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About Dr. Omayra Hérnandez-Vale
About Dr. Omayra Hérnandez-Vale
Dr. Omayra Hernández-Vale obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus in Biological Oceanography, specializing in Fish Parasitology. She got a master's degree and a bachelor's degree in biology also from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (UPRM). She has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla since August 2014. She was a mentor professor for the MSEIP Peer-Mentored Research Project from 2021-. She serves as the Assessment Coordinator of the Department and one of the advisors of the MEDLIFE Student Association, UPR Aguadilla Chapter.
Co- Principal Investigator
Natural Science Department, University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla
Research
Research
Dr. Omayra Hernández-Vale's research aims to ascertain the dynamics of monogenean coinfections on the gills of several commercially important species in Puerto Rico in the long term. She and her team began to work with some Carangidae species (jacks), which are common protein choices for many local coastal communities and restaurants on the island. They also have been recognized for hosting several parasites, including various monogenean species. She plans to examine some representative species of Coryphaenidae, Serranidae, Lutjanidae, and Sciaenidae in the following years. She uses the microscopic examination to determine 1) the co-occurrence of two or more monogenean and the monogenean co-occurrence with another non-monogenean species and 2) the gill distribution pattern among co-infecting species. She uses the information obtained from the microscopic examination to assess and compare each parasite's prevalence and coinfecting species' prevalence to determine what parasite species are most consistently harbored together by the host. The intensity between coinfecting species is another epidemiological parameter used to determine how strong each coinfecting scenario is.
STUDENTS 2025-2026
Third year student
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with emphasis in Biomedical Sciences
Research: Detection and Isolation of Nematode Larvae in Fillets of Commercially Important Fish Species in Northwestern Puerto Rico
Fourth year student
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with emphasis in Biomedical Sciences and minor in Genetics
Research: Identification of Congeneric species of Protomicrocotyle (Monogenea) from the gills of Caranx hippos: Molecular and Morphological Characterization
STUDENTS 2024-2025
Natallie N. Méndez*
Natallie N. Méndez*
Fourth year student
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with emphasis in Biomedical Sciences
Research: Identification of Caligidae members (Copepoda) collected from the gills of Caranx hippos and C. latus
Charliz Rivera Pellot
Charliz Rivera Pellot
Fourth year student
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with emphasis in Biomedical Sciences and minor in Genetics
Research: Dynamics of Coinfection between the gills and digestive tract of Caranx latus
STUDENTS 2023-2024
Kerymar Molinary-Ruiz
Kerymar Molinary-Ruiz
Fourth year student
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with emphasis in Biomedical Sciences and minor in Genetics
Research: Dynamics of Parasitic Coinfections on the Gills of Caranx spp: Distribution patterns of coinfecting monogeneans
Charliz Rivera Pellot
Charliz Rivera Pellot
Third year student
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with emphasis in Biomedical Sciences and minor in Genetics
Research: Dynamics of Parasitic Coinfections on the Gills of Caranx spp: Distribution patterns of coinfecting monogeneans
STUDENTS 2022-2023
Jaime Crespo-Borges
Jaime Crespo-Borges
Third year student
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with emphasis in Biomedical Sciences
Research: Dynamics of Monogenea Coinfections on the Gills of Caranx spp.: Co-occurence consistency of Protomicrocotyle mirabilis with other Monogenean Species
Kerymar Molinary-Ruiz
Kerymar Molinary-Ruiz
Third year student
Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with emphasis in Biomedical Sciences and minor in Genetics
Research: Dynamics of Parasitic Coinfections on the Gills of Caranx spp: Distribution patterns of coinfecting monogeneans
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