This week, we will be joined by Ricardo Couto-Rodriguez. Ricardo was born and raised in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, on the northern coast of the island. He graduated with his B.S. in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. Afterwards, he completed a master’s degree (M.S.) at the same university with a focus on microbiology. For his master’s thesis, Ricardo’s focus was on salt-loving (halophilic) microbial communities in the solar salterns of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico and identifying possible environmental processes performed by these microbes. After his master’s, Ricardo joined the Microbiology and Cell Science program at the University of Florida, where he continues his work on halophilic microorganisms and their response to oxidative stress in environmentally harsh conditions. In his spare time, Ricardo enjoys cooking and football (a long-time FC Barcelona fan), and you can catch him most afternoons running laps in the Gators Stadium.

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