Current Lab Members New – Dr. Ingrid Montes-González

Dr. Ingrid Montes-González

Chemist • Professor • Researcher

Current Lab Members

Ferrocenyl Derivatives and their Photovoltaic application

Alejandro obtained his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras Campus in 2017. As an undergraduate, he worked under the supervision of Dr. Ingrid Montes researching ferrocenyl chalcone derivatives and their biological application. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at UPRRP under the mentorship of Dr. Montes. His research is aimed at the synthesis and characterization of ferrocenyl derivatives for applications in photovoltaics. Specifically, Organic-Inorganic Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells to improve cell efficiency. Future plans include pursuing a post-doctoral degree and becoming a member of
Academia.

alejandro.burgos2@upr.edu

Evaluation of novel ferrocenyl chalcone-phthalocyanine conjugates as phototherapeutic agents

Ambar M. Alsina Sánchez is a graduate student at the University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras Campus. In 2015 she joined Dr. Ingrid Montes’ research team as a MARC scholar and has worked there ever since. During her undergraduate years, she was an intern at the University of Illinois at Chicago and spent a summer working on protein X-Ray crystallography at Argon National Laboratory. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry at the university in 2017 and continued to pursue her graduate studies in Organic Chemistry. As part of her extracurricular activities she has been a member of the ACS as an undergraduate and graduate student participating as part of the student headboard of the ACS Puerto Rico section. Currently, she is a RISE fellow working on the evaluation of novel ferrocenyl chalcone-phthalocyanine conjugates as phototherapeutic agents. Her work focuses on the synthesis and characterization of several heterocyclic ferrocenyl chalcones as well as the biological evaluation of these novel compounds against various cell lines.

ambar.alsina@upr.edu

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Ferrocenyl Cannabidiol Analogs

Sara is currently a graduate Chemistry student at the University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras Campus (UPR-RP). She completed her Master’s degree in Science in our lab in December of 2016, with the thesis project: Synthesis and Characterization of Ferrocenyl Chalcone Ammonium and Pyridinium Salt Derivatives. She is an active member of the American Chemical Society and is currently part of the National Committee of Community Activities. During her time as a bachelor’s and master’s student at UPR-RP, she has been part of the mentorship programs for Chemistry students and teaching assistant of General and Organic Chemistry courses. In the future, she plans to finish her Ph.D. in Chemistry and one day be a college professor and researcher as well as continue involved in the community service at the American Chemical Society.

sara.delgado1@upr.edu

Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Activities of Ferrocenyl Derivatives

Joan Stephanie obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras. As an undergraduate she worked on research at the Pharmacy School of the Medical Sciences Campus in a project titled “Mechanical properties and physical characterization of novel co-processed pharmaceutical excipients”. In her last year as an undergrad, she work as a student assistant analyst in the FDA San Juan District. Currently she is pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry under the mentorship of Dr. Ingrid Montes. On her first years in the graduate program she worked in collaboration with Dr. Ana Guadalupe on the Studies of the Interaction of Ferrocenyl Chalcones and Beta-Cyclodextrin. Joan is recently a RISE UPRRP fellow and is working on her thesis project: Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Ferrocenyl Cannabidiol Analogs and validation of analytical methods for Cannabinoid derivatives. In addition, Joan is part of the AGQ officially chartered as an ACS GSO and from a Worship Dance group named Vocavit.

joan.torres2@upr.edu

Coumarin conjugates with ferrocenyl urea chalcones and its biological applications

José Arnaldo obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras Campus. Also, completed several major courses in molecular biology at the same institution. As an undergraduate student, he worked under the supervision of Dr. Margarita Irizarry Ramírez investigating in a biochemistry field on determining the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Then he moved to the field of organic synthesis and electrochemistry under the supervision of Dr. Ingrid Montes González and Dr. Ana R. Guadalupe Quiñones. His research was focused on the synthesis and characterization of ferrocenyl chalcone derivatives for click chemistry applications and the evaluation of Cyclic Voltammetry on some of the compounds synthesized in Dr. Montes’ research laboratory to evaluate the redox properties of the ferrocenyl chalcones. Currently, as a Ph.D. student, he receives a RISE fellowship (2021) and works on the synthesis, characterization, and biological applications of novel coumarin conjugates with ferrocenyl-urea-chalcones for the treatment of breast cancer.

jose.mendez14@upr.edu

Review and Development of Non-formal Educational Experiences Designed for Community Outreach Activities

María E. Moreno Santiago is a senior undergraduate student majoring in Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras Campus (UPR-RP). The research project Moreno works on is the “Review and Development of Non-formal Educational Experiences Designed for Community Outreach Activities”. This project focuses on the evaluation of non-formal experiences, previously developed in an educational laboratory, developing new materials and resources to be implemented in community-based educational activities that have a scientific approach, especially in the field of Chemistry. In addition, Moreno is an active member of UPR-RP ACS Student Chapter. Finally, her academic goals are to obtain a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and develop herself not only in the industry field but in academia as well.

maria.moreno4@upr.edu

Synthesis and Characterization of Ethynyl-Substituted Ferrocenyl Chalcones for Electrochemical and Biological Applications

Edwin is an undergraduate chemistry student at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus (UPR-RP). Currently, he is a fellow of the Puerto Rico Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (PR-LSAMP) program, where, as part of Dr. Ingrid Montes Gonzalez Research Lab, works with the synthesis of ferrocenyl chalcone derivatives to study its biological and electrochemical properties. In the academic area, he worked as an organic chemistry laboratory tutor, where he helped other students develop their laboratory skills to the fullest. Also, Edwin was part of the UPR-RP baseball team, representing the university as a pitcher. He’s been an active member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and Future Pharmacists Association (FPA) since 2018, in which he has had the opportunity to do outreach, and currently is part of the student headboard of both associations, as treasurer and as a community service coordinator, respectively. His favorite hobby is playing and watching sports, especially baseball and basketball. After graduating, he plans to apply for Pharmacy school to obtain a PharmD and develop in the Industrial or Community Pharmacy.

edwin.ortiz17@upr.edu

Non-symmetric Ferrocenyl Chalcones Bearing Heterocyclic Moieties for Biological Activity Exploration

Paola is an undergraduate fourth-year chemistry student at the University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus where, as a part of Dr. Ingrid Montes González Research Lab (IMG Lab), she works on the synthesis of ferrocenyl non-symmetric chalcones derivatives containing a series of heterocyclic moieties to study their different biological activities. She has worked as an organic chemistry laboratory tutor and has been the public relations assistant for the American Chemical Society Student Chapter (ACS) for two consecutive years. Paola is also an active member of the Future Pharmacist Association (FPA) and through both associations, she has been able to participate in many educational activities and community service. As part of her volunteer work, she currently is a mentor in the Ciencia Puerto Rico program Semillas del Triunfo, where she mentors a young girl that desires to develop in STEM education to impact her community with more STEM opportunities. In her free time, Paola loves to sew, study fashion independently, and dance. After her bachelor’s degree, she wishes to pursue graduate studies in Pharmacy School and develop in either the community or industrial field.

paola.bonilla3@upr.edu

Synthesis, characterization, and biological applications of Adamantane Ferrocenyl Derivatives

Delvin is a senior undergraduate student majoring in Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras Campus (UPR-RP). As a fellow of NIH RISE Program, he works on the project “Synthesis, characterization, and biological applications of Adamantane Ferrocenyl Derivatives”, using linkers such as urea, thiourea, and amide to incorporate adamantane with ferrocenyl chalcones and to evaluate their biological potential. Delvin is an active member of UPR-RP ACS Student Chapter and the UPR-RP SACNAS Student Chapter; also, has been an active member of the General Student Council UPR-RP where he is now the Student Representative of Río Piedras Campus to University of Puerto Rico Governing Board. His academic goals are to obtain a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences focused on Medicinal Chemistry and one day be a professor and researcher.

amanda.conde@upr.edu

Leonardo is a chemistry undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus. Amazed by organic chemistry, he is starting out as a researcher under the mentorship of Dr. Ingrid Montes. He is a member of the ACS student chapter and has served as a tutor for general chemistry students. He is also part of the Rio Piedras campus honors program, in which he will have to develop a thesis to graduate from it. Some of Leonardo’s favorite hobbies are painting, drawing and music. In the future Leonardo plans to apply to pharmaceutical sciences to be a medicinal chemist, or to the PharmD.

leonardo.birriel@upr.edu

Amanda is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She majors in Chemistry and plans to pursue a minor in renewable energy and sustainability. Her ambition to provide solutions for environmental issues has led her to consider a Ph.D. in Chemistry focusing on sustainability. As an active member of the American Chemical Society UPR-RP Student Chapter, Amanda has engaged in multiple volunteer activities to encourage children’s interest in science.

amanda.conde@upr.edu

Emily is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. Throughout the experience she had in high school being part of the project SEED by the American Chemical Society at the campus, she has been determined to achieve a degree in Chemistry. At the moment she is part of the project “Review and Development of Non-formal Educational Experiences Designed for Community Outreach Activities”. After her bachelor’s degree, she wishes to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry, and perform as a professor at the institution in the future. Furthermore, keep being engaged to help motivate youngsters to value the importance of science in the lives of human beings. In her free time, Emily enjoys practicing piano and clarinet and loves to bake.

emily.duclos@upr.edu

José Luis Llera Muñoz is an undergraduate student majoring in Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus, and he is currently a fellow of the NIH-Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (RISE) Program. As part of Dr. Ingrid Montes’s Research laboratory, José Luis is working on a project titled: “Synthesis, and characterization of Ferrocene Indole Chalcone Derivatives as Anticancer Compounds”. His goal once all the target molecules are synthesized is to study their biological applications and characterize their pharmacological properties as potential anticancer therapeutic agents. Before working with Dr. Ingrid Montes, he worked at the Institute of Neurobiology of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus with Dr. José Lizardi where he developed skills in biochemistry and hopes to be able to translate that knowledge into his current project. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he plans to go to graduate school to study for a Ph.D. degree in organic synthesis. Nevertheless, he wants to work in chemical biology where he can apply organic synthesis to solve biological questions. In his free time, José Luis likes to do community service work. He has worked with Caritas of Puerto Rico which is a nonprofit organization. His favorite author is Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, he loves to go to the beach, play basketball, and go out with his friends.

jose.llera1@upr.edu

Yaritza Ortega Avilés is a Chemistry major second-year undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. She plans to pursue a minor in modern languages specifically in French since she has a passion for traveling and knowing multiple languages can enhance this experience. Also, she has an interest in pharmaceutical sciences and would love to work in the future in the pharmaceutical industry. She hopes to keep learning chemistry, understand its importance, and use it to contribute to the world.

yaritza.ortega@upr.edu

Phone

(787) 764-0000 Ext. 88502

Postal Address

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus
College of Natural Sciences
Department of Chemistry
17 University Ave STE 1701
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00925-2537

Email

ingrid.montes2@upr.edu

Physical Address

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus
College of Natural Sciences
Department of Chemistry
Building Phase I
https://goo.gl/maps/uRv9hByJy3EJTwh2A

Dr. Ingrid Montes-González

Chemist • Professor • Researcher