Caban-Martinez Lab
Environmental and Occupational Health Research, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Firefighter Health and Safety, Cancer Control & Prevention, Biomonitoring, and Exposure Assessment
The Team
Dr. Caban-Martinez leads a highly collaborative, interdisplinary team of researchers in the area of environmental and occupational health with a focus on musculoskeletal disorders and occupational health disparties.
Alberto J. Caban-Martinez
Principal Investigator and Director
Dr. Caban-Martinez is an Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences in the Division of Environment and Public Health of the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is the Director of the Musculoskeletal Disorders and Occupational Health Lab and Associate Director of the Miami Occupational Research Group (MORG).
Carlos Alberto Silvera
Research Associate
Mr. Carlos Alberto Silvera, BA is a Research Associate in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BA in Psychology, Spanish, and Romance Languages. He is interested in better understanding the Psycho-Social factors that affect working populations.
Alexandra Cruz
Research Coordinator
Ms. Alexandra Cruz, BS, BA is a Research Support Coordinator in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. She graduated with a BS in Biology, a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, and a minor in Chemistry. She is passionate about preventative medicine and addressing health disparities.
Nathaly Suarez
Phlebotomist
Ms. Nathaly Suarez is a Phlebotomist for the RECOVER Study at the University of Miami, Department of Health and Sciences.
Jeramy Baum
Postdoctoral Fellow, Fox Lab Manager
Dr. Baum received his Ph.D. in Chemistry with a focus on sensor development and environmental exposure and detection. He is currently a Postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Miami. His research focus is on the development of field-deployable sensors and methods for sampling volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds known to be biomarkers and exposure risk compounds.
Hannah Kling
Doctoral Student, Prevention Sciences
Hannah Kling, MPH is a doctoral prevention science and community health student at the University of Miami. Hannah’s primary research interests are in occupational health and safety and the prevention of chronic diseases. She is interested in finding ways in which physical activity in the workplace (or lack thereof) influences the onset and treatment of chronic diseases within worker groups.
Alexia Lydia Kafkoutsou
Doctoral Student, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexia Kafkoutsou, MS, is a U-LINK fellow and a doctoral candidate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. She holds a BS in Molecular Biology and Genetics and an MS in Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine. Her research focuses primarily on the development of biomonitoring methods for the interdisciplinary assessment of occupational carcinogen exposure and the investigation of the resulting microbiome alterations.
Caiwei (Alison) Zheng
Graduate Research Assistant and MD-MPH Student
Ms. Caiwei (Alison) Zheng, BA, is a fourth-year MD/MPH dual degree program student at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. She received her bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University with a major in Biology and a minor in Fine arts (sculpture). She is currently spearheading the AERIAL Skin cancer study, Firefighter UV light exposure project, and the Firefighter skin cancer location follow-up study.
Addison Testoff
Graduate Research Associate
Mr. Addison Testoff earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of South Carolina. He is currently a Master of Professional Science (MPS) student at the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. His studies focus on marine conservation, specifically how anthropogenic changes in the marine environment affect south Florida communities.
Paola Louzado-Feliciano
Research Associate
Ms. Paola Louzado-Feliciano, MS is a Research Associate in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. She graduated from the University of California, San Francisco with an MS in Global Health. She is interested in exploring emergency medical condition epidemiology in LMICs.
Gabriela Jimenez
Clinical Research Coordinator
Ms. Gabriela Jimenez, BS/BA, is a Clinical Research Coordinator at the University of Miami, Department of Public Health and Sciences. She has a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and French and is currently working towards her MAS in Health Informatics at Arizona State University. She is interested in COVID-19 and health disparities research.
Karla Montes
Research Support Specialist
Ms. Karla Montes is a Research Support Specialist at the University of Miami, Department of Health and Sciences. Her background is in Business Administration and is currently the Project Manager for the RECOVER Study.
Olga Carrera
Phlebotomist
Ms. Olga Carrera is a Phlebotomist for the RECOVER Study at the University of Miami, Department of Health and Sciences.
Marcella Jaramillo
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Marcela Jaramillo, MS, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Jaramillo's research work aims to translate fundamental environmental chemistry to real-world exposure assessment of hazardous organic chemicals. She supports the collection and interpretation of the environmental chemical data for the National Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study.
Kemi Ogunsina
Doctoral Student, Epidemiology
Ms. Kemi Ogunsina, MBBS, MPH, is a doctoral student at the University of Miami. She graduated from Ladoke Akintola University with an MBBS and the University of Alabama in Birmingham with an MPH in Epidemiology. She is interested in Cancer Epidemiology, health disparities, and examining associations of occupational and environmental factors with cancer across various subpopulations.
Zeyu Nancy Lee
Graduate Research Assistant and MS Biostatistics Student
Ms. Zeyu Nancy Li, BS, is a graduate student enrolled in the Master of Biostatistics Program in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. She graduated from Florida International University with a BS in Statistics in 2019. As a graduate research assistant, Nancy provides statistical analysis support for research projects.
Mohamed Diop
Graduate Research Associate
Mr. Mohamed Diop is a Research Associate at the University of Miami. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Boston University and is working on his Master of Professional Science (MPS) in Aquaculture at the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.
Catalina Gonzalez-Umaña
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Business Administration
Ms. Catalina Gonzalez-Umana is an undergraduate student at the University of Miami in the Miami Herbert Business School. She provides research support to Dr. Caban-Martinez and other lab staff across various firefighter health and safety research projects.
Rachel Reyes
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Biomedical Engineering
Ms. Rachel Reyes is currently enrolled at the University of Miami College of Engineering obtaining a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. She is interested in developing fire safety technology that will help improve working conditions for emergency responders as well as research in the topics of cellular engineering, tissue regeneration, and diabetes.
Trystan Lytchfield
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Mr. Christian Rojas is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Miami. As a Research Assistant, he assists Dr. Caban-Martinez and other lab partners on the RECOVER project.
Christian Rojas
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Mr. Christian Rojas is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Miami College of Engineering. As a Research Assistant, he assists Dr. Caban-Martinez and other lab partners on the RECOVER project.