EDUCATION:
• Ph.D., Agronomy and Soils, Kansas State University – Manhattan, May 1996.
• M.S., Marine Sciences (Chemical Oceanography), University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez, July 1992.
• B.S., Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez, Dec. 1989.
PROFESIONAL (RESEARCH, TEACHING AND CONSULTING) INTERESTS:
Soil fertility and fertilizers, Nutrient management, Soil and water quality, Watershed management, Nutrient transport from soils and watersheds, Soil carbon and nitrogen cycling
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
• Professor, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management, University of Puerto Rico, Agro-environmental Sciences (formerly Agronomy and Soils Department. July 2005 to present
• Associate Professor, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management, University of Puerto Rico, Agronomy and Soils Department. Aug. 2000 to June 2005
• Assistant Professor, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management, University of Puerto Rico, Agronomy and Soils Department. Aug. 1997 to July 2000
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Soil Scientist – USDA-ARS, Crop Genetics and Environmental Research Unit, Gainesville, FL. June 1996 to July 1997.
• USDA National Needs Water Science Fellow – Kansas State University, Dept. of Agronomy, Manhattan, KS, Jan. 1993 to May 1996.
• Graduate Teaching Assistant – Kansas State University, Dept. of Agronomy, Manhattan, KS. Aug. – Dec. 1994 to May 1995
• Quality Control Chemist – Roche Products, Inc., Manatí, Puerto Rico, July to Dec. 1992.
• Graduate Research Assistant – University of Puerto Rico, Dept. of Marine Sciences, Mayagüez, PR, Jan. 1990 to July 1992.
• COOP student – Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station (NAVSSES); Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. – Aug. 1988.
AWARDS AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
• Gamma Sigma Delta, Capítulo Jorge Rodríguez Arias de Puerto Rico. Distinguished Researcher Award, Premio Investigador Distinguido Dr. Miguel A. Lugo López. 2007.
• Proyecto ATLANTEA (UPR) 2006. Third prize (Social Impact category, Creativity category), First prize (Academic Impact category) for presentation: Evaluation of organic matter pools and distribution in a Vertisol under mixed land-use.
• Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSSc). Board Certification by the American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI.
• Certificate of Appreciation – USDA-NRCS (November, 2000).
• Ernest L. & Lou R. Adams Graduate Scholarship – Kansas State University, 1995 – 1996.
• Dean F. Weber Graduate Scholarship – Kansas State University, 1994 – 1995.
• USDA National Needs Water Science Fellowship – Jan. 1993 – Jan. 1996.
• XLIX PCCMCA Annual Meeting, La Ceiba, Honduras, 2nd place presentation, Agricultural Biophysics and Natural Resources group.
EXPERIENCE (CURRENT COURSES)
• AGRO4037 – Soil Fertility and Fertilizers (available at: http://ecourses.uprm.edu)
• AGRO6505 – Advanced Soil Fertility (available at: http://ecourses.uprm.edu)
• AGRO3005 – General Soils Course (available at: http://ecourses.uprm.edu)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE (PAST COURSES)
AGRO4018 – Soil Physical and Chemical Properties; AGRO6607 – Soil Chemistry; AGRO4038 – Summer Practice; AGRO6604 – Soil-Plant Relations
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
• Council of Soil Science Examiners (CSSE), American Society of Agronomy. 2011-2014, 2015-2018.
• Ad hoc reviewer for various scientific journals
• Associate Editor, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. January 2006 to Aug 2008.
• Member American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, 1993 – present
• Member American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, 1991-1993, 2005-2006, 2014-2015
• Member, Sociedad Puertorriqueña de Ciencias Agrícolas (SOPCA), 1999 – present
• Member, Caribbean Food Crops Society (CFCS), 1999 – present
• Member, Programa Cooperativo Centroamericano para el Mejoramiento de Cultivo Alimentarios (PCCMCA), 2000 – present
• Member, Gamma Sigma Delta, Agricultural Honor Society, 2001 – present; Secretary-Treasurer, 2004-2005.
• Reviewer for NRICGP Soils and Soil Biology Program 1999, Ad-hoc Reviewer 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2004.
• Member of Sustainable Management of Soils Working Group UPR-RUM Extension Service, 1999-2000
• Member “Nutrient & Pest Management and Conservation Planning” Training Program, in cooperation with USDA-NRCS, 2000-2001
• Chair, Master’s Thesis (Manuel Matos, Ancizar Lugo, Ronald Corvera Gomringer, José Bracette, John Jairo Ramírez, Leo Cruz, Ronald Dorcinvil, Gerson Ardila, Axel López, Alexander Recamán, Maria V. Viggiano Beltrocco, Miguel Olivares; Paloma Rodríguez, Juan Rodríguez Monsegur, Armando Román)
• Member graduate committee for MSc and Ph.D students, and representation of graduate school in graduate committees
• Ad-hoc consultant Instituto Dominicano Investigaciones Agrícolas y Forestales (IDIAF), June 2010 to present.
• Independent Consultant – Perform nutrient management recommendations for the agricultural community 1997 – present.