Extramural Research Training Officer
Dr. Rivera‐Rentas was named the NIDCD research training officer for extramural programs in February 2015. Before joining the NIDCD, he was a program officer and the research training officer at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). He also previously served as a program director at the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), managing a portfolio that included investigator-initiated research development awards, institutional student development, and research training programs. He has contributed to the success of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research’s Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (ENDURE) program and the prestigious NIH Director’s New Innovator Award.
Dr. Rivera‐Rentas earned his Ph.D. in biology with a concentration in neurobiology at the University of Puerto Rico. Before joining the NIH, he studied the biological, chemical, and physical factors associated with toxicological actions in the nervous system, and the role of environmental and anthropogenic factors in respiratory and neurodegenerative conditions in Puerto Rico.
With a diverse background in basic science and medicine, Dr. Rivera-Rentas has created crosscutting interdisciplinary projects in science, research, and education sponsored by a wide variety of federal agencies. He is a former member of the science advisory board of the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), affiliated with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). His publications include peer-reviewed articles in neuroscience, toxicology, environmental sciences, public health, and science education.
Training and Career Development (T and K Programs)