My name is Alejandra E. Ríos Rodríguez, and I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras Campus. I was a member of the CEROC Laboratory from August 2022 to May 2023, where I worked on the project titled “Synthesis and Characterization of Azo Dyes from Salicylic Acid and Nitroaniline.” I am currently a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale Campus, Florida.
My name is Ricardo L. Pérez Martínez, and I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. I am currently in my second year of the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program at the School of Pharmacy, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico.
During my research experience at the CEROC Lab from June 2022-May 2023, I worked on the development of new laboratory practices in the field of organic chemistry, specifically focusing on the synthesis of various ferrocene derivatives using Friedel–Crafts acylation reactions. The purpose of this work was to implement innovative undergraduate-level experiments and to evaluate student learning and performance.
My name is Alexandre Neptune, and I was a member of the CEROC Laboratory during Summer 2023. During this time, I conducted the project titled “Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Activity Assay of Azo Dyes Derived from Eugenol.” This research experience was part of a summer internship supported by the NIH/NIDDK High School STEP-UP Program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
. I am currently an undergraduate student at Washington University in St. Louis, Class of 2027. I am pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience and a minor in French. I have also been a research assistant in Dr. José Morón-Concepción’s laboratory since 2024.
My name is Ricardo Rovira Denton, and I am a 12th-grade student at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola in San Juan. Since January 2023, I have been a member of the CEROC Laboratory under the mentorship of Prof. Raúl Rodríguez-Berríos. My research focuses on the synthesis of azo dyes and ferrocene derivatives for the evaluation of their biological properties. I achieved 1st place in Biochemistry and Chemistry at the Puerto Rico Metropolitan Science Fair, advancing to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2025 in Columbus, Ohio, and the upcoming ISEF 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
My name is Yadiel M. Cruz Ortiz. I am a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics at the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey. I aspire to complete a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry with an emphasis on spectroscopy and data science. During the summer of 2025, I worked under the mentorship of Dr. Raúl R. Rodríguez, where I gained experience in various organic synthesis and green chemistry techniques. Additionally, I have conducted research in computational chemistry, lithium–sulfur batteries, machine learning, and photochemistry, with the goal of developing the skills necessary to apply to graduate programs in the near future.
If you’d like, I can also slightly tighten the language to make it sound more like a LinkedIn bio or a short professional profile blurb.
www.linkedin.com/in/yadiel-m-cruz-ortiz-393062304
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9872-0999
My name is Guillermo Narváez-Lozano. I am an undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, with an interest in chemistry applied to energy. I have conducted research focused on the development and characterization of materials for energy production and storage. During the two years (2022-2024) I was a member of the CEROC Lab, I worked on the synthesis and characterization of ferrocenyl derivatives with potential applications as anticancer drugs.
Ricardo Rovira Denton — Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico (Summer 2025)
Alannis Maisonet Font — Colegio Santa Gema, Carolina, Puerto Rico (Spring 2024)
Angelina Oramas Aquino — Colegio Santa Gema, Carolina, Puerto Rico (Spring 2024)
Erick Vázquez — Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico (Spring 2024)
Ricardo Rovira Denton — Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico (Fall 2024)
Ricardo Rovira Denton — Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico (Spring 2023)
Alexandre Neptune — NIH/NIDDK High School STEP-UP Program, Wake Forest University School of Medicine (Summer 2023)
Justin Huebner — REU PR-CLIMB Program (Summer 2023)
Guillermo Narváez Lozano — ACS Project SEED Program, Colegio Notre Dame, Caguas, Puerto Rico (Summer 2022)
Nancy Garcia — REU PR-CLIMB Program, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Chicago, Illinois, USA (Summer 2022)
Yadiel Cruz Ortiz (May–July 2025) from UPR-Cayey
Project: Green Chemistry and Education: Solvent-Free Friedel–Crafts Synthesis of Biologically Active Ferrocene Derivatives
Martin Rodríguez del Valle (June 2024–Dec 2025)
Project: Synthesis, Characterization, and Antioxidant Evaluation of Ferrocene Derivatives
Victor G. Vergara Rodríguez (Dec 2024–Dec 2025)
Project: Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Azo Compounds
Diego Castillo Mora (June 2024–2025)
Project: Electrochemical Characterization of a Ferrocene-Derived Imine
Cristtian Rivera Torres (May 2024–May 2025)
Project: Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Azo Compounds
Mia Padilla (Jan 2024–July 2025)
Project: Synthesis and Characterization of Ferrocenyl Ketones via Friedel–Crafts Reaction
Fabiola Hernández Morales (June–Dec 2024)
Project: Synthesis and Characterization of Azo Dyes Derived from 4-sec-Butylphenol and Their Antibiotic Activity Against Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria
Sebastián Díaz Rodríguez (June 2023–Dec 2025)
Project: Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Azo Dyes Derived from 1,3-Dimethoxyphenol for the Development of New Laboratory Experiences in Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
Patricia Rivera Sullivan (June 2023–May 2024)
Project: Development of New Laboratory Practices for Organic Chemistry Courses Focused on the Synthesis and Characterization of Ferrocene Amides as Potential Anticancer Agents
Ángel Vidal Rosado (June 2023–May 2024)
Project: Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Azo Dyes Derived from Naphthol for the Development of New Laboratory Experiences in Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
Rocío Rosado Rodríguez (June–Dec 2023)
Project: Ferrocene Ester Synthesis and Characterization from Ferrocene Carboxylic Acid
Ian Santiago Ojeda (Jan–May 2023)
Project: Development of New Laboratory Practices for Organic Chemistry Courses Focused on the Synthesis of Ferrocenyl Derivatives via Friedel–Crafts Acylation
Branlee Sang Laboy (Jan–May 2023)
Project: Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Azo Dyes Derived from Phenols for the Creation of Innovative Chemistry Laboratory Experiences
Alejandra E. Ríos Rodríguez (Aug 2022–May 2023)
Project: Synthesis and Characterization of Azo Dyes from Salicylic Acid and Nitroaniline
Guillermo Narváez Lozano (Aug 2022–2023)
Project: Design and Development of Laboratory Experiences through the Synthesis and Characterization of Ferrocene Derivatives and the Study of Their Potential as Anticancer Agents
Ricardo Pérez Martínez (June 2022–May 2023)
Project: Design and Development of Laboratory Experiences through the Synthesis and Characterization of Ferrocene Derivatives and the Study of Their Potential as Anticancer Agents
Ulises Maldonado Silva (Jan–Dec 2022)
Project: Design and Development of Laboratory Experiences through the Synthesis and Characterization of Ferrocene Derivatives and the Study of Their Potential as Anticancer Agents
Andrés Cardona Rivera (Jan 2022–June 2023)
Project: Synthetic Modification of a Novel Iron-Binding Molecule to Produce a Fluorescent Probe
Giam Bosques Roig (June–July 2022)
Project: Synthesis and Characterization of Azo Dyes from Salicylic Acid and 4-Aminophenol