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My Information:

Alberto Rivera…

Program Director and Training Officer

National Institutes of Health (NIH) - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Sector & Position: Government: Other

Primary Scientific Interest:

Neurobiología, neurociencia o ciencias cognitivas

Other Interests: Interdisciplinary Sciences

My Websites:

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Training Information:

Last Degree:

1995 - Ph.D.,

Other Degree:

M.D., Universidad de Puerto Rico - Recinto de Ciencias Médicas

Other Degree_3:

1988 - B.S.,Natural General Sciences,Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Cayey

Awards & Achievements:

Mentoring, Entrepreneurship, and Volunteering:

Entrepreneurial Interest: Very Interested

I am interested in mentoring : High School Students, Undergraduates, Graduate Students, Postdocs, New Faculty, Industry Scientists, Entrepreneurs

About Me and Project Info:

Currently, I am the Research Training Officer at the NIDCD (http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/Pages/default.aspx). As the Institute's Training Officer I manage all training and career development mechanisms including:
1. NRSA Training Programs (T32 and T35)
2. Fellowships (Pre-doctoral F30, F31 and Post-doctoral F32)
3. Career Development Awards (Ks)
4. Research Supplements (Diversity and Re-entry)
5. Loan Repayment Program (LRP).

Before joining NIDCD, I was a Program Director and Training Officer at National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM http://nccam.nih.gov/) now NCCIH of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). My research portfolio includes:
1. HIV/AIDS
2. Inflammatory Diseases
3. Health Disparities
4. Special Populations.

Previous to joining NCCAM, I was a Program Director at the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS http://www.nigms.nih.gov/) of the NIH. My responsibilities included the management of a research portfolio in the Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics focusing on membrane synthesis and function, ion channels, gap junctions, transporters, and gating. I was also responsible for the following National Programs:
1. NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program
(http://commonfund.nih.gov/newinnovator/)

2. NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research ENDURE Program
(http://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/bp_nih-supported_training/endure_p…)

3. NIGMS Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) Program
(http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Minority/MBRS/IMSDDescription.htm)

National Institutes of Health (NIH) (http://www.nih.gov)

Education:
1990 - 1996: University of Puerto Rico, Intercampus Graduate Program in Biology Doctoral Degree (Ph. D.) in Biology. Concentration in Neurobiology

1988 - 1990: University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine. Medicine I and II.

1984 - 1988: University of Puerto Rico, Bachelor Degree in Science, General Natural Sciences. Summa Cum Laude

Previous Appointments:

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, School of Science and Technology, Universidad del Turabo
DIRECTOR, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Universidad del Turabo

DEAN, School of Environmental Affairs, Universidad Metropolitana, Ana G. Méndez University System

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR SCIENCE AND RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT, Central Administration, Ana G. Méndez University System

DIRECTOR, UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, National Institutes of Health

DEAN OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Universidad del Turabo, Ana G. Méndez University System

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico (Cayey Campus)

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico (Rio Piedras Campus)

TECHNICAL SUPPORT SCIENTIST, ABBOTT Diagnostics Puerto Rico Operations. Abused Drugs / Toxicology / Cancer Diabetes (ADTOx/CAN/CD) and PSA Team

Main interests are the interdisciplinary aspects of research. While in academia in Puerto Rico my research focused on the biological, chemical, physical and environmental factors associated with natural products and agents that have toxicological actions in the nervous system. My work examined the physiological mechanisms of actions of known and novel products on voltage gated ion channels using electrophysiology, pharmacology and molecular biology techniques as tools to examine channel kinetics and biophysics.

Since I have a diverse background in basic science and medicine I was able to create crosscutting interdisciplinary projects in science, research and education. All these projects were sponsored by the NSF, NASA, Fish and Wildlife, EPA, HRSA, DHHS, and the NIH.

Before moving to the NIH, my research line transitioned to the understanding the role of environmental and anthropogenic factors in respiratory and neurodegenerative conditions in Puerto Rico. We addresed asthma as it is a health disparity affecting primarily the Hispanic population. Our research projects in Puerto Rico focus on characterizing potential asthma related fungi, airborne particulate matter, ozone exposure, GIS analysis, and epidemiological studies amongst affected communities.

Location and Contact Info:

Alberto Rivera…