Félix E. Rivera-Mariani, Ph.D.

https://www.lynn.edu/campus-directory/people/felix-rivera-mariani

• Aerobiology
• Exposure science
• Environmental health
• Chronic respiratory diseases
• Biomarker discovery in respiratory health immunotoxicology
• Bioinformatics and systems biology
• Equitable science communication

• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAI)
  • Elected Fellow, 2025
  • Active Member, 2009-Present
  • Aerobiology Committee, 2011-Present
  • Environmental Exposures and Respiratory Health Committee, 2011-Present
  • Microbial Triggers of Diseases Committee, 2019-Present
  • Nominated as vice chair of the Microbial Triggers of Diseases Committee for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) for the 2025–27 term
• American Association of Immunologists
  • Associate Member, 2011-Present
  • Minority Affairs Committee, 2011-Present
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • Member, 2010 – 2021
• American Society for Microbiology
  • Active Member, 2002-Present
  • Mentor, Future Leaders Mentoring Fellowship Program, 2022-2023
• American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2024-Present
• American Thoracic Society, Full Member, 2018-Present
  • Allergy, Immunology, and Inflammation Assembly, 2018-Present
  • Environmental, Occupational, and Population Health Assembly, 2018-Present
  • Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Assembly, 2018-Present
• International Society for Exposure Science, Full Member, 2021-Present
• Society of Toxicology. Active Member, 2011-Present
  • Hispanic Organization of Toxicologists, 2011-Present
  • lmmunotoxicology Section, 2011-Present

• Health Disparities: A Translational Research Approach (Online), University of Puerto Rico – Medical Sciences Campus, 2019
• Mastering Software Development in R (5-courses series), Johns Hopkins University (on www.coursera.org), 2016-2017
• Bioinformatics Specialization (7-courses series), University of California – San Diego (on www.coursera.org), 2016-2017
• Genomics Data Science Specialization (8-courses series), Johns Hopkins University (on www.coursera.org), 2016-2017
• Executive Data Science Specialization (5-courses series), Johns Hopkins University (on www.coursera.org), 2016-2017
• Systems Biology and Biotechnology Specialization (6-courses series), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (on www.coursera.org), 2016-2017
• Data Science Specialization (10-courses series), Johns Hopkins University (on www.coursera.org), 2016-2017
• Statistical Reasoning for Public Health I: Estimation, Inference, Interpretation, 2015
• Statistical Reasoning for Public Health II: Regression Models, Johns Hopkins University (on www.coursera.org), 2015

• Assistant Scientist, Division of Environmental and Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 2022-2023
• Assistant Professor, College of Biomedical Sciences, Larkin University, Miami, FL, 2018-2022
• Adjunct Professor, College of Biomedical Sciences, Larkin University, Miami, FL, 2017 (August-December)
• Visiting Professor, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico – Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, 2015 (January-May)
• Adjunct Professor, Keiser University, Pembroke Pines Campus, Pembroke Pines, FL, 2014
• Adjunct Professor, College of Natural Sciences, Health and Wellness, Miami Dade College, Miami, FL, 2014-2017

• Consultant in Immunology, Environmental Health, Exposure Science,
  Computational Biology, and Data Science, 2013-Present
  Felix E. Rivera-Mariani PhD LLC (FL #L21000280781, PR #467494)
  Fort Lauderdale, FL
  website: https://www.friveram.com

• Developmental Editor, American Journal Experts (subsidiary of Research Square LLC), Durham, NC, 2012-2015
• Microbiology Analyst, Environmental Quality Laboratories, Bayamon,
  PR, 2001-2004

Outreach

• Founder and Livestream-Digital Content Producer, 2020-Present
  Vistazo A La Ciencia LLC (FL #L21000197342, #465772)
  Fort Lauderdale, FL
  Mission: We develop dialogues and educational content, from the
  perspective and needs of society, on science issues through 1) various
  production strategies, 2) interviews with experts, 3) collaborations with
  scientific organizations, and 4) mentoring and fostering the leadership of
  minority groups.
  website: https://www.vistazoalaciencia.com
• Founder, Director, Mentor, Scientist, 2018-Present
  RIPLRT Institute: A Respiratory and Immunology Project and Laboratory
  Research Team (DBA of Felix E. Rivera-Mariani PhD LLC)
  Fort Lauderdale, FL
  Mission: Deploy collaborations and provide mentoring and career
  guidance to students and early-career-scientists from minority groups
  seeking careers in immunology, respiratory, environmental health, and
  computational approaches.
  website: https://www.riplrt.com

Ongoing Funded Research

• Title: Immediate Effects of Therapeutic Group Drumming on Affective Stress and Biomarkers of Stress
  Funding: RayBiotech
  Amount: $1,500
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Summary: While group drumming has shown promise for reducing stress and enhancing social bonds, our pilot study (n=34) suggests that age, prior music experience, and academic status may shape how college students respond to this intervention. Based on these findings, we are investigating how a short, community-focused drumming impacts mood and physiological markers of stress. This multi-level analysis will help us determine whether drumming benefits all students similarly or by specific subgroups.
• Title: Educational Biomarker Discovery Lab
  Funding Agency: Private Funding
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Summary: The Educational Biomarker Discovery Lab (EBDL) is an interdisciplinary research and teaching initiative dedicated to training the next generation of scientists in biomarker discovery and its applications to environmental, respiratory, and immunology health. The lab integrates cutting-edge methodologies in biochemistry, immunology, environmental health, and computational approaches to investigate environmental exposures and health disparities. EBDL emphasizes experiential learning and mentorship, particularly for students from underrepresented backgrounds, fostering skills in both research and science communication. The lab's mission is to advance scientific understanding of health disparities while preparing students for impactful careers in biomedical and public health research.
• Title: All of Us Program
  Funding Agency: NIH
  PI: NA
  Role: Investigator with Registered and Controlled Tier Access
  Summary: As a user and investigator within the NIH All of Us Research Program Workbench, I leverage this expansive and diverse dataset to explore health disparities, with a focus on identifying biomarkers linked to respiratory and immunological health outcomes. My role involves utilizing advanced computational and bioinformatics tools to analyze multidimensional data, contributing to a deeper understanding of the intersection between environmental exposures and health equity. Through this work, I aim to generate actionable insights that address public health challenges while promoting inclusive and representative biomedical
  research.
• Title: Endemic Outdoor Aeroallergens and the Incidence of Respiratory Viral Diseases in Puerto Rico
  Funding Agency: Puerto Rico Public Health Trust
  PI: Benjamín Bolaños-Rosero
  Amount: $10,000
  Role: Collaborator and graduate student mentor
  Summary: The objective of this study is to determine the role of outdoor fungal spores, which aeroallergens endemic in the atmosphere of Puerto Rico, in the incidence and immunological susceptibility to COVID-19 in Puerto Rico. Also, this project seeks to demonstrate the utility of an innovative blood microsample approach to determine immunological risks to emerging respiratory health pathogens, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The expected impact of this project is that it will provide data on immunological risks to emerging respiratory health hazards from exposures to endemic biological aerosol.

Completed Funded Research

• Title: Research on the Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 among Essential Response
  Personnel (RECOVER)
  Funding Agency: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
  PI: Alberto Cabán-Martínez
  Amount: $3,950,000 (three-year funding)
  Role: Lead-Scientist, Co-Investigator
  Summary: The objectives of the RECOVER study are to 1) determine the frequency of SARSCoV-2 virus infection and re-infection and COVID-19 illness among healthcare, first responders, and essential or frontline workers; and 2) estimate the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and interventions. The anticipated impact of this project is that it will help measure the COVID-19 incidence, identify risk factors for infection and manifestation as symptomatic and asymptomatic, describe symptomatology and outcomes of infection and re-infection, medical-attendance, immune response, examine antibody correlates of protection against SARS-CoV-2 re-infection, duration of viral shedding, and assess knowledge, attitude and practices related to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
• Title: Linking Microbial, SVOC and Pro-Inflammatory Exposures in Homes to Childhood Asthma Severity: A Community Filter Forensics Approach
  Funding Agency: US Department of Housing and Urban Development
  Project Number (and PI): HUD126513356
  PI: Kerry Kinney
  Amount Awarded: $700,000
  Role: Collaborator, Sub-Award Principal Investigator ($76,931)
  Summary: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the merits of using a Community Filter Forensics approach for assessing levels of indoor contaminants and pro-inflammatory potential in homes. In the original Filter Forensics HUD study, it was determined that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) filters can serve as integrated, long-term samples of particle-bound contaminants in a cohort of rural homes. Novel relationships were identified between the microbiome and 1) asthma triggers in home HVAC filter dust, and 2) the severity of asthma for children in these homes, including potentially protective exposures. In this follow-up study, the Filter Forensics approach was extended assess housing-related health hazards in a urban cohorts of households across three climate zones in Texas. The impact of this project and the Community Filter Forensic approach was that it allowed efficient collection of data to identify both potentially detrimental and protective home environmental exposures.
• Title of Pilot Study: Immune and Epigenetic Signatures Related to Post-Hurricane Maria Indoor Contamination in Puerto Rico
  Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  Project Number: R25HL126140
  PIs: Joe Garcia, Francisco Moreno, Sairam Parthasarathy
  Amount Awarded: $14688 (Pilot Study under a training within project R25HL126140)
  Role: PI of Pilot Study as part of the Advanced Respiratory Research for Equity (AIRE) training
  program
  Summary: The purpose of this study was to determine the immunological and epigenetic signatures that settle dust from homes with different magnitude of water damage from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico induced in peripheral blood leukocytes. The impact of this project was it will highlighted the immune and genetic modulating-potential from exposures to increased microbial contamination among Puerto Ricans expose the environmental hazards from Hurricane Maria, and preliminary data to design further studies on how increase indoor multi-pollutant foci affect the immune system of individuals living in areas susceptible to
  extreme atmospheric events.
• Title: Taking a Breath after the Disaster: Homes, Molds, and Health in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
  Funding Agency: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
  Project Number: R21ES029762
  PI: Humberto Cavallin-Calanche
  Amount Awarded: $408, 316
  Role: Collaborator, Sub-Award Principal Investigator ($15,500)
  Summary: The purpose of this study was to immunological and respiratory health risks that long-term water damage to houses in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The objectives of the study were to 1) characterize the fungal communities present inside and outside water damage and non-flooded (control) homes in Puerto Rico following hurricane Maria and determine the change in these communities during the first two years following the Hurricane; 2) evaluate the pro-inflammatory potential of indoor air samples collected from the water-damage homes and compare these levels to those in non-flooded (control) study homes and outdoor air; 3) determine the relationship between occupant respiratory health and home characteristics including flood damage as well as the indoor fungal community and proinflammatory potential of dust in the homes.
• Title: Genetic Susceptibility to Asthma and Indoor Air Pollution in Peru
  Funding Agency: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
  Project Number: 3R01ES018845-04S1
  PI: Nadia Hansel
  Amount Awarded: $410, 571
  Role: Postdoctoral Collaborator (under Drs. Patrick Breysse and Thomas Hartung) 
  Summary: The purpose of this was to identify genetic variants associated with asthma and its associated traits (i.e., asthma severity, pulmonary function, airway inflammation) in relation to indoor air pollutant exposures in two Peruvian cities, Lima and Tumbes. The impact of this study was identifying candidate genes for asthma and associated traits relevant to both the general population as well as those contributing to disparities in asthma morbidity among individuals in Peru. Also, by identifying subgroups of the population who are particularly vulnerable to air pollution is an important objective, as the results can be used to identify people most likely to benefit from exposure avoidance.

• Mentor, Cohort 3, AIM-AHEAD NCATS Training Program, 2026
• Inaugural member, GeoCAFE Scholars, 2025 cohort
• Elected Fellow, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, 2025
• Faculty Success Program, National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, 2024-Present
• Nominated for the Index of Inspiring Black Scientists, a curated list of trailblazing Black scientists in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  
• Sor Isolina Ferré Award for Excellence in Service to Communities in Puerto Rico, House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, 2024
• Scholar, Leading Emerging and Diverse Scientists to Success (LEADS), Institute for Clinical Research Education, University of Pittsburgh, 2020-2021
• Scholar, Advanced Respiratory Research for Equity (AIRE) of the Programs to Increase Diversity among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research (PRIDE), University of Arizona, 2019-2020
• Lush Young Researcher Award, Ethical Consumer Association, 2012
• David Leslie Swift Fund in Environmental Health Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2011
• Young Aerobiologist Award, International Association for Aerobiology, 2010
• Fellows-in-Training Travel Award, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 2010 Annual Meeting 2010, New Orleans, LA, 2010
• Latin American Travel Award, International Association for Aerobiology, 2010 Annual Meeting, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2010
• Latin American Travel Award, Pan American Aerobiology Association, 2010 Annual Meeting, Kansas City, MO, 2010
• Lanzoni’s Student Award, Pan American Aerobiology Association, 2007 Annual Conference, State College, PA, 2007