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I was born and raised in the town of Trujillo Alto in the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. I grew up going to the beach and in an island surrounded by water and beautiful rivers, it's hard not to fall in love with it.
I became interested in environmental science and water resources in high school and undergrad, and since then have been dedicated to better understanding our aquatic ecosystems and supporting equity efforts in academic spaces.
Cabezas de San Juan, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Short CV
Short CV
Education
Education
PhD in Biological Sciences, focus on Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (2020-present)
Virginia Tech
Advisor: Dr. Erin R. Hotchkiss
Dissertation: Wetland greenhouse gas dynamics: environmental controls and disturbance impacts across temperate and tropical regions
Bachelor's in Environmental Sciences (2011-2016)
University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras
Undergraduate thesis: Impacts of disturbance on animal-mediated nutrient cycling in Colorado streams
Awards
Awards
College of Science Outstanding Master's Student Award, Virginia Tech (2022)
College of Natural Sciences Award, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras (2016)
Grants
Grants
2025. Expanding the reach of freshwater science: engaging and supporting early career scientists in Puerto Rico. Society for Freshwater Sciences Long Range Planning Committee Innovation Fund ($1,000)
2021. Co-PI: Bringing Limnology and STEM careers to the classroom: Engaging with underrepresented high school students. Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography Global Outreach Initiative ($2,085)
2022. Integrating high-frequency carbon cycling and emissions dynamics in hydrologically dynamic wetland-dominated landscapes. Society for Freshwater Science General Endowment Award ($1,000)
2021. Wetland greenhouse gas dynamics in a changing world: the influence of land use in tropical coastal wetlands. Society for Wetland Scientists Biogeochemistry Section Graduate Research Grant ($500)
Selected Fellowships
Selected Fellowships
Virginia Tech Biological Sciences Principles of Community Dissertation Fellowship (2025-2026)
~$10,000
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2020-2025)
$138,000 over 5 years
Virginia Tech College of Science, Roundtable Make a Difference Scholarship Finalist (2020-2025)
$5,000
Global Change Center Diversity Fellowship (2022-2023)
$45,000
William R. Walker Graduate Research Fellowship, Virginia Water Resources Research Center (2021)
$1,600
College of Science Graduate Opportunity Fellowship (2020)
$4,000
Ecological Society of America SEEDS Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2014-2015)
Work Experience
Work Experience
Environmental Fellow, Freshwater Future (May 2022 – August 2022)
Analyzed spatial patterns of lead concentrations in drinking water in Flint, Michigan
Supported research on lead service line replacement efforts and the impact on marginalized communities
Developed outreach materials on drinking water safety for local stakeholders in English and Spanish
Project Coordinator, Forward Research (August 2020 – December 2021)
Developed content and implemented workshops to teach middle and high-school students and teachers data analysis and research skills
Served as the point of contact for students and teachers regarding questions about data and research project development; joined weekly working sessions with teachers and students
Research Technician, University of New Hampshire (2016-2020)
Led on-the-ground research efforts for the Luquillo Critical Zone Observatory (LCZO) and other research projects for the UNH Water Quality Analysis Lab
Supervised and ran an array of soil sensors and greenhouse gas measurement chambers
Supervised a field crew of 3 technicians (supervised a total of 10 technicians and students over 4 years)
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