• Previous Education: University of Puerto Rico at Humacao

• Degree obtained: B.S. in Coastal Marine Biology 

• Graduate Advisor: Nikolaos Schizas, Ph.D.

• Area of Specialization: Biological Oceanography

• Research Interest: gelatinous zooplankton, coastal zone management, marine ecology, population structure and macro algae

Born in the Pearl of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and raised in the City of Science, Bayamón. I enrolled in the Coastal Marine Biology program at the University of Puerto Rico (UPRH) to satisfy my scientific curiosity towards the ocean. It was there that I found my calling in the field of marine science. My experience in UPRH drove me to understand the importance of our marine resources. From conducting research in the largest coastal wetland of Puerto Rico to completing an internship in shorebird management with US Fish and Wildlife Service at Virginia and working as a field interviewer in the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) in Puerto Rico with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); being a marine scientist has opened countless doors in my professional career.

Currently, I am working on population structure of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana in Puerto Rico. After I graduate from UPRM, my ultimate goal is to obtain a PhD in coastal zone management to further improve management practices in Puerto Rico. I plan to accomplish this through the integration of the local and scientific communities and the promotion of environmental education.

I consider myself extroverted, social and a leader. I enjoy diving, paddle boarding, traveling and of course, my job!

My U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Experience