Responding To External Challenges
and Opportunities:
Research at UPR at The Beginning of Its Second Century
Presented at NSF Caribbean Colloquium on Power Quality
(CCPQ) 2003
Dr. Manuel Gómez
Vice President for Research and Technology
Dorado, PR
June 25, 2003
m_gomez@upr.edu
UPR: http://www.upr.clu.edu ; Central Administration: http://acosi.upr.clu.edu
EPSCoR: http://web.uprr.pr ; PR-LSAMP: http://shuttle.uprm.edu/prlsamp/bpc; Scientific Community: http://web.uprr.pr/wais
An Issue of Scale
Puerto Rico at a Glance
Location of the UPR
Graduate Campuses
Geography and
Demographics
Area:
3,434 square miles
(Rhode Island’s)
Population: 3.8 M
(>25 states)
The Economy
K-12 Ed. System
GDP: $48B
Total Enrollment: 800,000
Exports: $23.9B
Public Enrollment: 620,000
(L.A. Unified School Dist.)
Manufacturing: 41% of GDP
S&T Industries: Pharmaceuticals
Electronics
Medical Devises
Service: 48% of GDP
Public Schools: 1,540
Higher Education System
Enrollment in Higher Education: 170,000
(the sixth highest rate of enrollment in the
world)
UPR System: 70,000
(41% of Higher Education Enrollment)
SMET Degrees Conferred
UPR: 2,000 (71%); Private Institution: 800
(29%)
UPR School of Engineering: 9th largest in the
nation
2
The University of Puerto Rico
as it Enters its Second Century
3
UPR System at a Glance
•
UPR was founded in 1983 and since its inception has conferred more than 300,000 degrees:
UPR has educated most of the top leadership of the Island.
•
UPR is the premier Hispanic serving institution in the United States, with an enrollment of 70,000
students.
•
UPR is a multicampus system with 11 campuses: eight 4-year institutions and three graduate
campuses. The graduate campuses are: UPR-Mayagüez, UPR-Río Piedras, and UPR-Medical
Sciences.
•
UPR conferred 10,020 academic degrees in year 2002.
•
UPR graduate programs are developing very quickly: it conferred 100 PhD’s last year.
•
UPR offers 499 different degrees including 22 PhD programs.
•
UPR’s three graduate campuses aspire to become Research I Institutions, according to the
Carnegie Classification. UPR-Río Piedras is already a Doctoral Research Intensive
Institution, according to the Carnegie Classification.
•
UPR’s research activity, as measured by external funding, has grown exponentially since 1985,
doubling every five years. For year 2001-2002, it received $62M in external funding for
research.
•
UPR is member of INTERNET2; has teleconferencing facilities in every campus; its three graduate
campuses are connected by OC-3 lines and a GigaPoP connects then to the mainland through
an OC-3 line.
4
The Traditional University
Higher Education and
the Rest of the Educational Continuum
Undergraduate
Pre-College
Human Resources
Graduate
Human Resources
knowledge
knowledge
K - 12
13 - 16
16+ and PhD's
reform
reform
reform
Economic Development
5
The Engaged University
The Seamless Continuum:
Strongly Coupled S&T Reform Process
Between Higher Education and
the Rest of the Educational Continuum
Undergraduate
Pre-College
Human Resources
Graduate
Human Resources
knowledge
knowledge
K - 12
knowledge;
13 - 16
reform
well prepared
teachers
reform
knowledge;
quality faculty
16+ and PhD's
reform
Economic Development
S&T Policy for
State or Region
6
The University of Puerto Rico
Educates the Next Generation of the
Science and Technology Workforce
7
Total Enrollment in Science & Technology and
Bachelors in Science Degrees Conferred Per Year
for the University of Puerto Rico
17,500
2,400
16,500
2,200
15,500
Total enrollment
14,500
Enrollment
Degrees
1,800
13,500
1,600
12,500
1,400
11,500
Degrees confered per year
2,000
1,200
10,500
9,500
1,000
Enrollment
85-86 86-87 87-88 88-89 89-90 90-91 91-92 92-93 93-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01
Degrees
90-91 91-92 92-93 93-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01
Year
8
Date of Creation and Number of Degrees Conferred in the Natural
Sciences and Engineering by Doctoral Program at UPR
Date of
Creation
Number of Degrees
Conferred Since Its
Creation*
Anatomy (Medical Sciences)
1960
11
Biochemistry (Medical Sciences)
1960
17
Physiology (Medical Sciences)
1960
18
Microbiology (Medical Sciences)
1962
15
Pharmacology (Medical Sciences)
1964
13
Chemistry (Río Piedras)
1970
133
Marine Sciences (Mayagüez)
1972
62
Biology (Intercampus – Río Piedras & Medical Sciences)
1981
51
Chemical-Physics (Interdisciplinary – Río Piedras & Mayagüez)
1981
19
Civil Engineering (Mayagüez)
1992
6
Doctoral Programs (PhD)
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEGREES CONFERRED UP TO 2000
345
* Totals up to 2000
9
Date of Creation and Number of Degrees Conferred in the Natural
Sciences and Engineering by Doctoral Program at UPR (Cont.)
Doctoral Programs (PhD)
Date of
Creation
Number of Degrees
Conferred Since Its
Creation
New Doctorals Programs
Chemical Engineering (Mayagüez)
1999
Business Administration (Finances y International Commerce)
(Río Piedras)
1999
Mathematics (Río Piedras)
2000
Computational Sciences and Engineering
(Interdisciplinary) (Mayagüez & with faculty from other
campuses)
2000
Applied Chemistry (Mayagüez)
2002
New Programs on the Drawing Board
Biotechnology (Mayagüez)
Computational Biology (Río Piedras)
10
PhDs Conferred in Natural Sciences,
Medical Sciences, and Engineering at UPR
50
49
45
# Ph’sD Conferred
40
35
31
30
25
25
22
20
15
17
17
14
10
16
12
9
10
9
5
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Academic Year
11
The University of Puerto Rico
Becomes the First Research I University in
Puerto Rico by Strengthening PhD
Programs and Fostering Competitive
Research in its Three Graduate Campuses
12
Developing Three Research I Campuses
At the University of Puerto Rico System
Present Level
of Activity
Carnegie
Classification
2000
12
PhD
programs
1) Río Piedras
Campus
60
PhD's
per Year
Carnegie
Classification
2005
PhD
programs
16
in five years
Doctoral/Research
University, Intensive
Projected Level
of Activity
(2005)
Doctoral/Research
University, Extensive
$12M
90
PhD's
per Year
$30M
in
R&D Funds
in
R&D Funds
in five years
5
PhD
programs
2) Medical
Sciences
Campus
10 PhD's
per Year
$19M
in
R&D Funds
Specialized
Institution
[All Independent
Medical Sciences
Campuses and
Medical Schools]
Specialized
Institution
[All Independent
Medical Sciences
Campuses and
Medical Schools]
5
PhD
programs
PhD's
per Year
20
$40M
in
R&D Funds
in five years
4 PhD
programs
3) Mayagüez
Campus
6
PhD's
per Year
$13M
in
R&D Funds
PhD
programs
7
Masters
(Comprehensive)
College or University
Doctoral/Research
University, Intensive
15
PhD's
per Year
$35M
in
R&D Funds
13
R&D Expenditures in Puerto Rico Universities
(NSF DATA)
100
90
Expenditures ($ in Millions)
80
70
Public
Private
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Year
14
Growth in UPR External Funds for R+D
1992-93 to 2001-02
External Fund for R&D (in millions)
$60
$ 56.65 M
$55
$50
$45
$40
$35
$30
$25
$ 23.46 M
$20
92-93
93-94
94-95
95-96
96-97
97-98
98-99
99-00
00-01
01-02
Academic Year
Net Growth in a 10 Year Period Resulted in 2.4 increase in available funds.
15
Publications in Peer Reviewed Science and Technology* Journals
of the University of Puerto Rico
(Information from the Science Citation Index**)
950 ***
1000
900
800
# of Peer Reviewed Publications
700
510
600
500
313
400
228
300
154
200
100
Publications
per Researcher
365
(0.6)
(0.7)
(0.9)
* Science and Technology: Includes Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Medicine, Agriculture and Engineering
** Source: "Science Citation Index"
*** The curve represents a 10% compounded growth rate
04-05
340
2001-02
280
Year
98-99
92-93
# of researchers
At UPR
85-86
0
600
(1.5)
16
17
R&D IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FIELDS IS A TOP
PRIORITY FOR UPR IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AN S&T DRIVEN ECONOMY FOR
PUERTO RICO
•
The Government approved an S&T Policy in October, 1996. A strategic plan
is being developed for its implementation.
•
The UPR Board of Trustees approved an S&T Policy in 1997 to channel
resources and give priority to increase the number and quality of PhDs,
intensify R&D activity, and promote the protection and commercialization of
intellectual property in support of the Government's S&T Policy.
•
Since 1985 with funds from NSF, DOE, DOD, NASA, and EPA, the
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) has
accelerate the development of infrastructure and nurture competitive R&D in
Puerto Rico. With an annual budget in excess of $12M, more than 150
researchers carry on cutting edge research in five thrust areas.
18
NSF EPSCoR
Development of target areas based on
existing capabilities, growth potential,
and contribution to the Island’s economy
PR-EPSCoR Thrust Areas Evolution
NSF EPSCoR Phase IV
Biotechnology
Engineering
Infrastructure
NSF EPSCoR Phase V
Integrative
Biomolecular Processes
Environmental Science
and Engineering
Environmental Research
High Performance
Computing
Materials Science
NIH
IDEA
Information
Technology Research
Materials Science
External Peer Assessment
American Association for the Advancement of Science
NSF EPSCoR Phase V Funds: $13.5M
NASA
EPSCoR
DEPSCoR
DoE
EPSCoR
19
Engineering Research Centers Initiative
20
A STRATEGY TO DEVELOP STATE-OF-THE ART
ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTERS
 UPR is actively participating in three ERC’s
• Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging
Systems (CenSSIS)
– An alliance with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
Northeastern University, and Boston University
– Partnership with research hospital and marine
stations
– Research in remote sensing of biological systems,
submarine exploration and subsoil sensing
– Development of test-beds to develop new remote
sensing technologies
– Partnership with industries
21
A STRATEGY TO DEVELOP STATE-OF-THE ART
ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTERS (Cont.)

Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere
(CASA)
• Collaboration with University of Massachusetts, University of
Oklahoma, and Colorado State University
• Industrial partners: Hewlett Packard and Verizon
• Radar network for detection of every day and extreme
meteorological events
• Integration of information on extreme meteorological events with
the needs of emergency management agencies and the public
22
CENTER FOR POWER ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS
Virginia Tech
Rensselaer
Polytechnic
Institute
University
of Wisconsin
Madison
University
of Puerto Rico
Mayaguez
North
Carolina A&T State
University
77 Industry Partners
Electric Energy Processing
System Laboratory (E2PSyL)
 Three main areas:
• component testing and prototyping
• component modeling and simulation
• power quality and energy conversion
 Multi-disciplinary projects
• Industrial and Mechanical Engineering (CPES)
 NSF and UPRM funds (over $350k)
• Dr. Vélez-Reyes PECASE award 1997
• Dr. Efraín O’Neill NSF MRI Award 2001
24
Acquisition of Instrumentation for the
Electric Energy Processing Systems
Laboratory at UPRM
NSF Major Research Instrumentation Grant (MRI)
Dr. Efraín O’Neill-Carrillo, PI
Dr. Miguel Vélez-Reyes, Co-PI
Dr. Lionel Orama-Exclusa, Co-PI
Dr. Agustín Irizarry-Rivera, Co-PI
Dr. José R. Cedeño-Maldonado, Co-PI
25
Research Infrastructure






Enhancement of research
capabilities at E2PSyL
Power electronics
Electric drives
Power quality
Transient studies
Improved computational capabilities
26
Biotechnology Initiative
27
Federal EPSCoR Funding (1990-2003)
450
projected
400
$$ (in millions)
350
300
NSF
250
DOE
USDA
200
NIH
DoD
150
NASA
100
EPA
DOC
50
Total
0
FY90 FY91 FY92 FY93 FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99 FY00 FY01 FY02 FY03
Fiscal Year
28
The University of Puerto Rico
Implements a Multicampus a Strategy to
Develop its R&D Capacity in Biotechnology
using NIH Funds
29
The Biotechnology Trilogy
2001
COBRE I
Center for Molecular,
Developmental and
Behavioral Science
Biotechnological
and Pharmaceutical
Industries
BRIN
COBRE II
Center for Research
in Protein Structure,
Function and Dynamics
Biomedical Research;
Bioinformatics Infrastructure
Network
NIH Funds: $24.5M
UPR Matched Funds: $6.5M
30
University of Puerto Rico
Center for Molecular, Developmental and Behavioral Neuroscience
COBRE I
31
University of Puerto Rico
Center for Molecular, Developmental and Behavioral Neuroscience
Projects:
COBRE
•Molecular mechanism of brain injury: P2Y2 nucleotide
receptor in ischemia. Fernando A. González, Ph.D.
•Emotional memory: Genomic basis of emotional
learning and memory. Sandra Peña, Ph.D.
•Cocaine-seeking behavior: Neural and molecular
mechanisms in striatal learning. Carmen Maldonado, Ph.D.
•Development of maternal behavior: Neurosteroid
effects on the structure and function of a sexually
dimorphic mammalian brain network. Juan C. Jorge, Ph.D.
32
UPR- Protein Research Center
NIH-COBRE II Program
33
UPR- Protein Research
Center
Center for Research in
Protein Structure, Function
and Dynamics
Sponsored by the National Institutes of
Health-Centers of Biomedical Research
Excellence (NIH-COBRE II) Program
NIH Funding Period: Oct. 2001- Sept 2006
($8 Million / 5 years)
34
CURRENT PROJECTS & PI’s

Protein Structure, Dynamics, and Function.
Dr. Juan López Garriga - Chemistry UPR-Mayagüez
Dr. Carmen Cadilla– Biochemistry-UPR-Medical Sciences
• Aimed at understanding the reactions between hemoglobin (Hb), myoglobin
(Mb), and other heme proteins with H2O2.

Protein Interactions and Oligomerization.
Dr. Belinda Pastrana - Ríos - Chemistry UPR-Mayagüez
Dr. Elsa M. Cora – Biochemistry-UPR-Medical Sciences
• Aimed at studying serum 110 kD-sEGFR, a circulating serum biomarker for
epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), a protein generated by alternative splicing of
the EGFR message.

Protein Stability and Delivery.
Dr. Kai Griebenow - Chemistry- UPR-Río Piedras.
Dr. Reinhard Schweitzer-Stenner - Chemistry- UPR-Río Piedras.
• Aimed at studies on the improvement of the controlled delivery of proteins
from biocompatible poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) by increasing their
lifetime
35
Biomedical Research
Infrastructure Networks in Puerto
Rico (BRIN-PR)
Dr. Fernando A. González, P.I.
Institutional Development Award (IDeA)
36
BRIN Purpose

…to establish Biomedical Research
Infrastructure Networks (BRIN) to further
enhance the research capacity of
institutions through collaborative
partnerships.
37
BRIN Organization
BRIN PI
& Co-PI's
Bioinformatics Core
Training and Mentoring Core
Scientific Research Core
The Networks
Mental Health Network
Medical Biotechnology
Network
Neuroscience
Network
38
Using NIH Funds to Expand UPR Biotechnology R+D Initiative
by Creating New Research Programs
COBRE I
Center for Molecular,
Developmental and
Behavioral Neuroscience
COBRE III
COBRE II
BRIN
Center for Clinical
Proteomics
Bioinformatics
(Submitted)
HPCf
Center for Research in
Protein Structure,
Function and
Dynamics
COBRE IV
Microarray Analysis
(Planned)
Approved Funds $30.5M
Expected New NIH Funds $20M
39
COBRE IV
Center for Bioinformatics
•
Brings Mathematicians, Statisticians, Bioinformaticians, Biologist and
Chemical Engineer in a Multidisciplinary/Multicampus Team to study and
model microarrays.
•
Will develop the following microarray areas:
• Simulation and reverse engineering problem of genetic networks.
• Gene network design and error correction for microarrays
• Microarray expression analysis: statistical significance of expression changes
• Microarray data analysis
•
Will also develop the following Bioinformatic thrusts:
• Pattern recognition in tandem mass spectrometry.
• Statistical significance of multiple sequences alignment and gapped local
alignments.
Proposed Five Year Budget: $10M (NIH + UPR)
40
Academic/Industry Partnership
for Innovation
41
The NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI)
Puerto Rico received a PFI to accelerate the Innovation Process (February, 2001):
Mission of the PFI
Develop Ideation to Commercialization pathways to achieve innovation
The PFI is an Alliance of:
Academia:
University of Puerto Rico
Polytechnic University
Inter American University
Business:
P.R. Chamber of Commerce
P.R. Manufacturer’s Association
Advent Morro Equity Partners (Venture Capital)
MOVA Pharmaceutical
INDUNIV
Virtual, Inc. (Commercial Incubator)
Government:
Federal Small Business Administration
P.R. Department of Economic Development and Commerce
42
Goals and Objectives of PFI
Goal
Create a continuous pipeline for innovation: from ideation to
commercialization.
Objectives
A. Develop Entrepreneurial skills and nurture an innovation competent
workforce.
• Incorporate curricular materials on the nature of technology and
innovation in the K-12 curriculum.
• Entrepreneurship development program for undergraduates.
• Develop new Ph.D.’s of relevance to innovation
 Materials Science
 Computational Sciences & Engineering
 Medical Biotechnology
43
Goals and Objectives of PFI (cont.)
B.
Improve Access to New Knowledge to Drive the Innovation Process
•
•
•
•
C.
Create Infrastructure to Enable Innovation
•
•
D.
PFI – Web-based Interactive S&T Resources Data base
Create an Enterprise Forum
Provide Assistance for the Preparation of SBIR/STTR
Open UPR Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization
Office (IPTC) to Entrepreneurs & Start-Ups Companies.
Promote and support the formation of a system of incubators
Create R&D institutes to promote innovation
Advocacy and Promoting Systemic Thinking in the Development of S&T
Innovation in Puerto Rico: Implementing the S&T Policy
44
Building a High Performance Computing
and
INTERNET2 Informatics Infrastructure
for Research and Education
45
High Performance Computing Facility
•
The High Performance Computing Facility was created in 1998,
with NSF funding, to serve the computational needs of the research
community; it provides:
• Center for Numerical Supercomputing.
• Bioinformatics Resource Center.
• Two visualization laboratories.
• Access Grid Video Conferencing Center.
• Serves Puerto Rico’s Internet2 Services Alliance (PRISA net) GigaPoP.
•
Computing Facilities
• Silicon Graphics Origin 300 32 MIPS 14000 Processors.
• Silicon Graphics Origin 2400/Onyx 2 24 MIPS Processors.
• Silicon Graphics Origin 2000 desk side cluster 16 MIPS desk side cluster.
• Linux Supercluster 156 processors.
46
Puerto Rico Internet 2 Services Association
PRISA net
Other Internet 2
Institutions
National
Supercomputing
facilities
RCM
OC-3
AO
Abilene
OC-3 = 155Mb/sec
OC-3 = 100xT1
Centennial
ATM Cloud
(Fiber optics)
OC-3
FIU GigaPOP
OC-3
OC-3
RUM
International
Research
Facilities
OC-3
RRP
OC-3
National
Research Labs
OC-3
OC-3 (Quest on
America II)
OC-3
OC-3
ATM =
Asynchronous
Transfer Mode
Centennial
ATM
PRISA GigaPOP
PRISA will entertain alliances and partnerships on research and educational
projects with industry and C of C members in Puerto Rico
47
www.hpcf.upr.edu/prstp
48