Universidad del Turabo, School of Science and Technology
Profiles of the Full-time Faculty
(last update: 2011.10.14)
Professor
Education
Interests
Ramón Alejandro-Nieves, Instructor,
Mathematics
(787) 743-7979, ext. 4256
MEd, Supervision and
Administration, University of
Phoenix, 1986.
Studies towards the MS degree
in Mathematics, University of
Puerto Rico.
MS and PhD Biology,
University of Puerto Rico 2008.
BS entomology, University of
Valle-Colombia 1996.
Mathematics education. Modern Algebra,
Topology.
Maria Fernanda Barberena-Arias, Assistant
Professor, Biology, ext 4266
Eva Cáceres Roure, Associate Professor,
Biology
Tel. (787) 743-7979
ext. 4258
MS, Biology, University of
Puerto Rico, 1982.
Sharon A Cantrell, Professor, Biology and
Dean of Doctoral Studies Center
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4266, 4116
PhD, Plant PathologyConcentration Mycology,
University of Georgia, USA,
1996.
Rodulio Caudales, Associate Professor, Biology
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4264
PhD, Microbiology, Rutgers
University 1994
E-mail
ralejandro@suagm.edu
Tropical ecosystems: arthropods in terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems, soil biology, litter
decomposition (nutrients, temperature, humidity,
fauna), community succession, conservation
biology
Interests in the developmental biology of
Drosophila melanogaster.
Taxonomy, systematics and evolution of fungi
using traditional and molecular techniques.
Studies in soil and leaf litter microbial
communities and succession using FAME and
TRFLP. Fungi in extreme environments. Role of
fungi in ecosystem processes.
Hydrogen production and nitrogen fixation by
Cyanobacteria. Bioremediation of Toxins in
aquatic reservoirs. Bioremediations of heavy
metals and phytoremediation. Pathogenic
bacteria in aquatic systems. Biochemical
transformations in wetlands. Novel lipids in
cyanobacteria. Microbial ecology in extreme
environments. Microbial ecology related to
nitrogen cycle. Symbiosis signal transduction in
azolla-cyanobionts and legums the bacteroids.
Nutrient mobility in symbiosis. Evolution of lipids
mbarberena1@suagm.edu
utbarberena@yahoo.com
ecaceres@suagm.edu
scantrel@suagm.edu
rcaudales@suagm.edu
caudales@yahoo.com
David Colón Arroyo, Instructor, Biology
Coordinator for the Associate’s Degree Program
787-743-7979 ext 4253
José Ducongé, Professor, Physics, and
Director Chemistry & Physics Department Tel.
(787) 743-7979 ext. 4257
MS Biology University of
Puerto Rico 1976, Additional
doctoral studies in Medical
Entomology, University of
Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
PhD, Physics, University of
Moscow, 1980
in cyanobacteria. Aquatic plant ecology:
Caribbean and Southern Africa. Terrestrial plants
of Bostwana. Photosynthetic bacteria.
Fermentation.
Interest in the Population Biology of the mosquito
Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti as dengue
vectors. Also, steroid detection in human urine
using spectroscopic methods.
Theorical physics and materials science.
Materials characterization and instrumentation in
zeolites.
Anastacio Emiliano, Associate Professor,
Chemistry, Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4256
PhD, Biochemistry/MS Organic
Chemistry 1999
CO2 Capture/Activation, Mechanocatalysis,
Acrylamide in food.
Samuel Flores, Associate Professor, Biology
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4250
Eddie N. Laboy Nieves, Associate Professor,
Biology; Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4264
PhD, Ecology, University of
Chicago, 1989.
PhD, Marine Ecology,
Venezuelan Scientific
Research Institute, 1998.
Reproductive biology of plants.
Teresa Lipsett Ruiz, Professor and Dean, Math
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4223
PhD, Math Curriculum,
Fordham University, 1986.
Application of statistics as a tool for formative
and/or summative evaluations, curriculum
development, projects related to programs to
attract pre college and undergraduate students to
study science, math, engineering o related
careers. Environmental remediation
technologies: EZVI Educational research. Indoor
air quality.
Anticancer drug synthesis and characterization,
nanotechnology in cancer, remediation of
hazardous wastes, atmospheric environmental
chemistry, preparation of material for small
molecules storage.
1. Synthesis, chemical modification and
applications of single wall carbon nanotubes. 2.
Synthesis of nanoporous membranes and their
applications in nanotechnology. 3.
Photophysics. Study of organic compounds in
César Lozano, Professor, Chemistry
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4263, 4115
Francisco Márquez, Professor, Chemistry Tel.
(787) 743-7979 ext. 4261
PhD, Chemistry, University of
Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, 1994.
PhD, Physical Chemistry,
University of Valencia, 1992
Ecology of holothurids and raptors, environmental
management., mangroves, sea grass beds,
habitat characterization, trace elements.
dcolon@suagm.edu
jduconge@suagm.edu
aemilian@suagm.edu
sflores@suagm.edu
elaboy@suagm.edu
ut_tlipsett@suagm.edu
clozano@suagm.edu
fmarquez@suagm.edu
confined spaces. Application in laser dyes. 4.
Catalysis.
Guillermo Martínez, Professor, Chemistry
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4261
Adaris Mas Rivera, Assistant Professor,
Biology,
(787) 743-7979, ext 4266
Santander Nieto, Assistant Professor,
Chemistry - Physics
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4253
PhD, Analytical Chemistry,
University of Puerto Rico.
1980
PhD, Biology, University of
Puerto Rico, 2005
Use of technology in chemistry teaching.
Analysis of natural products.
PhD, Physical Chemistry.
Unversity of Puerto Rico. Rio
Piedras Campus, 2006.
Synthesis and characterization of a variety of high
tech advanced ceramic materials for Li-ion based
cathode materials for rechargeable batteries in
the form of nano-powders, thin films and fibers.
My immediate research plans are based on
addressing some of the outstanding issues
regarding the synthesis of pronto-conducting
membranes for hydrogen and oxygen cleaning,
and the synthesis of new materials.
Differential geometry, combinatorics, differential
equations and applied mathematics.
Animal Behavior, Science Education, Ecology
and Conservation, Human Sexuality.
Marlio Paredes Gutiérrez, Professor,
Mathematics, Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4276
PhD, Math, State University of
Campinas, Brazil. 2000
Jose R Pérez Jimenez, Associate Professor,
Biology and Director, Interdisciplinary Research
Institute. Tel. 787-743-7979 Ext. 4279
Fax: 787-744-5427
PhD, Environmental
Microbiology, Rutgers
University, 2003.
Environmental microbiology and biotechnology
with emphasis on the molecular characterization
of cultivation of selected anaerobic groups
(sulfate-reducing bacteria and arsenate respirers)
involved in the transformation of contaminants.
Olga Lucía Quintero Fonseca, Instructor
Mathematics
Tel. (787) 743-7979
ext. 4254
MS, Computer Science,
University of Puerto Rico,
Mayaguez, 2003. Doctoral
credits(37) in Science
MATHEMATICS; and doctoral
credits (27) in Curriculum and
Teaching Mathematics, UPRRio Piédras
PhD, Chemistry, University of
Puerto Rico, 1973.
Integration of technology in mathematics
teaching. Tricerebral development from
mathematics teaching. Use of functional
language. Mathematics education. Dynamic
Geometry.
Agustín Ríos, Professor, Chemistry
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4262
Synthesis and characterization of cyclic
peroxides, thermal photochemical and
neucleophilic deramposition of cyclic perocide.
gmartinez@suagm.edu
admas@suagm.edu
snieto2@suagm.edu
maparedes@suagm.edu;
marlio.paredes@gmail.com
ut_jperezjm@suagm.edu
utjperezjm@gmail.com
oquintero@suagm.edu
arios@suagm.edu
Angel Rivera Collazo, Professor, Mathematics
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4251, 4167
PhD, Math Education,
University of Illinois, 1987.
Rolando Roque Malherbe, Professor, Director
of the Institute of Physical-Chemical Applied
Research
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4260
PhD, Physics, Moscow Institute
of Steel and Alloys, 1978.
José Sánchez Villafañe, Associate Professor,
and Director of the Mathematics Department
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4252
Fred C Schaffner, Professor and Associate
Dean for Graduate Studies and Research
Tel. (787) 743-7979 ext. 4255, 4014
MS, Mathematics, University of
Puerto Rico, 1991.
Ruth Vallejo, Associate Professor, Biology, and
Director of the Biology Department Tel. (787)
743-7979 ext. 4259
PhD, Biology (Ecology and
Tropical Biology), University of
Miami, 1988. MS, Biology, San
Diego State University, 1982.
MEd, Biology, University of
Puerto Rico, 1973; Doctoral
credits (30) in Science;
Curriculum and Teaching,
UPR-Rio Piédras.
Mathematics education, integration of technology
in math learning, mathematics online learning and
assessment, math peer to peer learning, and
science education.
Synthesis and characterization of new materials.
Development of new methods of materials
research. Develpment of theoretical algorithms
for the description of equilibrium and transport
processes in materials.
Integration of technology in mathematics
teaching.
Environmental management, sustainable
development, conservation biology, ecology and
habitat management, including eutrophication
and anoxia in natural and managed surface
waters. Additional specific interests in
ornithology, wildlife ecology and management,
and the ecology and reproductive energetics of
marine and aquatic birds, and terrestrial
Neotropical migrants.
Innovations in science education, ecological
aspects of gastropods.
arivera@suagm.edu
rroque@suagm.edu
jsanchez@suagm.edu
fschaffner@suagm.edu
ut_rvallejo@suagm.edu