Responding To External Challenges

and Opportunities:

m_gomez@upr.eduUPR: http://www.upr.clu.edu ; Central Administration: http://acosi.upr.clu.edu

EPSCoR: http://web.uprr.pr ; PR-LSAMP: http://shuttle.uprm.edu/prlsamp/bpc; Scientific Community: http://web.uprr.pr/wais

Presented at NSF Caribbean Colloquium on Power Quality

(CCPQ) 2003

Dr. Manuel Gómez

Vice President for Research and TechnologyDorado, PR

June 25, 2003

Research at UPR at The Beginning of Its Second Century

Location of the UPRGraduate CampusesGeography and

Demographics

Area: 3,434 square miles (Rhode Island’s)

Population: 3.8 M (>25 states)

The Economy

GDP: $48B

Exports: $23.9B

Manufacturing: 41% of GDPS&T Industries: Pharmaceuticals Electronics Medical Devises

Service: 48% of GDP

K-12 Ed. System

Total Enrollment: 800,000

Public Enrollment: 620,000(L.A. Unified School Dist.)

Public Schools: 1,540

Higher Education System

Enrollment in Higher Education: 170,000(the sixth highest rate of enrollment in the world)

UPR System: 70,000(41% of Higher Education Enrollment)

SMET Degrees Conferred UPR: 2,000 (71%); Private Institution: 800 (29%)

UPR School of Engineering: 9th largest in the nation

An Issue of ScalePuerto Rico at a Glance

2

The University of Puerto Ricoas it Enters its Second Century

3

UPR System at a Glance• UPR was founded in 1983 and since its inception has conferred more than 300,000

degrees: UPR has educated most of the top leadership of the Island.

• UPR is the premier Hispanic serving institution in the United States, with an enrollment of 70,000 students.

• UPR is a multicampus system with 11 campuses: eight 4-year institutions and three graduate campuses. The graduate campuses are: UPR-Mayagüez, UPR-Río Piedras, and UPR-Medical Sciences.

• UPR conferred 10,020 academic degrees in year 2002.

• UPR graduate programs are developing very quickly: it conferred 100 PhD’s last year.

• UPR offers 499 different degrees including 22 PhD programs.

• UPR’s three graduate campuses aspire to become Research I Institutions, according to the Carnegie Classification. UPR-Río Piedras is already a Doctoral Research Intensive Institution, according to the Carnegie Classification.

• UPR’s research activity, as measured by external funding, has grown exponentially since 1985, doubling every five years. For year 2001-2002, it received $62M in external funding for research.

• UPR is member of INTERNET2; has teleconferencing facilities in every campus; its three graduate campuses are connected by OC-3 lines and a GigaPoP connects then to the mainland through an OC-3 line.

4

Human Resources

Hum

an

Resources;

knowledge

Techn

ology

Tra

nsfe

r;

Inte

llectu

al Pro

perty

;

Human

Res

ourc

es

Human ResourcesHuman Resources

knowledge knowledge

The Traditional UniversityHigher Education and

the Rest of the Educational Continuum

Pre-College Undergraduate Graduate

K - 12

reform

13 - 16

reform

16+ and PhD's

reform

Economic Development

5

Human Resources

Hum

an

Resources;

knowledge

Techn

ology

Tra

nsfe

r;

Inte

llectu

al Pro

perty

;

Human

Res

ourc

es

Human ResourcesHuman Resources

knowledge

knowledge;

knowledge

knowledge;

knowledge

knowledge

know

ledge

, stra

tegic

allian

ces;

cata

lytic

reso

urce

s

well preparedteachers quality faculty

catalytic resources

catalytic

resources

The Engaged University

Pre-College Undergraduate Graduate

K - 12

reform

13 - 16

reform

16+ and PhD's

reform

Economic Development

S&T Policy forState or Region

Strongly Coupled S&T Reform ProcessBetween Higher Education and

the Rest of the Educational Continuum

The Seamless Continuum:

6

The University of Puerto Rico

Educates the Next Generation of the Science and Technology Workforce

7

Total Enrollment in Science & Technology andBachelors in Science Degrees Conferred Per Year

for the University of Puerto Rico

Year

To

tal

en

roll

me

nt

9,500

10,500

11,500

12,500

13,500

14,500

15,500

16,500

17,500

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

De

gre

es

co

nfe

red

pe

r y

ea

rEnrollmentDegrees

85-86 86-87 87-88 88-89 89-90 90-91 91-92 92-93 93-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01Enrollment

90-91 91-92 92-93 93-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01Degrees

8

Date of Creation and Number of Degrees Conferred in the Natural Sciences and Engineering by Doctoral Program at

UPR

Doctoral Programs (PhD) Date of Creation

Number of Degrees

Conferred Since Its Creation*

Anatomy (Medical Sciences) 1960 11

Biochemistry (Medical Sciences) 1960 17

Physiology (Medical Sciences) 1960 18

Microbiology (Medical Sciences) 1962 15

Pharmacology (Medical Sciences) 1964 13

Chemistry (Río Piedras) 1970 133

Marine Sciences (Mayagüez) 1972 62

Biology (Intercampus – Río Piedras & Medical Sciences) 1981 51

Chemical-Physics (Interdisciplinary – Río Piedras & Mayagüez)

1981 19

Civil Engineering (Mayagüez) 1992 6

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEGREES CONFERRED UP TO 2000 345

* Totals up to 2000

9

Date of Creation and Number of Degrees Conferred in the Natural Sciences and Engineering by Doctoral Program at UPR (Cont.)

Doctoral Programs (PhD) Date of Creation

Number of Degrees

Conferred Since Its Creation

New Doctorals Programs

Chemical Engineering (Mayagüez) 1999

Business Administration (Finances y International Commerce)(Río Piedras)

1999

Mathematics (Río Piedras) 2000

Computational Sciences and Engineering(Interdisciplinary) (Mayagüez & with faculty from other campuses)

2000

Applied Chemistry (Mayagüez) 2002

New Programs on the Drawing Board

Biotechnology (Mayagüez)

Computational Biology (Río Piedras)

10

PhDs Conferred in Natural Sciences,Medical Sciences, and Engineering at UPR

14

9

17

10

16

31

25

49

22

17

12

9

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Academic Year

# P

h’s

D C

on

ferr

ed

11

The University of Puerto Rico

Becomes the First Research I University in Puerto Rico by

Strengthening PhD Programs and Fostering Competitive Research in its

Three Graduate Campuses

12

Developing Three Research I CampusesAt the University of Puerto Rico System

Present Levelof Activity

CarnegieClassification

2000

CarnegieClassification

2005

Projected Levelof Activity

(2005)

1) Río Piedras Campus

3) Mayagüez Campus

2) Medical Sciences Campus

12

60

$12M

PhDprograms

PhD'sper Year

inR&D Funds

16

90

$30M

PhDprograms

PhD'sper Year

inR&D Funds

5

10

$19M

PhDprograms

PhD'sper Year

inR&D Funds

5

20

$40M

PhDprograms

PhD'sper Year

inR&D Funds

4

6

$13M

PhDprograms

PhD'sper Year

inR&D Funds

7

15

$35M

PhDprograms

PhD'sper Year

inR&D Funds

Doctoral/ResearchUniversity, Intensive

SpecializedInstitution

[All IndependentMedical SciencesCampuses and

Medical Schools]

SpecializedInstitution

[All IndependentMedical SciencesCampuses and

Medical Schools]

Masters(Comprehensive)

College or University

Doctoral/ResearchUniversity, Intensive

Doctoral/ResearchUniversity, Extensive

in five years

in five years

in five years

13

R&D Expenditures in Puerto Rico Universities(NSF DATA)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Year

Exp

en

dit

ure

s (

$ in

Million

s)

Public

Private

14

Growth in UPR External Funds for R+D1992-93 to 2001-02

Net Growth in a 10 Year Period Resulted in 2.4 increase in available funds.

$20

$25

$30

$35

$40

$45

$50

$55

$60

92-93 93-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02

Academic Year

Ex

tern

al

Fu

nd

fo

r R

&D

(in

mil

lio

ns

)

$ 23.46 M

$ 56.65 M

15

* Science and Technology: Includes Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Medicine, Agriculture and Engineering** Source: "Science Citation Index"*** The curve represents a 10% compounded growth rate

Publications in Peer Reviewed Science and Technology* Journals of the University of Puerto Rico

(Information from the Science Citation Index**)

280 340 365 600

(0.6) (0.7) (0.9) (1.5)

154

228

313

510

950

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000#

of

Peer

Revie

wed

Pu

blicati

on

s

85-8

6

92-9

3

98-9

9

200

1-0

2

04-0

5

Year

***

# of researchersAt UPR

Publicationsper Researcher

16

17

R&D IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FIELDS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR UPR IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE

INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AN S&T DRIVEN ECONOMY FOR PUERTO RICO

• The Government approved an S&T Policy in October, 1996. A strategic plan is being developed for its implementation.

• The UPR Board of Trustees approved an S&T Policy in 1997 to channel resources and give priority to increase the number and quality of PhDs, intensify R&D activity, and promote the protection and commercialization of intellectual property in support of the Government's S&T Policy.

• Since 1985 with funds from NSF, DOE, DOD, NASA, and EPA, the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) has accelerate the development of infrastructure and nurture competitive R&D in Puerto Rico. With an annual budget in excess of $12M, more than 150 researchers carry on cutting edge research in five thrust areas.

18

PR-EPSCoR Thrust Areas Evolution

Biotechnology

Development of target areas based onexisting capabilities, growth potential,

and contribution to the Island’s economy

Information Technology Research

Environmental Science and Engineering

High Performance Computing

Integrative Biomolecular Processes

Materials Science

Engineering Infrastructure

Environmental Research

Materials Science

External Peer AssessmentAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science

NSF EPSCoR Phase V Funds: $13.5M

NSF EPSCoR Phase IV

NSF EPSCoR Phase VNIHIDEA

NSF EPSCoR

NASAEPSCoR

DEPSCoR

DoEEPSCoR

19

Engineering Research Centers Initiative

20

A STRATEGY TO DEVELOP STATE-OF-THE ARTENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTERS

UPR is actively participating in three ERC’s• Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging

Systems (CenSSIS)– An alliance with Rensselaer Polytechnic

Institute, Northeastern University, and Boston University

– Partnership with research hospital and marine stations

– Research in remote sensing of biological systems, submarine exploration and subsoil sensing

– Development of test-beds to develop new remote sensing technologies

– Partnership with industries

21

A STRATEGY TO DEVELOP STATE-OF-THE ARTENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTERS (Cont.)

Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA)

• Collaboration with University of Massachusetts, University of Oklahoma, and Colorado State University

• Industrial partners: Hewlett Packard and Verizon• Radar network for detection of every day and extreme

meteorological events• Integration of information on extreme meteorological

events with the needs of emergency management agencies and the public

22

V i r g i n i a T e c h

U n i v e r s i t yo f W i s c o n s i n

M a d i s o n

R e n s s e l a e rP o l y t e c h n i c

I n s t i t u t e

U n i v e r s i t yo f P u e r t o R i c o

M a y a g u e z

N o r t hC a r o l i n a A & T S t a t e

U n i v e r s i t y

V i r g i n i a T e c h

7 7 I n d u s t r y P a r t n e r s

CENTER FOR POWER ELECTRONICS SYSTEMSCENTER FOR POWER ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS

Electric Energy Processing System Laboratory (E2PSyL)

Three main areas: • component testing and prototyping• component modeling and simulation• power quality and energy conversion

Multi-disciplinary projects• Industrial and Mechanical Engineering (CPES)

NSF and UPRM funds (over $350k)• Dr. Vélez-Reyes PECASE award 1997• Dr. Efraín O’Neill NSF MRI Award 2001

24

Acquisition of Instrumentation for the Acquisition of Instrumentation for the Electric Energy Processing Systems Electric Energy Processing Systems

Laboratory at UPRMLaboratory at UPRM

  NSF Major Research Instrumentation Grant (MRI)NSF Major Research Instrumentation Grant (MRI)

Dr. Efraín O’Neill-Carrillo, PIDr. Efraín O’Neill-Carrillo, PI

Dr. Miguel Vélez-Reyes, Co-PI Dr. Miguel Vélez-Reyes, Co-PI

Dr. Lionel Orama-Exclusa, Co-PIDr. Lionel Orama-Exclusa, Co-PI

Dr. Agustín Irizarry-Rivera, Co-PIDr. Agustín Irizarry-Rivera, Co-PI

Dr. José R. Cedeño-Maldonado, Co-PIDr. José R. Cedeño-Maldonado, Co-PI

25

Research InfrastructureResearch Infrastructure

Enhancement of research capabilities at E2PSyL

Power electronics Electric drives Power quality Transient studies Improved computational capabilities

26

Biotechnology Initiative

27

Total

Federal EPSCoR Funding (1990-2003)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

FY90 FY91 FY92 FY93 FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99 FY00 FY01 FY02 FY03

Fiscal Year

$$ (

in m

illio

ns)

NSF

NIH

DOE

USDA

DoD

NASA

EPA

DOC

projected

28

The University of Puerto Rico

Implements a Multicampus a Strategy to Develop its R&D Capacity in Biotechnology using NIH Funds

29

Center for Molecular,

Developmental and

Behavioral Science

Center for Researchin Protein Structure,

Function and Dynamics

Biomedical Research;Bioinformatics Infrastructure

Network

The Biotechnology Trilogy2001

NIH Funds: $24.5MUPR Matched Funds: $6.5M

BRIN

Biotechnologicaland Pharmaceutical

Industries

COBRE I

COBRE II

30

COBRE I

University of Puerto Rico

Center for Molecular, Developmental and Behavioral Neuroscience

31

University of Puerto Rico

Center for Molecular, Developmental and Behavioral Neuroscience

COBRE

Projects:

•Molecular mechanism of brain injury: P2Y2 nucleotide receptor in ischemia. Fernando A. González, Ph.D.

•Emotional memory: Genomic basis of emotional learning and memory. Sandra Peña, Ph.D.

•Cocaine-seeking behavior: Neural and molecular mechanisms in striatal learning. Carmen Maldonado, Ph.D.

•Development of maternal behavior: Neurosteroid effects on the structure and function of a sexually dimorphic mammalian brain network. Juan C. Jorge, Ph.D.

32

NIH-COBRE II Program

UPR- Protein Research Center

33

UPR- Protein Research Center

Center for Research in Protein Structure, Function

and DynamicsSponsored by the National Institutes of Health-Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (NIH-COBRE II) Program

NIH Funding Period: Oct. 2001- Sept 2006 ($8 Million / 5 years)

34

Protein Structure, Dynamics, and Function. Dr. Juan López Garriga - Chemistry UPR-Mayagüez Dr. Carmen Cadilla– Biochemistry-UPR-Medical Sciences• Aimed at understanding the reactions between hemoglobin (Hb), myoglobin

(Mb), and other heme proteins with H2O2.

CURRENT PROJECTS & PI’s

Protein Interactions and Oligomerization. Dr. Belinda Pastrana - Ríos - Chemistry UPR-Mayagüez Dr. Elsa M. Cora – Biochemistry-UPR-Medical Sciences• Aimed at studying serum 110 kD-sEGFR, a circulating serum biomarker for

epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), a protein generated by alternative splicing of the EGFR message.

Protein Stability and Delivery. Dr. Kai Griebenow - Chemistry- UPR-Río Piedras. Dr. Reinhard Schweitzer-Stenner - Chemistry- UPR-Río Piedras.• Aimed at studies on the improvement of the controlled delivery of proteins

from biocompatible poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) by increasing their lifetime

35

Biomedical Research Infrastructure Networks in Puerto Rico (BRIN-PR)

Dr. Fernando A. González, P.I.

Institutional Development Award (IDeA)

36

BRIN Purpose

…to establish Biomedical Research Infrastructure Networks (BRIN) to further enhance the research capacity of institutions through collaborative partnerships.

37

BRIN Organization

B ioin form atics C ore

M enta l Hea lth Ne tw ork M edica l B iotechnologyNetw ork

Neurosc ienceNetw ork

The N etw orks

Train ing and M en toring C ore S cien tif ic R esearch C ore

B R IN P I& C o-P I's

38

Approved Funds $30.5M

Expected New NIH Funds $20M

Using NIH Funds to Expand UPR Biotechnology R+D Initiative

by Creating New Research Programs

COBRE III

Center for Clinical

Proteomics

(Submitted)

COBRE IV

Microarray Analysis

(Planned)

COBRE I

Center for Molecular, Developmental and

Behavioral Neuroscience

COBRE II

Center for Research in Protein

Structure, Function and Dynamics

BRIN

Bioinformatics

HPCf

39

COBRE IVCenter for Bioinformatics

• Brings Mathematicians, Statisticians, Bioinformaticians, Biologist and Chemical Engineer in a Multidisciplinary/Multicampus Team to study and model microarrays.

• Will develop the following microarray areas:• Simulation and reverse engineering problem of genetic networks.• Gene network design and error correction for microarrays • Microarray expression analysis: statistical significance of expression

changes • Microarray data analysis

• Will also develop the following Bioinformatic thrusts:• Pattern recognition in tandem mass spectrometry.• Statistical significance of multiple sequences alignment and gapped local

alignments.

Proposed Five Year Budget: $10M (NIH + UPR)

40

Academic/Industry Partnershipfor Innovation

41

Business: P.R. Chamber of CommerceP.R. Manufacturer’s AssociationAdvent Morro Equity Partners (Venture Capital)MOVA PharmaceuticalINDUNIVVirtual, Inc. (Commercial Incubator)

The NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI)

Puerto Rico received a PFI to accelerate the Innovation Process (February, 2001):  

Mission of the PFI 

Develop Ideation to Commercialization pathways to achieve innovation

Academia:University of Puerto RicoPolytechnic University Inter American University

 Government:

Federal Small Business AdministrationP.R. Department of Economic Development and

Commerce

The PFI is an Alliance of:

42

Goals and Objectives of PFI

Goal   Create a continuous pipeline for innovation: from ideation to

commercialization. 

Objectives 

A. Develop Entrepreneurial skills and nurture an innovation competent workforce.

• Incorporate curricular materials on the nature of technology and innovation in the K-12 curriculum.

• Entrepreneurship development program for undergraduates.

• Develop new Ph.D.’s of relevance to innovation Materials Science Computational Sciences & Engineering Medical Biotechnology

43

Goals and Objectives of PFI (cont.)

B. Improve Access to New Knowledge to Drive the Innovation Process

• PFI – Web-based Interactive S&T Resources Data base• Create an Enterprise Forum• Provide Assistance for the Preparation of SBIR/STTR• Open UPR Intellectual Property and Technology

Commercialization Office (IPTC) to Entrepreneurs & Start-Ups Companies.

C. Create Infrastructure to Enable Innovation

• Promote and support the formation of a system of incubators• Create R&D institutes to promote innovation

D. Advocacy and Promoting Systemic Thinking in the Development of S&T Innovation in Puerto Rico: Implementing the S&T Policy

44

Building a High Performance Computing and

INTERNET2 Informatics Infrastructurefor Research and Education

45

High Performance Computing Facility

• The High Performance Computing Facility was created in 1998, with NSF funding, to serve the computational needs of the research community; it provides:• Center for Numerical Supercomputing.• Bioinformatics Resource Center.• Two visualization laboratories.• Access Grid Video Conferencing Center.• Serves Puerto Rico’s Internet2 Services Alliance (PRISA net) GigaPoP.

• Computing Facilities• Silicon Graphics Origin 300 32 MIPS 14000 Processors.• Silicon Graphics Origin 2400/Onyx 2 24 MIPS Processors.• Silicon Graphics Origin 2000 desk side cluster 16 MIPS desk side

cluster.• Linux Supercluster 156 processors.

46

PRISA GigaPOP

FIU GigaPOP

RUM

AO

RRP

RCM

Abilene

NationalSupercomputing

facilities

Other Internet 2Institutions

NationalResearch Labs

PRISA will entertain alliances and partnerships on research and educational projects with industry and C of C members in Puerto Rico

OC-3

OC-3 (Quest on America II)

OC-3

OC-3OC-3

OC-3

OC-3

OC-3

OC-3

OC-3

CentennialATM Cloud

(Fiber optics)

CentennialATM

Puerto Rico Internet 2 Services AssociationPRISA net

InternationalResearchFacilities

OC-3 = 155Mb/secOC-3 = 100xT1

ATM = Asynchronous Transfer Mode

47

www.hpcf.upr.edu/prstp

48