Andrea Porras-Alfaro
Program Director, Division of Environmental Biology, National Science Foundation
Affiliated Faculty, Institute for Environmental Studies, Western Illinois University
Contact information
aporrasalfaro at gmail.com - please use this email to contact me about my research.
For NSF questions, please contact me directly at aporrasa at nsf.gov.
Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Academic Background
2004 - 2008 Ph.D. Biology University of New Mexico
2002 - 2004 M.S. Biology University of Puerto Rico
1997 - 2000 Biotechnology Engineer B.A. Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica
Academic Positions and Appointments
2018-present Program Director, Division of Environmental Biology, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA.
2015-2020 Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, IL.
2016-2018 Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.
2009-2015 Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, IL.
2009- 2012 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, NM.
2008-2009 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of New Mexico, NM.
Honors and Awards
2018: Constantine John Alexopoulos Prize, Outstanding Mycologist Early in their Career, Mycological Society of America.
2017: Provost's Award for Academic Excellence in Scholarly/Creative/Performing/Professional Activities, Western Illinois University.
2017: College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award in Research and Scholarly Activity, Western Illinois University.
2015: WIU President's Excellence in Diversity Education Award to the Research Inspiring Student Excellence (RISE@WIU).
2014: College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award for Undergraduate Research, Western Illinois University.
2013: College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award for Internationalizing the Campus, Western Illinois University.
2011-2018: WIU Professional Achievement Award (received eight professional achievement awards, one each year).
Administrative Positions, Advising and Program Development
2018 -present Program Director, Community and Population Ecology, Division of Environmental Biology, National Science Foundation (NSF)
2017- 2018 Graduate Program Coordinator, Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, IL.
2013-2018 RISE (Research Inspiring Student Excellence) Program Coordinator, Western Illinois University, IL
Teaching
Micro464G Mycology (graduate and undergraduate level).
Micro401G Medical Mycology (graduate and undergraduate level).
Biol470/570 Fungal Ecology Seminar (graduate and undergraduate level).
Bot320 Plant Anatomy (undergraduate level).
Bot200 Introduction to Plant Biology (undergraduate level).
Bio502 Molecular Applications in Organismal Biology (graduate level).
Service
Professional Committees
Mycological Society of America Award Coordinator (2014-2019)
International Mycological Congress, Scientific Program Committee (2016-2018)
Mycological Society of America Ecology and Pathology Council Representative (2015-2017)
Mycological Society of America Ecology Committee (2009-2012, 2012-2013 Chair)
Mycological Society of New Mexico, Affiliated Mycologist (2008)
Western Illinois university
University Level:
President's Faculty Round Table (2017-2018)
Provost Excellence Awards Committee (2015, 2018)
Graduate Judge - Graduate Student Symposium (2014-2017)
College of Arts and Sciences:
College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Awards Committee (Spring 2018)
RISE (Research Inspiring Student Excellence) Program Coordinator (2013-2015, 2017-2018)
Internship Committee (2013-2015, Chair)
College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Council (2019-2012 alternative, 2013-2015 member)
Faculty Research and Scholarship Committee (2011-2012)
Biology Department:
Department Personnel Committee (2017-2018)
Microscopy Facility Coordinator (2016-2018)
Research Committee (2009-2012, 2011-2015 Chair, 2017)
Seminars Committee (2011-2015 Chair, 2017)
Biology Graduate Student Association – Advisor (2012-2018)
Curriculum Committee (2009-2013)
Grade Appeal Committee (2009-2013)
Mycology Curator (2009-present)
Microbiology Search Committee (Spring and Summer 2012 Chair), Secretary Search Committee (2015)