Welcome to Desde el Origen! In this week's episode, we have the incredibly brilliant and successful, Dr. Lucy Crespo, CEO of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust. In this interview, we talk about everything ranging her early interest in science and math, being the first woman in many spaces, and advice for the new generation of women in STEM.You can listen to this episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts as well!----------------------------------¡Bienvenidos a Desde el Origen! En el episodio de esta semana, tenemos a la sumamente brillante y exitosa, Dra. Lucy Crespo, CEO del Fideicomiso para las Ciencias, Tecnología e Investigación de Puerto Rico. En esta entrevista hablamos de temas variando desde su interés temprano en las ciencias y matemáticas, ser la primera mujer en muchos espacios y consejos para la nueva generación de mujeres en STEM.¡Puedes escuchar este episodio en Spotify y Apple Podcasts!

We all experience stressful situations every single day; traffic jams, running late to work, spilling coffee on our favorite shirt. But what happens when stress is no longer momentary? What happens when it persists over time, like a breakup, a cancer diagnosis, or the loss of a loved one?

Joining us today to answer these questions is leading stress researcher Dr. Andrea Sgoifo. Andrea has studied stress physiology in both animal models and humans for over 30 years. Specifically, he is interested in the brain–heart axis, and how it is altered under persistent, long-term stress.

As always on our show Desde el Origen, we will not only explore his scientific discoveries, but also the path that led him there. Did he always know he wanted to pursue a career in science? And what major insights has he amassed over the course of a three-decade career?

We are going to unpack those questions today. Please have a listen and enjoy!

In this episode of Desde el Origen, Dr. Carmen Maldonado speaks with longtime friend and colleague Dr. Michelle Borrero. Michelle’s journey in science could not be further from the norm, and she is here to remind us that THAT’S MORE THAN OKAY!

Not great at math? No worries, neither was young Michelle, who started out as a drama student before switching to STEM and, just a few years later, found herself working in a leading immunology lab in the mainland US.

Resistant to choosing a single niche in science? Michelle felt the same. Her work lives far outside the traditional box, and her story is a powerful inspiration for anyone drawn to intersectionality in science.

Today, Michelle researches and teaches at the University of Puerto Rico, with a focus on science education. She knows that the best way to spark interest in science is through hands-on, practical experience (not memorizing textbooks). As a result, Michelle spends a lot of time in local schools analyzing how science education is taught and, what are the gaps or opportunities for real change.

In this episode, Michelle shares the many paths she could have taken, the pivots that shaped her career, and why expanding who belongs in science is essential for building a stronger, more inclusive scientific community!

En este episodio de Desde el Origen, la Dra. Carmen Maldonado conversa con su amiga y colega de muchos años, la Dra. Michelle Borrero. El recorrido de Michelle en la ciencia está lejos de ser convencional, y está aquí para recordarnos que ¡eso está más que bien!

¿No eres buena/o en matemáticas? No hay problema: Michelle tampoco lo era cuando era joven. Comenzó como estudiante de drama antes de dar el salto a las STEM y, tan solo unos años después, se encontró trabajando en un laboratorio líder en inmunología en Estados Unidos.

¿Te cuesta elegir un solo nicho dentro de la ciencia? Michelle sentía exactamente lo mismo. Su trabajo va mucho más allá de los moldes tradicionales, y su historia es una poderosainspiración para quienes se sienten atraídos por la interseccionalidad en la ciencia.

Hoy en día, Michelle investiga y enseña en la Universidad de Puerto Rico, con un enfoque en la educación científica. Tiene claro que la mejor manera de despertar el interés por la ciencia es a través de experiencias prácticas y participativas (no memorizando libros de texto). Por eso, dedica gran parte de su tiempo a trabajar en escuelas locales, analizando cómo se enseña la ciencia y cuáles son las brechas u oportunidades para generar un cambio real.

En este episodio, Michelle comparte los múltiples caminos que pudo haber tomado, los giros que marcaron su carrera y por qué ampliar quiénes se sienten parte de la ciencia es clave paraconstruir una comunidad científica más fuerte e inclusiva.

Scientific paths rarely unfold in straight lines, and Dr. Hector Franco’s journey is no exception. Trained first as a marine biologist, however now leads a cancer research lab at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Puerto Rico. He investigates how tumor cells respond to treatment, how Puerto Rican patients may differ from other populations, and how to optimize therapies under specific biological conditions.A former athlete who entered university on both sports and academic scholarships, Hector’s path into science has been driven by curiosity, tenacity, and a steady rise through multiple research postings across the US.In conversation with Dr. Carmen Maldonado, he reflects on latino representation in research, precision medicine, and the future of cancer biology in Puerto Rico

Los caminos científicos rara vez se desarrollan en línea recta, y el del Dr. Hector Franco no es la excepción. Aunque se formó inicialmente como biólogo marino, hoy dirige un laboratorio de investigación oncológica en el Centro Comprehensivo de Cáncer de Puerto Rico. Su trabajo se centra en entender cómo responden las células tumorales a los tratamientos, cómo los pacientes puertorriqueños pueden diferir de otras poblaciones y cómo optimizar terapias bajo condiciones biológicas específicas.

Ex jugador de soccer que ingresó a la universidad con becas tanto académicas como deportivas, el camino de Hector hacia la ciencia ha estado impulsado por la curiosidad, la tenacidad y un ascenso constante a través de distintas posiciones de investigación en Estados Unidos.

En conversación con la Dra. Carmen Maldonado, reflexiona sobre la representación latina en la investigación, la medicina de precisión y el futuro de la biología del cáncer en Puerto Rico.”

For many of us, the path to finding our niche in academia can be tricky. It’s not always clear what to specialize in, or how to get there. Often, it’s the serendipitous moments that shape our careers: a PhD program that opens at the right time, a guest speaker you meet at a conference, a field expedition that changes your trajectory forever.

Riccardo Papa is a leading scientist in butterfly genomics, and his journey has been full of pivots and unexpected turns. In this conversation with podcast host Dr. Carmen Maldonado, learn about his path into science, his shift away from competitive sailing, the advice he has for young researchers, and his exciting new project, The Blueprint of Life.

This episode is full of nuggets of wisdom, I hope you enjoy it!