Ingrid Padilla

Dr. Ingrid Padilla is the Advisor to the Chancellor in Research, Innovation and Creative Endeavors and a Professor in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez (UPRM). At UPRM, she has steered significant changes on the research ecosystem, leading to impactful growth of the research portfolio. She recently served as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation and as a member of the Navy Research Advisory Committee. Before joining the UPRM, Dr. Padilla led the groundwater office at Greg Morris & Assoc. and directed hydrologic investigations while working with the U.S. Geological Survey. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona; a M.S. from University of Michigan; and a B.S. from the University of Maryland.

Dr. Padilla’s expertise is on hydrology and water resources, with particulate emphasis on contaminant and groundwater hydrology. Her current research focuses on impacts of extreme hydrologic events on environmental quality and health. Her prominent role in laboratory, field-scale, modeling and training programs in the academic, government and private sectors, has given her extensive leadership, management, and network capabilities. Dr. Padilla has also been heavily involved in inclusion programs to increase diversity of women and underrepresented populations in STEM education and research, and academia. She holds a Profesional License in Hydrology and certifications in Diversity and Inclusion, Change Management, Executive Leadership and Performance Leadership. Dr. Padilla is a Fellow of the Geological Soceity of America, a Ford Fellow, a Board Member of the Karst Waters Institute, and an Associate Editor of Discover Water. Her work has widely disseminated and recognized through numerous awards.