Meet the 2020-21 Fellows
Natasha Ramos Padilla
Undergraduate Studies: University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez
RISE Scholar: Summer 18
Program: Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Kat Dawson
Ph.D. Research Topic: Microbial biogeochemical cycling on estuarine systems
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP). Also received an honorable mention by the Ford Foundation.
Current Status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. student
Advice for prospective graduate students: Prioritize finding a research advisor with whom you feel comfortable and happy
Gustavo Rios Delgado
Undergraduate Studies: University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez
RISE/ Cellular Bioengineering REU Scholar: Summer 19
Program: Ph.D. in Molecular Biosciences
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Jeff Boyd
Ph.D. Research Topic: Gustavo is mainly interested in Immunology. Some additional research interests include infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance, the impact of the gut microbiota on the body, and the regulation of inflammatory responses.
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: *Pending
Current Status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. student
Advice for prospective graduate students: *Pending
Santos Rivera-Cardona
Undergraduate Studies: University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez
RISE Scholar: Summer 19
Program: Ph.D. in Political Science
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Jan Kubik
Ph.D. Research Topic: Santos’ main research interests are: (1) civil society, social movements, and protest politics; and (2) the relationship between politics and culture.
Support post-Super Grad Award, other notable awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: Paper presentation at LASA 2021 Conference in Vancouver (virtual conference) entitled “Flag Performances: Political Symbolism of Community, Resistance, and Transformation in Puerto Rico”
Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Third year doctoral student
Advice for prospective graduate students: These are challenging times we are all living in, and graduate school is not an easy journey, so please, do not hesitate to seek help. One does not know how many resources, support, and opportunities are available until we become vulnerable and seek help. You are not alone!
Catherine Rojas
Undergraduate Studies: Stockton University
RISE/SURF Scholar: Summer 19
Program: Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Debra Laskin
Ph.D. Research Topic: Molecular and histological changes to mouse lung after acute exposure to ozone.
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: IMSD Fellowship
Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. Student/2025
Advice for prospective graduate students: Just because you don’t see anybody like you, doesn’t mean you don’t belong. Make a path for yourself and others to follow.
Yadiel Varela Soler
Undergraduate Studies: University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez
RISE/GET-UP REU Scholar: Summer 18
Program: Ph.D. in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Charles Roth
Ph.D. Research Topic: Drug Delivery through bacterial biofilms
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: Also a Rutgers Presidential Fellowship recipient. Participant of Rutgers’ Biotechnology Training Program.
Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. student
Advice for prospective graduate students : All undergraduates interested in research should seek external summer research experiences, in addition to doing research at their respective institutions.
Navar Mercer White
Undergraduate Studies: Vassar College
RISE/Advanced Materials REU Scholar: Summer 18
Program: Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Kate Waldie
Ph.D. Research Topic: Use of Organometallics as catalysts for renewable liquid fuel systems
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: Support post Super Grad: Teaching Assistant, School of Graduate Studies Graduate Assistant. Publication: Katipamula, S.; White, N. M.; Waldie, K. M. Chem Catal. 2023, 3, 100561. DOI: 10.1016/j.checat.2023.100561
Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. student
Advice for prospective graduate students: Graduate school is demanding. It will require a lot form you, however you must still find a way to live a life outside of the lab. Find the time to meet people, make friends, fall in love, get married, have a kid or two. It will be hard but it will make you both a better researcher and a better person.
SUPER-Grad Associates
Zachary Clifford
Undergraduate Studies: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
RISE/GET-UP REU Scholar: Summer 19
Program: Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Charles Dismukes
Ph.D. Research Topic: Zachary is interested in materials chemistry research with a focus on green energy and sustainability; catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction reaction
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: N/A
Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. student
Advice for prospective graduate students: Make sure that the research group you choose to join is a good fit for you. It is important to join a group that is working on projects that interest you. But, it is just as important to make sure that the PI/other group members mesh well with your personality and how you tend to operate.
Liam McDermott
Undergraduate Studies: Iowa State
RISE/GET-UP REU Scholar: Summer 19
Program: Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Sanghyuk Lee
Ph.D. Research Topic: Liam is specializing in biophysics in Dr. Sanghyuk Lee's lab. He is currently spearheading a project to better image Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments: Publication https://journals.aps.org/prper/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.20.010111
Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. student
Advice for prospective graduate students: *pending
Talia Seymore
RISE/SURF Scholar: Summer 19
Program: Ph.D. in Toxicology
Undergraduate Studies: Penn State University
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Phoebe Stapleton
Ph.D. Research Topic:
Cardiovascular and reproductive health effects after inhalation exposure to nano and microparticles in rats
Support post Super Grad Award, other notable Awards, fellowships, publications or accomplishments:
- T32 Training Grant
- Phthalate exposures and placental health in animal models and humans: A systematic review. Seymore TN, Rivera-Núñez Z, Stapleton PA, Adibi JJ, Barrett ES - Toxicological Sciences, 2022
- IMSD fellowship
- Prenatal exposure to an environmentally relevant phthalate mixture disrupts testicular steroidogenesis in adult male mice. R Barakat, T Seymore, PCP Lin, CJ Park, CMJ Ko - Environmental research, 2019
Current status in graduate program/Expected graduation: Ph.D. student
Advice for prospective graduate students: Trust your process and enjoy every step of it. Although you may have doubts, think about a time when you hoped to be EXACTLY where you are now. Celebrate yourself every step of the way.