doctorate Fellows
The University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras (UPR-Río Piedras) is the flagship institution of the Island’s public higher education system. Located in the San Juan metropolitan area, UPR-Rio Piedras enrolls almost 18,000 undergraduate students and over 3,000 graduate students. The large majority of students, 98%, are Puerto Rican; 68% are women, and 60% are first generation college students. The institution grants bachelors’ degrees in 69 areas of specialization, 10 master’s degrees in 43 areas of specialization and three doctoral degrees (Ph.D., J.D. and Ed.D.) in 14 areas of specialization. Although the Carnegie Foundation classifies UPR-Río Piedras as a Research Intensive University, it is positioned to become a Research Extensive University while maintaining its commitment to quality undergraduate education. Nationwide, 10% of the Hispanics who earned a Ph.D. degree in a natural science field from 1998 to 2003 attained their BS degree from UPR-Río Piedras.
“Through the Bridge-to-the-Doctorate Program, PR-LSAMP has awarded a total of 46 fellowships to former PR-LSAMP undergraduate STEM students for their first two years of graduate studies. This year we conducted the first external evaluation on the academic progress of Cohort I (2003) and results showed that Fellows outperformed their peers in all categories; the average number of credits completed was substantially higher; publications were greater; presentations of research projects in national scientific conferences were nearly doubled, and first time passing grades on qualifying exams was much higher. The BD Program has indeed proved to be very successful in helping students achieve academic excellence while pursuing their doctoral studies”
Dr, Manuel Gomez, PI
Bridge-to-the-Doctorate Coordinator
Prof. Javier Figueroa is the Assistant Coordinator of the PR-LSAMP Program and the BDP Coordinator. His field of specialization is Biology and Ecology. He has conducted research in Population Biology, biogeographical distribution and systematics of the Order Odonata in neotropical environments with emphasis in the Greater Antilles.
Address:
UPR Resource Center for Science and Engineering
P.O. Box 23334; San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3334
Tel. (787) 765-5170, ext. 2012; FAX (787) 766-1293
E-mail: j_figueroa@prlsamp.org
Pamela Vallejo
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-Rio Piedras
BS Degree in Physics (2006)
Graduate Major: Chemistry
Career Goal: Complete a Ph.D. and pursue research in material science working specifically with photoluminiscent properties of silicon nanoparticles.
Griselle Hernandez
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-Rio Piedras
BS Degree in Chemistry (2006)
Graduate Major: Chemistry
Career Goal: Obtain a Ph.D. in organic chemistry and continue research either in the academia or the industry.
Mariely Hernandez
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-Cayey
BS Degree in Mathematics(2006)
Graduate Major: Mathematics
Career Goal: Obtain a Ph.D. in this area to become the best statistics professor ever, and motivate students to pursue studies in this field.
Pablo Hernandez
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-Rio Piedras
BS Degree in Biology (2004)
Graduate Major: Biology
Career Goal: Obtain my Ph.D. and continue post-doctoral studies to be better prepared for an academic position as a professor and researcher.
Francheska Ruiz
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-Humacao
BS Degree in Biology-Wild Life Mgmt (2006)
Graduate Major: Ecology
Career Goal: Obtain my Ph.D. and continue to do research in Environmental Biology and Conservation with an interdisciplinary approach.
Edward Aviles
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-Rio Piedras
BS Degree in Chemistry (2006)
Graduate Major: Analytical Chemistry
Career Goal: Specialize in nanotechnology focusing in subnanostructuring of catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell in order to find alternatives for sources of energy.
Ivan Lopez
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-Rio Piedras
BS Degree in Physics (2006)
Graduate Major: Physics
Career Goal: Obtain a high quality education while engaging in productive research projects, to become a professor and researcher.
Maria del Mar Garcia
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-Rio Piedras
BS Degree in Chemistry (2006)
Graduate Major: Analytical Chemistry
Career Goal: Obtain a Ph.D., enhance my knowledge in Biotechnology and contribute to the development of biosensors and devices to improve the quality of life.
Fernando Piñero
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-Rio Piedras
BS Degree in Mathematics (2006)
Graduate Major: Mathematics
Career Goal: Become a professional mathematician and work in the application of algebra to real-world problems.
Jesuan Betancourt
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-Rio Piedras
BS Degree in Physics (2006)
Graduate Major: Chemical Physics
Career Goal: Complete my Ph.D. , continue my research and become a college professor.
Barbara Casañas
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-
BS Degree in Chemistry (2006)
Graduate Major: Inorganic Chemistry
Career Goal: Obtain a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry and become a researcher.
Yanira Enriquez
Undergraduate Institution: UPR-Rio Piedras
BS Degree in Chemistry (2006)
Graduate Major: Analytical Chemistry
Career Goal: Work in the pharmaceutical industry doing characterization, analysis and structural determinations of biological compounds. Becoming a college professor is also part of my career plans.