Source: Universidad del Este submitted to NRP
HSI-BIO PROGRAM: STRENGTHENING THE BIOSCIENCE EDUCATION FOR MINORITY STUDENTS AT UAGM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1023207
Grant No.
2020-38422-32239
Cumulative Award Amt.
$249,931.00
Proposal No.
2020-01980
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2020
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2024
Grant Year
2020
Program Code
[NJ]- Hispanic Serving Institutions Education Grants Program
Recipient Organization
Universidad del Este
PO Box 2010
Carolina,PR 00984
Performing Department
School of Science
Non Technical Summary
The main goals of the proposed HSI-BIO project are (1) to improve the instructional capability of the Biosciences programs at UAGM in an effort to strengthen the academic experience for its students and (2) facilitate skill and competency development so that they can become the much needed FANH workforce. To achieve these goals, the project's objective 1 is to acquire state-of-the-art microbe monitoring and phenotypic testing equipment that will innovate the methodology in the advanced Microbiology academic laboratory, improve the students' learning of scientific skills and maximize their laboratory time and work. The HSI-BIO proposes the acquisition of new equipment that will exposed the students to rapid microbe identification and monitoring methods and the use and impact of such tests in different applications and disciplines. All undergraduate students enrolled in the Biosciences programs will be impacted by the use of the new equipment. Objective 2 is to provide experiential learning opportunities to participating students through undergraduate research experiences in areas related to agriculture. The project will focus on providing 8 academically outstanding students with the opportunity to engage in experiential learning experiences on-campus. Overall, the project seeks to guide the students in improving their performance in the classroom and boost their interest in the quest for scientific knowledge. All students impacted by the project, will have the knowledge and hands-on expertise to promote the ethical use of techniques to maximize agricultural production, implement industrial testing and biotechnology procedures, promote water conservation and improve food safety and protection.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
71240991100100%
Knowledge Area
712 - Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins;

Subject Of Investigation
4099 - Microorganisms, general/other;

Field Of Science
1100 - Bacteriology;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of the HSI-BIO program is to improve the quality of instruction at Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina campus (UAGM), in an effort to strengthen the academic experience for its students and prepare them for FANH careers in Puerto Rico (PR) and the United States (US). The Educational Need Areas to be addressed in the proposed HSI-BIO program are (1) Scientific Instrumentation for Teaching and (2) Student Experiential Learning. The HSI-BIO program will focus on (1) providing new equipment to encourage the incorporation of innovative laboratory exercises in the classroom or during research and (2) facilitating the availability of on-campus experiential learning opportunities to UAGM students. These efforts will provide the students with the opportunity to learn and apply existing and new methods; ensure their success in the learning process maintaining an excellent academic standing; further develop their scientific, technical and leadership skills; manage interpersonal relations; and become responsible and exhibit an ethical behavior at the workplace. Therefore, the project specific objectives are:1) To acquire state-of-the-art microbe monitoring and phenotypic testing equipment that will innovate the methodology in the academic laboratory and improve the students' learning of scientific skills and maximize their laboratory time and work.2) To provide experiential learning opportunities to participating students through undergraduate research experiences in the disciplines of food safety, soil and water conservation and improvement, and biotechnology related to agriculture at UAGM.
Project Methods
To achieve Objective #1, the SC & T has identified the BIOLOG Microbial ID System as a required major equipment to be installed at the Microbiology Academic Laboratory. The equipment will be used in advanced courses (Bacteriology and Laboratory Techniques in Biotechnology) during laboratory exercises and Unknown Bacterial Identification Final Projects. The data base available with the BIOLOG also supports the needs of environmental monitoring, QC microbiology, water and waste-water testing, agricultural and veterinary applications, and other non-clinical needs. Therefore, other courses at UAGM can benefit from the acquisition of the BIOLOG.The equipment is not intended as a replacement of basic or classical microbiological techniques in the courses. Laboratory exercises using the BIOLOG system are relatively easy to perform. In any classroom or laboratory setting, a sample can be processed using classical microbiological techniques. Once isolated, the microorganism is used to prepare an inoculum at a specified density. Then, a BIOLOG microplate is inoculated, incubated and scanned to obtain an identification result. The BIOLOG equipment comes with the RetroSpect 2.0 software tool that supports data management and reporting. The software provides databases of bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi that can be used to obtain an identification in 2 hours. The equipment shall also be available to students engaging in experiential learning opportunities as described below for Objective #2. Most importantly, the equipment will be available to the faculty and graduate students, which increases the institutional capability for research.To achieve Objective #2, the project seeks to recruit two Cohorts, of 4 students each, for the experiential learning opportunities at UAGM. A flyer announcing the existence of the new HSI-BIO project will be posted on the School of Sciences and Technology (SC & T) main office, Facebook page, classrooms and laboratories. An application form will be created and made available to the students interested in the experiential learning opportunity. The HSI-BIO project will recruit four sophomore or junior undergraduate students (Cohort #1) during a competitive and selective process at the end of the first year of the project. An interview rubric will be created to facilitate the selection process. The selected students shall have good academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or greater) to be considered to participate. In addition, each student need to comply with the following criteria: (1) be a US citizen minority student (2) present one excellent recommendation letter from a Bioscience faculty; (3) demonstrate commitment to a FANH career, and (4) assist to an interview process with the PD of the HSI-BIO project, mentors and dean of the SC & T. A "Student Participation in HSI-BIO" contract will be created to finalize the process of recruitment for Cohort #1. The contract will establish the expected commitments by the student, the opportunities that the project will provide them and reasons for immediate termination due to non-compliance with the project. To ensure equity in the selection process, at least one student from each Bioscience program (Microbiology, Biology and Biotechnology) will be selected to represent Cohort #1. The same process will be used to select the students for Cohort #2, at the beginning of the third funding year. Each student in both Cohorts will work with a research mentor at UAGM. The students will actively participate with the research mentor in an ongoing research project or work collaboratively with the mentor in designing a new project of mutual interest. It is the mentor's responsibility to inform HSI-BIO, the title and the tasks that the students will need to perform during the project. The students will be provided with a 2-weeks attendance form in which they can write the hours worked in the laboratory. The mentor has to approve the attendance form. Afterwards, the student shall submit the form to the PD. The PD will approved the 2-weeks stipends ($250) for the students that has complied with HSI-BIO requirements (15 hours/week, including activities and workshops for 3.5 months) for the experiential learning process. The HSI-BIO project will allocate $1,250/student to partially cover the cost of laboratory materials for each project during a semester. At the end of each semester, the research mentor will have to complete an evaluation form for each student's performance in the laboratory. Afterwards, the mentor shall submit the evaluation forms to the PD. The mentor shall also inform the presentations that the students have given during the year and any publications that may have resulted from the student's experiments.Prior to engaging in any research activities, the PD will offer biosafety training to the students and will assist them during an online CITI Biosafety and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) certification program available through the UAGM webpage. The PD will meet with the other research mentors to make sure that all the students' projects are registered with the appropriate committee. The PD will also seek approval of the HSI-BIO project by the UAGM Institutional Review Board (IRB), before the initiation date.The PD will meet with both cohorts, once they are selected, to instruct them about the resources available through the project and how to prepare for a future FANH career. The first workshop for both cohorts will be offered by HSI-BIO in collaboration with the UAGM faculty and Office of Career Development (OCD) and it will be intended to align the Bioscience education with the FANH workforce. The second workshop will be related to the development of career portfolios, which shall include professional and concentration courses taken and grade results, examples of successful and relevant student assignments, extracurricular activities, evidence of participation at HSI-BIO, presentations, internship participation, community service and resumes and cover letters to prospective employers or graduate schools. HSI-BIO, SC & T and OCD will also coordinate the next workshops through the students' 2-year participation in the project: (1) Arranging job shadowing, work placements, and community-based learning; (2) job interpersonal skills; (3) science data base searching; (4) time management; (5) leadership and team work and, (6) abstract and poster preparation. Other workshops and seminars will be developed to enhance the students' development at the discretion of the PD. All workshops and seminars will have a few spaces available for students that are not participants of HSI-BIO and wish to benefit from the project. The PD will also be responsible for the administration of pre- and post- tests and evaluation forms for all workshops. Personnel from OCD will analyze the pre- and post-tests and evaluation forms results, but it will be the responsibility of the PD to keep the records of the students' participations in all workshops.The project will not cover off-campus internships during the summer semesters. However, many of our students see the summer internships off-campus as an opportunity to gain new knowledge and the research experience necessary to be competitive in the graduate school application process. The PD will assist the students in the search and application process for an off-campus summer research internship, during their first year of participation in the project. During the second year of participation in HSI-BIO, each student should apply and compete for summer internships as well. The students are expected to apply to at least 5 internships in the US and PR while participating in the HIS-BIO project. The students shall be able to narrow down the possibilities, learn how to navigate the application process and ultimately be successful in receiving an internship offer.

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/30/24

Outputs
Target Audience:This last and fourth year of the project no students were recruited to participate as Cohort 2 (5 students) were retained as participants. Cohort 2 were undergraduate students from the Sciences and Technology Department (SC & T) at Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina campus. These students representing Cohort #2 participated in several research project under the supervision of mentors last year. The projects' were related to environmental sciences, toxicology and bacterial genetics. A rubric was used to evaluate all students. Their performance in the laboratory were evaluated as outstanding meaning that all students complied with their experiential tasks. All students also demonstrated good academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or greater). Cohort #2 included 4 females (80%) and 1 male (20%). These students demonstrated commitment to a future career in then Biosciences and FANH related disciplines. Besides students in Cohorts 2, more than 50 undergraduate students enrolled in the BIOL 308 (Mycology), BIOL 260 (Bacteriology) and BIOL 383 (Food Microbiology) courses benefitted from the BIOLOG Microbial ID equipment purchased through this grant. Two workshops were incorporated in each course. Moreover, two laboratory experiences were incorporated in each course. Undergraduate and graduate students involved in research (sponsored by USDA or other agencies) have also been using the BIOLOG equipment, to advance in their investigation. This past year, 5 undergraduate students, 6 graduate students and 2 faculty members used the equipment. The project has made a huge impact in course revision and innovation and created opportunities for students in our institution. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?BIOLOG Workshops were offered to faculty students and technicians. The project promoted the use of the equipment in several courses and during the experiential learning opportunities of its students. The project made available the equipment to faculty and students from other UAGM campuses if there are collaboration efforts with mentors and HSI-BIO students. All students involved in experiential learning opportunities completed their Biosafey, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), Animal Care and Use (ACUC) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) workshops and certifications. Mentors involved in supervising the experiential learning of students were the following: Dr. Nydia M. Rodriguez Bonano (PD) Dr. Karlo Malave Llamas Dr. Loyda Mendez Torres Prof. Karla Casillas Pagan Prof. Sandra Barroso Lorenzo Prof. Arlin Feliciano Velez, Laboratory Director Dr. Wilfredo Colon Guasp (retired) The HSI-BIOproject has made a tremendous impact in our instution.It promoted teaching and laboratory innovation; provided a more enjoyable academic experience for science students at UAGM-CC; promoted student development with a diverse series of workshops and research activities that would increasetheir knowledge and enrich their future professional life; and allowed us to establish collaborations within the faculty to improve the students' experiences in FANH- related disciplines. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?2023-2024 Presentations from students in Cohort 2: Genetic characterization of plasmid pEC6.2 from Enterococcus casseliflavus. July 2024 at the SURE Student Symposium, Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina campus. Evaluating Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas hydrophilia in Puerto Rican Beaches: Analyzing Impacts on Public Health and Coastal Ecosystems. April 2024 at the XXI Encuentro de Investigadores de UAGM. Cupey, Puerto Rico. Recollection, growth, and isolation of freshwater microalgae for DNA extraction and identification, ABRCMS 2023. Phoenix, AZ. Peer Collaborative Research on Puerto Rico Freshwater Microalgae for Data Base Creation, STEM Symposium, San Juan, PR. Discovery Based Research in Action: Exploring Aquatic Biodiversity through Microalgae Isolation. University of Wisconsin, Madison. Discovery Based Research in Action: Exploring Aquatic Biodiversity Through Microalgae Isolation. April 2024 at the XXI Encuentro de Investigadores de UAGM. Cupey, PR. 2023-2024 Presentations by the PI as co-author: Transforming the Academic Journey of Hispanic STEM students through Innovative Curriculum Design and Real Work Experiences. April 2024 at the XXI Encuentro de Investigadores de UAGM. Cupey, PR. Transforming the Academic Journey of Hispanic STEM students through Innovative Curriculum Design and Real Work Experiences, Science Week, UAGM, Carolina Campus, PR Transforming the Academic Journey of Hispanic STEM Students Through Innovative Curriculum Design and Real Work Experiences. Conference Building and HSIGrantee Community of Inclusive Excellence (NSF-HIS). San Antonio, TX. Discovery Based Research in Action: Exploring Aquatic Biodiversity through Microalgae Isolation. University of Wisconsin, Madison. Discovery Based Research in Action: Exploring Aquatic Biodiversity Through Microalgae Isolation. April 2024 at the XXI Encuentro de Investigadores de UAGM. Cupey, PR. Articles in progress: Virulence Factors Among Environmental Isolates of Enterococcus faecium by former student Jean Quiles Vega and Nydia M. Rodriguez Bonano (UAGM-CC). Genetic characterization of plasmid pEC6.2 from Enterococcus casseliflavus by former student Alejandra Merced, Nydia M. Rodriguez Bonano (UAGM-CC) and Emmanuel Vazquez-Rivera (UW-Madison) . What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Both objectives of this grant were achieved during the previously proposed funding periods. Objective 1: 1. The BIOLOG Microbial ID equipment was purchased and installed in the Microbiology Academic Laboratory. Its use started during the second funding year. 2. The project scheduled workshops with the company INSTRUMED for all interested future users (students, faculty and technicians). 3. Equipment allowed for innovation and also diminished waste and costs in the several courses. 4. Curses impacted/innovated by the use of the equipment: Food Microbiology, Bacteriology, Mycology. 5. The equipment will also be used in the Microbial Ecology this 2024-2025 academic year (beyond this grant). 6. Equipment has increased the institutional capacity for research. The department of Sciences and TGechnology and thelaboratory director is currently in charge of the maintenance, and material acquisition to run the equipment. Its costs wer incorporated into the department's budget. Objective 2: 1. Sixstudents graduated with their B.S. in Microbiology 2. One student graduated with a B.S. degree in Biotechnology. 3. Two students are currently seniors in the Microbiology program 4. One student is a junior in the Biology programs 5. More than 15 poster/oral presentations. 6. All students have participated on science work-related (CienciaPR, PR Research, Innovation and Technolgy Trust, Starbase, etc.) or research internships off-campus (University of Wisconsin, Nebraska University, MOTE laboratory, USDA-ARS, etc.) 7. All students attended workshops related to the academic and professional development such as: leadership, financial Literacy, mental Health, self-efficiency, job shadowing, the laboratory notebook, poster preparation and writing the objectives and hypothesis.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The project finalized the recruiting process for the second cohort of 4 students. However, one additional student was recruited because one participant from Cohort 1 graduated with a BS in Microbiology. A rubric was used to facilitate the selection process.The second Cohort has a total of 5 participants: four students that will participate in the project for two years until May 2024 and 1 student that participated for 1 year until May 2023. The students representing Cohorts 1 and 2, a total of eight students, participated in several research projects under the direct supervision of faculty mentors. The students in both Cohorts demonstrated good academic standing (GPA >3.0). Like Cohort 1, Cohort #2includes 3 female (75%) and 1 male (25%) students. The student in Cohort 2 compliedwith several other criteria to be recruited into the program, including that they (1) are underrepresented minorities (2) presented one excellent recommendation letter from a STEM faculty and (3) demonstrated commitment to a career in then Biosciences. Like previous years, the "Student Participation in the HSI-BIO project" contract was used to finalize the process of recruitment for Cohort #2. Changes/Problems:The only challenge this year was that one student recruited for Cohort 2 resigned after a 1-month participation in the project due to health reasons. Another recruitment process was opened and one student was selected for the opportunity. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four workshops were offered to students: The Laboratory Notebook, Writing the Hypothesis and Objectives for a Research Project, Biosafety in the Laboratory and responsible Conduct of Research. The project also promoted the use of the BIOLOG Microbial ID System during the experiential learning opportunities of participants. All students involved in experiential learning opportunities completed their Biosafey, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), Animal Care and Use (ACUC) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) workshops and certifications. Mentors involved in supervising the experiential learning of students were the following: Dr. Nydia M. Rodriguez Bonano (PD), Dr. Karlo Malave Llamas, Dr. Loyda Mendez Torres and Prof. Karla Casillas Pagan. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Presentations from students in Cohort 1: Student 1 Miss. Andrea Maisonet (Microbiology): 1. Phytotoxity Assessment of Organic Fertilizers Pollutants. April 2023. Science Week Symposium. Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina campus. 2. Phytotoxity Assessment of Organic Fertilizers Pollutants. November 2022. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students 2022 (ABRCMS). Anaheim, CA. The student won a partial travel award fir this conference. Miss Andrea Maisonet participated in the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine's Toxicology Mentoring and Skills Development Training program during the 2022-2023 academic year. She is currently in the Agricultural Research Service Plains (ARS-P) Research Participation program at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). She is currently submitting applications to PhD programs. Student 2 Mr. Jean Quiles-Vega (Microbiology): 1. Isolation and Quantification of Aeromonas spp from Sea Water Samples (co-presenter). April 2023 at the XX Encuentro de Investigadores de UAGM. Carolina, Puerto Rico. 2. Virulence Factors Among Environmental Isolates of Enterococcus faecium (presenter). November 2022. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students (ABRCMS) 2022. Anaheim, CA. Mr. Jean Quiles graduated with a BS degree in Microbiology and is currently pursuing a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences campus, San Juan PR. Student 3. Miss Leira Figueroa (Microbiology): 1. Assessment and Quantification of Vibrio spp. on Water and Sand Samples in Recreational Waters of Puerto Rico: A Public Health Approach. February 2023. ERN Conference in STEM. Washington, DC. Presentations from students in Cohort 2: Students: Mr. Emmanuel Pineiro, Miss Gladielyz Torres and Miss Gabriela de Leon. 1. Isolation and Quantification of Aeromonas spp from Sea Water Samples (co-authors). April 2023 at the XX Encuentro de Investigadores de UAGM. Carolina, Puerto Rico. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project will continue to encourage the use of the BIOLOG Microbial ID equipment in advanced science courses and during the experiential learning opportunities of the HSI-BIO participants. The PD expects all students representing Cohort 2 to continue their experiential learning opportunities and their good academic standing. They are also expected to present in local or national conferences and symposiums during this last year of the project. As we are returning to in-person activities, the project has funding for up to three students to attend national meetings to present their work and as PD, I will encourage them to do so.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The BIOLOG equipment was used successfully in the Microbiology Academic Laboratory for research and in an additional course this part year, Food Microbiology.The project provided workshops as requested for all interested users. The workshops has been implemented as a 2-days learning opportunity. Workshops participants were encouraged to commit to the 2-days workshop schedule as the HSI-BIO project is providing the necessary hands-on materials. Four undergraduate students completed their second-year participation (Cohort 1) in the HSI-BIO project. One student was accepted in the MS Biomedical Sciences Program at UAGM-CC; a second student was accepted to the PhD program at Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences campus; a third student was accepted to the Agricultural Research Service Plains (ARS-P) Research Participation program at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The fourth student from Cohort 1 is currently a senior at the Microbiology program and will graduate on May 2024. Three students from Cohort 1 presented their research work at local and national conferences or symposiums. Three students from Cohort 2 presented their research work at local or national conferences.

    Publications


      Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

      Outputs
      Target Audience:The target audience are undergraduate students from the Sciences and Technology Department (SC & T) at Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina campus. Four science undergraduate students representing Cohort #1 participated in several research project under the supervision of mentors last year. The project is currently in the recruiting process for the second cohort of 4 students. A rubric was used to facilitate the selection process. Students from both Cohorts demonstrated financial need and good academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or greater). Cohort #1 includes 3 female (75%) and 1 male (25%) and they will continue their participation until May 2023. As the selection process in underway for Cohort 2, the students' applications are under review. However, nine students applied for participation. The applications belonged to 8 females and 1 male students. The students complied with several other criteria to be recruited into the program, including that they (1) are underrepresented minorities (2) presented one excellent recommendation letter from a STEM faculty and (3) demonstrated commitment to a career in then Biosciences. The students representing Cohort #2 will participate as undergraduate research students starting on September 1, 2022 until May 30, 2024. In addition to the students representing Cohorts 1 and 2, 28 students enrolled in the BIOL 308 (Mycology) and BIOL 260 (Bacteriology) courses benefitted from the BIOLOG Microbial ID equipment purchased through this grant. These students performed laboratory experiments related to the identification of unknown fungi and bacteria through last year. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two workshops were offered to faculty students and technicians. The project will schedule more in-person workshops for the 2022-2023 funding year. The project will also promote the use of the equipment in more courses and during the experiential learning opportunities of its students. The project has made available the equipment to faculty and students from other UAGM campuses if there are collaboration efforts with mentors and HIS-BIO students. All students involved in experiential learning opportunities completed their Biosafey, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), Animal Care and Use (ACUC) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) workshops and certifications. Mentors involved in supervising the experiential learning of students were the following: Dr. Nydia M. Rodriguez Bonano (PD) Dr. Karlo Malave Llamas Dr. Loyda Mendez Torres Prof. Karla Casillas Pagan All experiential learning opportunities are related to the Biosciences. All mentors have agreed to receive students from Cohort 2 in their laboratories. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Cohort #2 recruitment efforts: The project requested applications from students interested to become participants through social media platforms and institutional email. Presentations from students in Cohort 1: Student 1 Mr. Jean Quiles-Vega (Microbiology): Virulence Factors Among Environmental Isolates ofEnterococcus faecium (presenter). July 2021 at the SURE Student Symposium, Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina campus. This presentation was not reported in last year progress report. Genetic characterization of plasmid pEC6.2 from Enterococcus casseliflavus (co-presenter). July 2021 at the SURE Student Symposium, Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina campus. This presentation was not reported in last year progress report. Virulence Factors Among Environmental Isolates ofEnterococcus faecium (presenter). August 2022 at the 2022 Yale Biological and Biomedical Sciences Diversity and Inclusion Collective (YBDIC) Research Symposium. Yale University, New Haven Connecticut. Isolation and Quantification of Heterotrophic Bacteria with Resistance to Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim from Water Samples (co-presenter). April 2022 at the XIX Encuentro de Investigación de UAGM. Gurabo, Puerto Rico. Student 2. Miss Alejandra Merced-Flores (Microbiology): Genetic characterization of plasmid pEC6.2 from Enterococcus casseliflavus (presenter). July 2021 at the SURE Student Symposium, Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina campus. This presentation was not reported in last year progress report. Virulence Factors Among Environmental Isolates ofEnterococcus faecium (co-presenter). July 2021 at the SURE Student Symposium, Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina campus. This presentation was not reported in last year progress report. Monitoring the presence of genes nheA, nheB, nheC related to the production of toxins by Bacillus cereus in food sources (co-presenter). April 2022 at the XIX Encuentro de Investigación de UAGM. Gurabo, Puerto Rico. Student 3: Miss Leira Figueroa-Medina (Biotechnology) Bacterial Profile of our Recreational Water: A Public Health Approach (presenter). June 2022 at the Frontiers in Hydrology Meeting held at the San Juan Convention Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Student 4: Miss Andrea Maisonet-Sanchez (Microbiology) has not presented her research but has participated at the USDA's 98th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum and was accepted to the Toxicology Mentoring and Skills Development Training Program for the 2022-2023 academic year at University of California, Davis. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project will encourage the use of the acquired BIOLOG Microbial ID equipment in advanced science courses and during the experiential learning opportunities of the HSI-BIO participants. It is expected that the BIOLOG equipment will be used by graduate students as well of the Biomedical Sciences program. The PD expects all students representing Cohort 1 to continue their experiential learning opportunities and their good academic standing. Students in both Cohorts are expected to present in local or national conferences and symposiums as were returning to in-person activities.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? The BIOLOG Microbial ID equipment was used in the Microbiology Academic Laboratory during laboratory exercises for two courses (BIOL 308 Mycology and BIOL 260 Bacteriology. Four undergraduate students completed their experiential learning and training opportunity during last year. Three students are enroll in Microbiology and one is in the Biotechnology program. One of the students ( Miss Alejandra Merced Flores) just graduated with a B.S.degree in Microbiology ahead of schedule and was admitted to the M.S. program in Biomedical Sciences at UAGM. This student will continue her research work in food safety at her mentor's laboratory. One student participant was accepted to the Toxicology Mentoring and Skills Development Training Program for the 2022-2023 academic year hosted by the Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. The program will allow the student to acquire professional skills and ethics by attending online modules and in-person activities. All four students from Cohort 1 presented their research work at local and national conferences or symposiums.

      Publications

      • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: Bacterial Profile of our Recreational Water: A Public Health Approach. Frontiers in Hydrology. June 2022. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
      • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: Isolation and Quantification of Heterotrophic Bacteria with Resistance to Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim from Water Samples. Conference XIX Encuentro de Investigaci�n de UAGM. April 2022. Gurabo Puerto Rico.
      • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: Monitoring the presence of genes nheA, nheB, nheC related to the production of toxins by Bacillus cereus in food sources. Conference XIX Encuentro de Investigaci�n de UAGM. April 2022. Gurabo Puerto Rico.
      • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2021 Citation: Virulence Factors Among Environmental Isolates of Enterococcus faecium. July 2021 at the SURE Student Symposium, Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina campus.
      • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2021 Citation: Genetic characterization of plasmid pEC6.2 from Enterococcus casseliflavus. July 2021 at the SURE Student Symposium, Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina campus.
      • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: 3. Virulence Factors Among Environmental Isolates of Enterococcus faecium (presenter). August 2022 at the 2022 Yale Biological and Biomedical Sciences Diversity and Inclusion Collective (YBDIC) Research Symposium. Yale University, New Haven Connecticut.


      Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

      Outputs
      Target Audience:The project is currently finalizing the recruiting process for the first cohort of 4 students. A rubric was used to facilitate the selection process. As for Cohort #1, the recently recruited students demonstrated financial need and good academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or greater). Cohort #1 includes 3 female (75%) and 1 male (25%) students. They also comply with several other criteria to be recruited into the program, including that they (1) are underrepresented minorities (2) presented one excellent recommendation letter from a STEM faculty and (3) demonstrated commitment to a career in then Biosciences. The "Student Participation in the HSI-BIO project" contract was used to finalize the process of recruitment for Cohort #1. The students representing Cohort #1 will participate as undergraduate research students starting on September 1, 2021 until May 30, 2023. Changes/Problems:The first objective of the HSI-BIO project was to acquire a major equipment during its first funding year. This objective was achieved. However, we encountered several difficulties and delays during this past year as everyone was working remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The communication within the PD, UAGM purchasing, financial and receival departments and the INSTRUMED company did not occur in a timely manner. Even though the equipment was purchased as soon as the grant was approved, it did not arrive at the port of San Juan until March 2021. The project had to arrange the receival of the equipment even though the university was closed. The equipment was finally placed in the Microbiology Academic laboratory on April 2021. The INSTRUMED company sent a representative to install the equipment and set-up the data bases on July 2021. As the university re-opened during this month, the project started the scheduling of workshop for the benefit of all future users. The use of the BIOLOG equipment will start during the second funding year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The HSI-BIO project is currently starting its second year. The students in Cohort #1 will be receiving advice, mentoring, training and other opportunities in preparation for their Biosciences related careers this year. Besides the PD, two other mentors (Drs. Loyda Mendez and Karlo Malave) will be receiving students at their research labs. The PD is currently planning the workshop/seminars for Cohort #1 in collaboration with the UAGM faculty and Office of Career Development (OCD). These workshops will be designed as to align the Bioscience education with the FANH workforce. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The acquisition of the BIOLOG system will supplement the classical methods already used in the advanced courses and the undergraduate research project of those students in Cohort #1. The data base available with the BIOLOG also supports the needs of environmental monitoring, QC microbiology, water and waste-water testing, agricultural and veterinary applications, and other non-clinical needs. It is expected that the BIOLOG equipment will be used by graduate students as well. The PD expects to provide a more detailed progress report next year as the advance courses' professors, students in Cohort #1 and their mentors will report progress to the HSI-BIO project.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? The BIOLOG equipment was purchased and installed in the Microbiology Academic Laboratory. Its use will start during the second funding year. The project will schedule workshops for all interested future users.

      Publications