Elizabeth Padilla Crespo

Dr. Elizabeth Padilla Crespo has a double degree in Biotechnology and Industrial Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, an M.S. in Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. From early on she became interested in the realms of environmental chemistry and microbiology, and how these are linked with the fate and transport of contaminants. These topics transcended into advocating for communities with limited resources affected by environmental disasters (e.g., toxic releases). Therefore, her career path is interdisciplinary, deeply rooted in the fields of biology, chemistry, and the geo/environmental sciences, and how these can impact the livelihood of communities and ecosystems.  She has performed research at top research centers such as Harvard Medical School, the US Department of Energy Oakridge and Berkeley National Lab, Univ of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Arkansas.  Dr. Padilla has won several research competitions at Japan, UK, and the U.S.: including an NSF IGERT Fellowship, the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF), and the Kika de la Garza Fellowship conferred by the USDA. Research interests includes design and application of microbiological and molecular tools, biodegradation of chlorinated solvents, pesticides, hydrocarbons (e.g. PAH, gasoline, and diesel), aquatic chemical ecology, applied/general microbial ecology, and environmental biotechnology.  Past international field work experiences include locations such as Azores, New Zealand, Thailand, and Sweden.  Dr. Padilla has also worked at NSF and the U.S. Congress on science policy issues.  Currently she serves as Distinguished Research Professor at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla Campus where she is passionate about training the next generation of Puerto Rican scientists and fostering key collaborations/partnerships, thus elevating her campus research portfolio. 

2023-2024 Mentee: Angel Nieto