Atlantic University launches modeling and simulation fellowship
Atlantic University has created the Dr. Ramón Barquín Cantero Research Fellowship in Modeling and Simulation, a program designed to expand applied research and academic training in advanced computational fields, the institution announced.
The fellowship represents the first time the university has formally supported applied research through a dedicated institutional program. It will focus on modeling, simulation development and related technologies aligned with Atlantic University’s academic priorities, the university explained.
“This fellowship represents the essence of who we are and where we are headed — an institution that innovates, evolves and creates knowledge applicable to the real world,” said Alexandra Fernández Navarro, president of Atlantic University.
“We’re deeply honored to extend the legacy of Dr. Barquín Cantero, opening opportunities for our student community to contribute to solving major challenges with applied technology,” she said.
The program is named for Dr. Ramón Barquín-Cantero, cofounder and president emeritus of Atlantic University. University officials said his leadership helped shape the institution’s focus on technological education in Puerto Rico.
The fellowship was established through a federal grant and is led by Fernando J. Montilla-Torres, the university’s chief innovation officer and the initiative’s principal investigator.
“We’re creating a new workforce that combines computational skills and creative expertise,” Montilla-Torres said. “This research initiative has been under development for two years and builds on our collaborations with the biotechnology and immersive training industries.”
Up to 15 undergraduate and graduate students will be selected to participate in faculty-led research projects involving advanced technologies and innovation.
Participants will work up to 10 hours a week on research assignments and receive mentorship from research faculty. The program includes a stipend based on institutional employment scales and academic credit.
Students will also be listed as coauthors on publications, conference presentations and collaborative projects, and will receive institutional certification or a digital badge upon completion.
“My father firmly believed in Puerto Rico’s potential as a country of talent and technological capability,” said Ramón C. Barquín III, chairman of Atlantic University’s board of trustees.
“That this initiative bears his name is a testament to the strength of his vision and the mission that still guides us. We want our students to research, create solutions, innovate and lead the technological transformation from Puerto Rico to the world,” he said.
According to the university, the fellowship supports its strategic plan, which emphasizes applied research, creative technology development and advanced simulation, and the integration of students into professional research environments.
