Formal Mentoring Since Graduate School (2010) I have had the opportunity to mentor high school, undergraduate, graduate and veterinary medicine students for which I developed an independent research project, helped with scientific writing skills, cv, personal statements and supervised their progress. My current and previous mentees, and their affiliations at the moment of mentorship, are listed below.
Mentorship experience as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California-Davis Summer 2020 *This is a virtual mentoring opportunity through the 2020 Michigan State University Bridge to Neuroscience Summer Program
Dariangelly Pacheco Cruz, Undergraduate student at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Julienn Torres-Rodríguez, Undergraduate student at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Yarimel Rosado, Undergraduate student at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Spring 2020 - June 2021
Jaime Morales Gallardo, Undergraduate in Global Disease Biology and Chicana/o Studies at the University of California Davis.
Daniel Erenstein, Undergraduate student in neurobiology, physiology and behavior with a minor in professional writing at the University of California Davis.
Summer 2019 - June 2021
Alejandra Quezada, Undergraduate student in molecular biology at California State University, Sacramento, CA.
Summer 2019 - Spring 2020
KaeChandra B. Weyenberg, Dennis lab junior research specialist at the University of California Davis.
Summer 2019
Martiza Nava Rios, High school student from Sacramento Charter High School, Sacramento, CA.
Summer 2018 - Spring 2020
Aditya Sriram, Undergraduate student in Genetics and Genomics at the University of California Davis.
Summer 2018
Maribel Nava Rios, High school student from Sacramento Charter High School, Sacramento, CA.
Advait Thaploo, High school student from Mira Loma High School, Sacramento, CA.
Spring 2017 - Summer 2018
Maram Bader - Undergraduate student from the University of California Davis.
Spring 2017 - Summer 2017
Ipek Midillioglu - High school student from Davis High School, Davis, CA.
Mentorship experience as a graduate student at Michigan State University Fall 2016 - Spring 2017
Nicole Colón-Carrión, B.S.- Post baccalaureate student from the Bridge to the PhD in Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University Neuroscience Program.
Summer 2016
Jenna Baker, B.S. - Undergraduate student from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Doris Olekanma - Undergraduate student from Michigan State University Neuroscience Program.
Summer 2015
Nicole Colón-Carrión, Undergraduate student from the University of Puerto Rico-Cayey.
Ninoshka Caballero, Undergraduate student from University of Puerto Rico-Humacao.
Fall 2014
Fall 2014- May 2016- Neco Wilson, Undergraduate student from Michigan State University.
Summer 2014
Zuania Cordero, Undergraduate student from the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras.
Stephanie Belhorn, B.S., 2nd year student from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine
Summer 2013
Desirée Rolón Dones, B.S., 1st year student from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Pamela S. Vega Perez, B.S., 1st year student from the Tuskegee College of Veterinary Medicine.
Zuleyris Santana, Undergraduate student from University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras.
Spring 2013
Spring 2013- Summer 2014- Alberto L. Perez Medina, Undergraduate student from University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo.
Summer 2012
Michelle Torres Toledo, Undergraduate student from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Arecibo.
Sydmarid Escudero Rivera, Undergraduate student from Universidad de Puerto Rico-Arecibo.
Jon A. Musser, B.S., Student from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Summer 2011
Dynaira Burgos, Undergraduate student from Universidad de Puerto Rico-Cayey.
Summer 2010
Miranda Sanchez, B.S., 2nd year student from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Informal Mentoring Mentor at Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR) Semillas de Triunfo Initiative
Fall 2020 - Spring 2021, I served as the mentor of a middle school student interested in science. I helped her develop an activity in the science topic of her choice, which focused on bringing awareness on the importance of recycling and the role it has on the survival of the tinglar turtle in Puerto Rico.
Writing coach and graduate student facilitator
Summer 2014 - 2016, MSU Summer Research Opportunities (SROP) Program. I served as a graduate student facilitator which consisted of meeting weekly with a group of ~12 summer interns, every summer, and giving them feedback on their research and their scientific presentations. I also served as a writing coach for these scholars and gave them feedback on their scientific paper, cv, personal statement and scientific posters.
Writing coach
Summer 2012 - 2016, MSU Bridge to the PhD in Neuroscience (BPNP) Summer Program. I developed the written assignments and supporting materials for the BPNP Summer Program. I served as a graduate student facilitator which consisted of meeting weekly with all the summer interns and giving them feedback on their research and their scientific presentations. I also served as a writing coach for these scholars and gave them feedback on their scientific paper, cv, personal statement and scientific posters.
Peer mentor
2011 - 2019, Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting Undergraduate Diversity Program. I served as a Peer Mentor in a 3 day program for underrepresented minority undergraduate students that are in the biological sciences and would like to learn about the area of toxicology and graduate school. As peer mentors we give advice about applying and being productive/successful in graduate school, teach about what type of careers/professions you can pursue as a toxicologist and also serve as a guide in the annual meeting while teaching students the different areas of toxicology.
Awards for mentoring
Sor Isolina Ferré Award for Excellence in Service-Education category. Given by the Puerto Rican Government, The House of Representatives. September 2023.
SACNAS 2022 NDiSTEM Outstanding Hispanic Student Mentor Award. October 2022.