Expanding Pathways of Latinx and Afro-Latinx to STEM Graduate Programs 

Investigador: Wilfredo Resto Co-Investigadores: Dr. Luis de Jesús Báez y Dr. Luis Colón; The University at Buffalo Colaboradores: Dr. Sarbajit Banerjee, Texas A&M University ; Dra. Rosamil Rey, Universidad Interamericana de Bayamón; Dr. Jerry Cartagena, Universidad Interamericana de Arecibo. Departamento: Química Descripción: El proyecto mejorará y ampliará las vías de transición a programas de posgrado con maestría y doctorado en las áreas de…

Partnership to Increase Representation in Energy Research in Puerto Rico (PIRES-PR)

Investigador: Juan Santana Descripción: This research project is organized to accomplish three goals: Goal 1: Studying catalysis for the oxygen reduction reaction using non-platinum group metal and non-metal catalysts Goal 2: Studying catalysis and stability for the oxygen evolution reaction using non-platinum group metal and non-metal catalysts Goal 3: Training underrepresented students in the development of…

Hispanic and Latin student experiences with POGIL activities in English and Spanish in General Chemistry at a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Investigadora: Joan Roque Departamento: Química Descripción: The objective of this project is to explore the relationship between the use of Spanish or English POGIL activities and student engagement as well as science identity development. POGIL is an acronym for Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning. It is a student-centered, group-learning instructional strategy and philosophy developed through…

The Role of Diet Variation on Alcohol Tolerance Assay and on the Gut Microbiome Interaction – Pilot Project

Investigador: Enrique Rodríguez, PhD Departamento: Biología Descripción: Drug of abuse such as alcohol produces long lasting changes in the brain reward circuitry. Alcohol is one of the world most abused drugs with a major health impact but the mechanisms by which these changes are produced remains unclear. Several internal and external factors such as stress, genetics,…

NASA MIRO: Puerto Rico Space Partnership for Research, Innovation and Training to Engage the Next Generation of Explorers (PR-SPRlnT) | Subaward-Computational Assisted Design of Janus Thin Film Composite (TFC) Membrane with a Photocatalytic Active Layer

Investigador: Juan M. López Encarnación Descripción: The electronic and molecular structures, energetics and thermal stability of embedded draw solutes into a polymer-based membrane play a central role in the overall performance of these novel materials for water reclamation. The computational aid design is an important tool to assist the experimental approach from the synthesis to the…

NASA EPSCoR: Design of Novel Polymeric Membranes and Responsive Molecules for CO2 Removal and Water Reclamation in Future Long-Term Missions: A Computational and Experimental Approach

  Investigador: Juan M. López Encarnación Descripción: Scope of Work: The main goal of this project is to improve the carbon dioxide and water recovery SPS-FO system by means of selecting an optimal SPS tertiary amine as draw solute and studying functionalized thin film composite (TFC) membranes for promising FO performance. This project responds to…

Metal-Organic Framework-based Heterostructure Electrocatalysts with Tailored Electron Density Distribution for Cost Effective and Durable Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers

Investigador: Juan Santana, PhD Departamento: Matemática-Física Descripción: El objetivo del proyecto es realizar estudios computacionales de Estructuras Metal-Orgánicas (MOFs) con centros heterobimetálicos para diseñar catalizadores bifuncionales de alto rendimiento para las reacciones de reducción y evaluación de oxígeno (ORR y OER, por sus siglas en inglés). Exploraremos MOFs basados en centros heterobimetálicos de Co-M (Cu y Fe) y…

Nanoscale Multiferroic Properties for High Performance Neuromorphic Computing

Investigador: Danilo Barrionuevo Descripción: This project focuses on the growth, optimization, and characterization of ferroelectric/multiferroic tunnel junctions for multilevel data storage to neuromorphic computing. The capability of synthesis of atomically perfect heterostructures of ferroelectric oxides with ferromagnetic-metallic materials opens a new research direction. The project focuses on the growth, optimization, and characterization of ferroelectric/multiferroic tunnel junctions…

Improvements on Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) Codes and High-Performance Neuromorphic Engineering for Communication Systems

Investigadores: Moisés Delgado, Ph.D y Danilo Barrionuevo, Ph.D Departamento: Matemática-Física Descripción: Los objetivos del proyecto son: enriquecer las líneas de investigación del departamento en los temas de Sistemas de Comunicación (Teoría de Codificación y Criptografía) y utilizar el efecto túnel cuántico en materiales ferroeléctricos y magnéticos para construir una computadora neuromórfica; implementar actividades teórico-computacionales y experimentales…