Dr. Manian is a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Bioengineering at UPRM, where she has been teaching and conducting research since 2006. She serves as Director of the Artificial Intelligence Imaging Group (AIIG) at UPRM, overseeing research in machine learning, data mining, neuroimaging, and remote sensing. In addition, she is an investigator with the MIT Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions (IAIFI), indicating collaborative research connections beyond UPRM.

- Multispectral image processing
- Bioengineering
- Bio-sensory data fusion
- Neuroscience
- Machine learning
Email: vidya.manian@upr.edu
Office: S-408
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 3650, 5845
Yang, L., Rodríguez-Quiñones, E., Yao, E. B., Deng, Y., & Silva Araya, W. (2024). Making waves: Harnessing stormwater for resilient water supply—A blueprint for vulnerable continental coasts and oceanic islands. *Journal of Hydrology, 635*, 131030. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131030
Viloria-Marimón, O. M., Santiago-Collazo, F. L., Bledsoe, B., & Silva Araya, W. (2025). A technique for stream geometry estimation based on watershed morphometric characteristics. *Water Resources Research, 61*(4), e2024WR036789. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024WR036789
Silva Araya, W., & Rodríguez-Quiñones, E. (2023). Vegetative flow resistance for erosion control using grass species from the Caribbean region. *Ecological Engineering, 191*, 106747. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2023.106747

- Structural engineering
- Earthquake engineering
- Seismic rehabilitation
The Puerto Rico Strong Motion Program (PRSMP), which he directs, has been supported through two main grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), enabling the installation and modernization of strong motion stations across Puerto Rico, including free-field stations, city local networks, instrumentation in concrete dams, and seismic monitoring in bridges
Email: jose.martinez44@upr.edu
Office: CI-105C1
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 3401
Silva Araya, W., Rodríguez-Quiñones, E., & Santiago-Collazo, F. L. (1994). Puerto Rico soils classification maps according to the 1994 National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program. University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Institutional Repository. https://scholar.uprm.edu/entities/publication/876dfb97-fb6d-4cc2-89a3-41f12b37fb2f

- Electronic engineering
- Control systems
- Embedded systems
- Operating Systems
- Autonomous driving systems
Email: juan.medina26@upr.edu
Office: S-613
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 2448
Peña Arias, Juan & Vásquez, Evelyn & Feo-Cediel, Guiselle & Negroni, Alanis & Medina Lee, Juan Felipe. (2025). Beyond “One-Size-Fits-All”: Estimating Driver Attention with Physiological Clustering and LSTM Models. Electronics. 14. 4655. 10.3390/electronics14234655. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/398016766_Beyond_One-Size-Fits-All_Estimating_Driver_Attention_with_Physiological_Clustering_and_LSTM_Models
Peña Arias, Juan & Negroni, Alanis & Martínez García, Diego & Vásquez, Evelyn & Medina Lee, Juan Felipe. (2025). Comparative Study of Hands-on-Wheel Detection Using Wearable LSTM and Camera-Based Vision Models for Driver Monitoring. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/394971759_Comparative_Study_of_Hands-on-Wheel_Detection_Using_Wearable_LSTM_and_Camera-Based_Vision_Models_for_Driver_Monitoring
Medina-Lee, J. F., Trentin, V., Hortelano, J. L., Artuñedo, A., Godoy, J., & Villagra, J. (2023). Framework for online motion planning using interaction-aware motion predictions in complex driving situations. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Vehicles, 9(1), 357–371. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=msHivBcAAAAJ&hl=es

- Microwave and radar systems
- Phased array antennas
- RF microelectronics
Email: rafael.medina1@upr.edu
Office: OF-332
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 6199
Salazar, J.L., Medina, R., Knapp, E.J., McLaughlin, D.J. (2008). Phase-tilt array antenna design for dense distributed radar networks for weather sensing. IGARSS 2008 – IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium.
Salazar-Cerreño, J.L., Chandrasekar, V., Trabal, J.M., Siquera, P., Medina, R., … (2014). A drop size distribution (DSD)-based model for evaluating the performance of wet radomes for dual-polarized radars. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 31(11), 2409–2430.
Salazar, J.L., Medina, R.H., Loew, E. (2015). T/R modules for active phased array radars. 2015 IEEE Radar Conference (RadarCon), 1125–1133.

- Pharmaceutical engineering
- Process control
Email: rafael.mendez1@upr.edu
Office: IQ-205-J
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 3585
Méndez-Román, R., & Vélez-Reyes, M. (2003). Nonlinear model predictive control using neural networks. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Part B (Cybernetics), 33(3), 408–419. https://doi.org/10.1109/TSMCB.2003.811144
Méndez-Román, R., Vélez-Reyes, M., & Arce, G. R. (2002). Nonlinear system identification using multilayer perceptrons with feedback. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks, 13(2), 293–300. https://doi.org/10.1109/72.991427
Méndez-Román, R., Vélez-Reyes, M., & Arce, G. R. (2001). Adaptive control of nonlinear systems using neural networks. Proceedings of the IEEE International Symposium on Intelligent Control, 121–126. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISIC.2001.955098

- DFT Calculations & Reaction Pathways
- Heterogeneous Catalysis & Catalytic Descriptors
- Zeolites & Phosphides
- Metal Oxides, Methanol-to-Olefins & Oxidative Dehydrogenation
- Polyoxometalates & Methanol Dehydration
- Biomass Conversion
Email: hansel.montalvo@upr.edu
Office: IQ-205-K
DFT+U calculations on substitutionally doped (Ni, Cu, Zn) Mg-vanadate surfaces for the oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes. Journal of Catalysis, July 14, 2025.
Electronic and geometric features controlling the reactivity of Mg-vanadate and V₂O₅ surfaces toward the initial C–H activation of C₁–C₃ alkanes – A DFT+U study. Journal of Catalysis, October 18, 2024.
Synthetic placement of active sites in MFI zeolites for selective toluene methylation to para-xylene. Journal of the American Chemical Society, April 4, 2024.

- Structural engineering
- Geotechnical earthquake engineering
- Signal processing
- Health monitoring
Email: luis.montejo@upr.edu
Office: OF-409
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 5918
Montejo, L., & Peralta, L. (2025). Seismic assessment of informally designed 2-floor RC houses: Lessons from the 2020 Southern Puerto Rico earthquake sequence. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 15(18), 22112–22122.
Montejo, L., & Vidot-Vega, A. L. (2025). On the development of power spectral density functions compatible with response spectra. Proceedings of the ASCE Conference, July 2025.
Montejo, L. (2025). Generation of response spectrum compatible records satisfying a minimum power spectral density function. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 7(12), 2231–2240.

- Extracellular matrix scaffold production
- Protein expression and purification
- Stem cells and cytocompatibility assessment
- Molecular biology
Dr. Camilo Mora Navarro directs the The Biomaterials and Biomacromolecules Research & Technologies Lab (BioMa2RT Lab). Its research focuses on engineering technologies using extracellular matrix (ECM) biomacromolecules for applications in biosensing, regenerative medicine, and the development of bio-instructive materials.
Email: camilo.mora@upr.edu
Office: IQ-205-G
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 6816
Herrera-Posada, S., Mora-Navarro, C., Ortiz-Bermudez, P., Torres-Lugo, M., McElhinny, K. M., Evans, P. G., Calcagno, B. O., & Acevedo, A. (2016). Magneto-responsive liquid crystalline elastomer nanocomposites as potential candidates for dynamic cell culture substrates. Materials Science and Engineering C, 65, 369–378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2016.04.063
Biehl, A., Martins, A. M. G., Davis, Z. G., Sze, D., Collins, L., Mora-Navarro, C., Fisher, M. B., & Freytes, D. O. (2022). Towards a standardized multi-tissue decellularization protocol for the derivation of extracellular matrix materials. Biomaterials Science, 11(2), 641–654. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2bm01012g
Mora-Navarro, C., Garcia, M. E., Sarker, P., Ozpinar, E. W., Enders, J. R., Khan, S., Branski, R. C., Freytes, D. O., Mora-Navarro, C., Garcia, M. E., Sarker, P., Ozpinar, E. W., Enders, J. R., Khan, S., Branski, R. C., & Freytes, D. O. (2021). Monitoring decellularization via absorbance spectroscopy during the derivation of extracellular matrix scaffolds. Biomedical Materials, 17(1), 015008. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-605x/ac361f

- Hydrology
- Remote sensing
- Meteorology
- Flood modeling
Email: jonathan.munoz@upr.edu
Office: CI-015
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 6345
Hosannah, N., Ramamurthy, P., Martí, J., González, J. E., & Muñoz Barreto, J. (2021). Impacts of Hurricane Maria on land and convection modification over Puerto Rico. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 126(2), e2020JD033506. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD033506
Tirado-Corbala, R., Román-Paoli, E., & Muñoz Barreto, J. (2021). Fertilization and precise irrigation scheduling for mature avocado. Agricultural Water Management, 243, 106444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106444
Nuñez-Olivieri, J., Muñoz Barreto, J., Tirado-Corbala, R., & Fisher, A. (2017). Comparison and downscale of AMSR2 soil moisture products with in situ measurements from the SCAN–NRCS network over Puerto Rico. Remote Sensing, 9(9), 936. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs9090936

- Nonlinear control
- Power electronics
- Modeling of photovoltaic systems
- Renewable energy
- Power supplies for satellites
Dr. Eduardo I. Ortiz-Rivera is a full professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UPRM and leads the Minds2CREATE Research Team, which focuses on renewable energy, autonomous vehicles, robotics, and power electronics research.
Email: eduardo.ortiz7@upr.edu
Office: SA-513
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 6282
Peng, F. Z., Joseph, A., Wang, J., Shen, M., Chen, L., Pan, Z., & Ortiz-Rivera, E. I. (2005). Z-source inverter for motor drives. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 20(4), 857–863. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/3280746_Z-Source_Inverter_for_Motor_Drives
Ortiz-Rivera, E. I., & Peng, F. Z. (2005). Analytical model for a photovoltaic module using the electrical characteristics provided by the manufacturer data sheet. In Proceedings of the 2005 IEEE 36th Power Electronics Specialists Conference* (pp. 2087–2091). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/PESC.2005.1581879
Balaguer-Álvarez, I. J., & Ortiz-Rivera, E. I. (2010). Survey of distributed generation islanding detection methods. IEEE Latin America Transactions, 8(5), 565–570. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242145056_SurveyofDistributedGenerationSystemsIslanding_DetectionMethods

- Electrical Discharges in Vacuum and Gases
- Vacuum Switching Technology
- Fields Stress Analysis in Electric Power Devices
- Power Systems Transients
- Alternative Energy Sources
- Distributed Generation
- Power Systems Protection
Email: lionel.orama@upr.edu
Office: SA-410
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 3604
Pu Giraldo-Castañeda, C. A., & Orama, L. R. (2008). Selective hopping maximum power point tracking method for PV systems. Solar Energy, (Nov 2008).
Vega, M. A., Colom, J. G., & Orama, L. R. (2006, September). Student developed meteorological radar network for Western Puerto Rico. In Conference Paper.
Rodriguez-Medina, B., Orama, L. R., & Velez-Reyes, M. (2003, October). Arc model parameter extraction techniques using nonlinear least squares. In Conference Paper.

- Biocatalysts for lignocellulose degradation
- Synthesis of antimicrobial nanoparticles
- Microbial technology,
- Biomaterials
Email: patricia.ortiz3@upr.edu
Office: IQ 205MA
Phone: 787-832-4040 Ext. 3209
Ortiz-Bermúdez, P., Srebotnik, E., & Hammel, K. E. (2003). Absence of mineral inhibition in enzymatic oxidation of Mn(II) by manganese peroxidase. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 409(2), 297–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-9861(02)00601-9
Ortiz-Bermúdez, P., Houtman, C. J., & Hammel, K. E. (2003). Lignin peroxidase oxidizes sinapyl alcohol to a sinapaldehyde-like product. FEBS Letters, 539(1–3), 103–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-5793(03)00184-6
Ortiz-Bermúdez, P., & Hammel, K. E. (2006). Oxidation of methoxylated aromatic compounds by fungal peroxidases. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 72(7), 4368–4374. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00463-06

- Sustainability & Renewable energy
- Distributed energy resources
- Microgrids
- Power quality & Power distribution systems
- Energy resilience
- Energy policy
Email: : efrain.oneill@upr.edu
Office: S-212
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 5843
R. Calloquispe-Huallpa, R. Darbali-Zamora, A. Huaman-Rivera, E. E. Aponte-Bezares, A. M. Wachtel and E. O’Neill-Carrillo, “OpenDss to ReNCAT: A Graph Theory Approach for Automated Power Network Data Extraction,” 2025 IEEE 53rd Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), Montreal, QC, Canada, 2025, pp. 1239-1245. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11132605
O’Neill-Carrillo, E., & Irizarry-Rivera, A. (2001). Energy efficiency and demand-side management in Puerto Rico. *IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 16*(4), 889–893. https://doi.org/10.1109/59.962423
O’Neill-Carrillo, E., & Ortiz-Rivera, E. I. (2000). Distributed generation and renewable energy integration in island power systems. *IEEE Power Engineering Society Summer Meeting, 3*, 1531–1536. https://doi.org/10.1109/PESS.2000.868728

- Environmental engineering
- Groundwater flow and transport modeling
- Water resources
Email: ingrid.padilla@upr.edu
Office: CL-005
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 3417
Padilla Cestero, I. Y. (2015). Equivalent Porous Media (EPM) Simulation of Groundwater Hydraulics and Contaminant Transport in Karst Aquifers. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0138954
Padilla Cestero, I. Y. Electromagnetic Detection and Digital Visualization of Dnapl Contaminants in a Two-Dimmensional Soilbed. https://doi.org/10.4081/JEAR.2020.9529
Padilla Cestero, I. Y. (2008). Urinary Phthalate Metabolite Concentrations among Workers in Selected Industries: A Pilot Biomonitoring Study. Annals of Occupational Hygiene. https://doi.org/10.1093/ANNHYG/MEN066

- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- STEM Education
- Interfacial Phenomena
Dr. Agnes Padovani serves as Co-Director and Education Director of the NSF-CREST Nanotechnology Center for Biomedical, Environmental, and Sustainability Applications (NSF-CREST), where she leads initiatives integrating research and STEM education throughout Puerto Rico.
Email: agnes.padovani@upr.edu
Office: OF 319
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 6185
Padovani Blanco, A. M., Alvarez, J. E., Pomales-Garcia, C. D., Suarez, O. M., & Perales, O. J. (2018). The Mayagüez Nanotechnology Center: 10 Years of Transformative Impact on Interdisciplinary Research – The Highlights. Journal of Nanotechnology Education.
Pomales-Garcia, C. D., Suarez, O. M., Padovani Blanco, A. M., & Alvarez, J. E. (2018). A Successful Pre-college Nanotechnology Experience for Low-income Students (Evaluation). Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2–29732
Padovani Blanco, A. M., et al. (2018). UPR-Mayagüez Nanotechnology Center: 10 Years of Transformative Impact on STEM Education and Research Across the Academic Echelon. Proceedings of the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS). 10(2), 915–926. doi:10.1016/j.cstp.2022.03.005

- Heterogeneous catalysis
- Kinetic and reaction engineering
- Catalytic nanomaterial synthesis
- Renewable energy
- Sustainability
Email: yomairaj.pagan@upr.edu
Office: IQ-207-E
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 3589
Webpage: Pagan Torres Lab
Pagan-Torres, Y., Wang, B., Albarracín-Suazo, S., & Nikolla, E. (2017). Advances in methane conversion processes. *Catalysis Science & Technology, 7*(8), 2781–2801. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7CY00615H
Pagan-Torres, Y., Wang, T., Combs, E., Shanks, B. H., & Dumesic, J. A. (2012). Production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from glucose using a combination of Lewis and Brønsted acid catalysts in water in a biphasic reactor with an alkylphenol solvent. *ACS Catalysis, 2*(6), 930–934. https://doi.org/10.1021/cs300220f
Pagan-Torres, Y., Gallo, J. M. R., Wang, D., Shanks, B. H., & Dumesic, J. A. (2012). Catalytic conversion of biomass using solvents derived from lignin. *Green Chemistry, 14*(2), 307–313. https://doi.org/10.1039/C1GC15738A

- Transportation technology
- Natural hazards
- Water resources
Dr. Ismael Pagán Trinidad is the Director of the Civil Infrastructure Research Center (CIRC) at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, and oversees research initiatives in civil and coastal engineering.
Email: ismael.pagan@upr.edu
Office: CI-011C
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 3496, 6744
Villanueva, Evelyn & Rpg, & Pittman, David & Director, Phd & Ruiz, Carlos & Pagán-Trinidad, Ismael & Chair,. (2006). ERDC/UPRM Partnership: A Model for Educational and Research Initiatives. 21-23.

- Structural mechanics
- Biomechanics
- Engineering ethics
- Engineering education
- Sustainability
Email: christopher.papadopoulos@upr.edu
Healey, T. J., & Papadopoulos, C. (2013). Bifurcation of hemitropic elastic rods under axial thrust. Manuscript. https://www.ams.org/journals/qam/2013-71-04/S0033-569X-2013-01308-7/S0033-569X-2013-01308-7.pdf
Tabatabai, H., Oliver, D., Rohrbaugh, J. W., & Papadopoulos, C. (2013). Novel applications of laser Doppler vibration measurements to medical imaging. Manuscript. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24764800/
Papadopoulos, C., Tabatabai, H., & Buechel, C. (2005). Investigation of a model vertical motion liquid damper: Comparing numerical simulation and experimental evidence. Manuscript.

- Robotics & Electronics
- Embedded systems
- Automated Systems
- Computer Engineering
- Low level architectures
Email: juan.patarroyo@upr.edu
Office: OF-330
Phone: (787) 832-4040 ext. 5952
Shah, C., Vasquez-Plaza, J. D., Campo-Ossa, D. D., & Patarroyo-Montenegro, J. F. (2020). Review of dynamic and transient modeling of power electronic converters for converter dominated power systems. IEEE Access, 9, 104. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3041234
Patarroyo-Montenegro, J. F., Andrade, F., Guerrero, J. M., & Vasquez, J. C. (2020). A linear quadratic regulator with optimal reference tracking for three-phase inverter-based islanded microgrids. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 35(8), 8020–8031. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2020.2971234
Patarroyo-Montenegro, J. F., Salazar-Duque, J. E., Alzate-Drada, S. I., & others. (2018). An AC microgrid testbed for power electronics courses in the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. 2018 IEEE ANDESCON, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1109/ANDESCON.2018.8564632
