I take science out of the lab and into people's lives — in English, en español, and with a lot of Puerto Rican flavor.
I'm an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Ana G. Méndez University (Cupey) and Director of Communications at Ciencia en Tus Manos, a bilingual science communication nonprofit in Puerto Rico.
I earned my B.S. in Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, and my Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the University of Illinois Chicago, where I designed PET tracer candidates targeting FASN for prostate cancer diagnosis. I moved to Chicago alone and finished through Hurricane María from afar and COVID-19. That taught me resilience — and to bet on myself.
Today I work on a problem I care deeply about: science misinformation and distrust in experts. My answer is to make scientists visible, relatable and good communicators.
I teach general, organic, inorganic, analytical and biochemistry, plus chemistry for nursing students — making a tough subject feel doable.
As Director of Communications I lead CETM's bilingual content and brand, including the series Brilla Boricua, Despega Boricua and Ciencia Rápida, and I co-created STEM en 3, a three-minute research presentation competition for university students in Puerto Rico.
VOICES is my science communication training program. I piloted VOICES-Med with medical students at Ponce Health Sciences University in summer 2026 — hands-on sessions on telling your science clearly, with confidence.
I make chemistry-lens content for a Puerto Rican audience — rigorous science with cultural relevance and humor. I have television experience and have partnered with brands including Vaseline and Garnier.
Keynote · White Coat & Induction Ceremony, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University
Webinar · SMPR webinar series
Invited talk · AAPS Student Chapter, School of Pharmacy, UPR Medical Sciences Campus
Science communication workshop series · Summer Medicine Research Program, Ponce Health Sciences University
Ciencia en Tus Manos, Inc. (CETM)
Science communication training · pilot at Ponce Health Sciences University
Science and Technology Department, Ana G. Méndez University, Cupey
Chemistry Department, University of Illinois Chicago · FASN-targeted PET tracers for prostate cancer
Crystal Design Institute, UPR Molecular Sciences Research Center · polymorphism in pharmaceutical formulations
New York University
Fun fact: in 2018, mid-Ph.D., I competed on a TV beauty reality show — to show that scientists can be anything.
Talks, workshops, collaborations, media and content partnerships — in English or Spanish.