Biography

Erixberto is an agronomist and scientist from Arecibo, Puerto Rico. As a kid growing up in the rural areas of the island, he was always surrounded by animals and crops—an environment that played a crucial role in shaping his interests. Being the eldest of three siblings, he became deeply fascinated by the process of human development, especially how individuals go from a single cell to a complex multicellular organism shaped by genes, culture, and external factors. This fascination led him to join the Placental Cell Biology Group at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, where he studied the role of the autophagy pathway in placental development and pregnancy maintenance using animal models. In addition, he explored how environmental stressors—such as chemicals and physical stress—can disrupt placental function and impact embryo development. Now, as he pursues an MPhil in Embryogenesis and Reproductive Biology, he aims to delve deeper into the mechanisms of embryonic development, with the goal of becoming a physician-scientist studying how prenatal stressors—like heat stress, hormone dysregulation, and chemical or viral exposures—shape long-term health.

Previous Education

University of Puerto Rico Animal Science