Mónica joined the Van Os lab in Spring 2023. She will be conducting research on development and evaluation of educational modules for dairy farm employees to improve cattle handling and animal welfare practices.

Mónica was born and raised in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. She completed her B.S. in Animal Science in the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Campus (UPRM) where she also worked as a research assistant and presented her work at international conferences. In 2021, she earned her master’s degree in Agricultural Extension focusing on dairy cattle welfare under Dr. Guillermo Ortiz-Colón at the UPRM as well.

After completing her master’s, she worked for the UPRM – Agricultural Extension Service as a Dairy Cattle educator in the municipality of Arecibo, Puerto Rico where she collaborated in projects with the USDA-NRCS, the dairy cooperative, and the dairy industry of Puerto Rico.