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.
Olga Carrera
Phlebotomist
Ms. Olga Carrera is a Phlebotomist for the RECOVER Study at the University of Miami, Department of Health and Sciences.
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.
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.
Roger Noriega
Research Support Specialist
Mr. Roger Noriega, MPH, is a Research Support Specialist at the University of Miami, Department of Public Health Sciences. He graduated from the University of Florida with an MPH in Epidemiology. He is interested in infectious disease epidemiology.
Nathaly Suarez
Phlebotomist
Ms. Nathaly Suarez is a Phlebotomist for the RECOVER Study at the University of Miami, Department of Health and Sciences.
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.
Annabel Reyes
Research Support Specialist and Wet Lab Leader
Ms. Annabel Reyes, BS, is a Research Support Specialist 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 Biological Sciences. She is interested in promoting health equities among racial and ethnic minority groups
Brigitte Madan
Data Management Administrator
Ms. Brigitte Madan, BA is a Data Management Administrator in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Psychology. She is interested in improving the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices for mental health amongst the Latinx population.
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.
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.
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.
Christian Rojas
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Environmental Engineering
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.