Sebastian A. Cruz Romero | University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez

About Me

I’m an undegraduate senior in Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Currently, I am part of the Edge Computing Group under advisement of Dr. Wilfredo Lugo Beauchamp working on developing memory-efficient models for on-device processing of biomedical dynsfunction (e.g., anemia, low hemoglobin). [NSF Award OIA-1849243]. I also founded Capicú, a deep tech startup specialized in deploying ML models optimized for your target hardware, with a focus on biomedical and medical tech. With a strong background in Data Science & Engineering, Biomedical Informatics, and Machine Learning, I’m eager to explore opportunities towards a career as a scientist-entrepeneur.

Research Interests

Computer Vision: biomedical imaging, electron microscopy analysis
Machine Learning: statistical learning, transfer learning
Biology: molecular biology, genetics and genomics, precision medicine
Biomedical Informatics: accesible healthtech, on-device monitoring, disease prevention

News

[Jul. 2025] Paper accepted at IEEE GHTC 2025 titled Design of an Edge-based Portable EHR System for Anemia Screening in Remote Health Applications!
[Jul. 2025] Accepted into NVIDIA Inception and AWS Activate programs! See our AWS Startup Showcase page here.
[Jul. 2025] Granted NSF ACCESS support for project titled Compression and Profiling of Machine Learning Models in Biomedical Embedded Sensing!
[Jun. 2025] Completed the Cyberinfrastructure-Enabled Machine Learning (CIML) Summer Institute 2025 at the San Diego Supercomputer Center!
[May. 2025] Founded Capicú a deep tech startup focused on enhancing medtech through Edge AI innovation.
[May. 2025] Selected to be part of the Dorm Room Fund Blueprint Student-Investor Track.
[May. 2025] Submitted conference paper at IEEE GHTC 2025.
[Apr. 2025] NSF SBIR Phase I Project Pitch was invited for Full Proposal submission!
[Apr. 2025] Abstract accepted for 43rd PRISM/58th ACS JTM titled A Hybrid Ensemble-Distillation Approach for Compact Deep Learning Anemia Screening!
[Jan. 2025] Abstract accepted for SIAM CSE 2025 titled Evaluating Neural Network Quantization for Conjunctival Pallor Anemia Detection!
[Feb. 2025] Paper accepted at ISICN 2025 titled Performance Analysis of Post-training Quantization for Conjunctival Pallor Anemia Detection!
[Dec. 2025] Submitted conference paper at ISICN 2025.
[Nov. 2025] Abstract submitted at SIAM CSE 2025.
[Sep. 2024] Submitted summer conference paper at HotMobile 2024.
[Summer 2024] Completed the Apple-NACME Inc. AIML Intensive Bootcamp hosted at USC.
[Aug. 2024] Our paper titled LSTM Model for Sepsis Detection and Classification Using PPG Signals was published!

Publications

IEEE GHTC

Design of an Edge-based Portable EHR System for Anemia Screening in Remote Health Applications

Sebastián A. Cruz-Romero, Misael J. Mercado Hernández, Samir Y. Ali Rivera, Jorge A. Santiago Fernández, and Wilfredo E. Lugo Beauchamp* (*Corresponding Author)

IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC), 2025.

PDF (Oral Presentation) *Pending Publication

ISICN

Performance Analysis of Post-Training Quantization on CNN-based Conjunctival Pallor Anemia Detection

Sebastián A. Cruz-Romero, and Wilfredo E. Lugo Beauchamp* (*Corresponding Author)

International Symposium on Intelligent Computing and Networking (ISICN), 2025.

PDF (Oral Presentation) *Pending Publication

ISICN

LSTM Model for Sepsis Detection and Classification Using PPG Signals

Michael A. Alvarez-Navarro*, Luis Huallparimachi, Sebastián A. Cruz-Romero, and Heidy Sierra (*Corresponding Author)

International Symposium on Intelligent Computing and Networking (ISICN), 2024.

PDF (Oral Presentation) DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-67447-1_1

MRS

Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of ZnS and Mn-doped ZnS Nanostructures

Josian Luciano-Velázquez, Yan Xin, Yi-feng Su, Carla I. Quiles-Vélez, Sebastián A. Cruz-Romero, Gabriel E. Torres-Mejías, Julio Rivera-De Jesús, and Sonia J. Bailón-Ruiz*

MRS Advances (MRS), 2021.

PDF (Journal) DOI:10.1557/s43580-021-00035-y

Research Experiences

Active

Addressing Memory Consumption in Edge Devices through Data Quantization

Sebastián A. Cruz-Romero, Dr. Wilfredo Lugo Beauchamp

NSF-EPSCoR Center for the Advancement of Wearable Technologies Undergraduate Research Fall/Spring Internship 2024-25

Code
Fine-tuning Automatic Speech Recognition Models for Accented Speech

Sebastián A. Cruz-Romero, Brandon Medina, Aliya Daire, Samuel Ovalle, Ronaldo B. López-Tucux, Dr. Christan Grant, Dr. Corey Baker

Apple-NACME Inc. Artificial Intelligence-Machine Learning Intensive Bootcamp 2024

Code
Identifying Epigenetic Alterations within the Orbitofrontal Cortex tied to Opioid Use Disorder

Sebastián A. Cruz-Romero, Hannah Ramcharan, An Hoang, Dr. Olivia Corradin

Bernard & Sophie Gould MIT Summer Research Program in Biology and Neuroscience 2023
Early Sepsis Detection and Severity Classification using Recurrent Neural Networks

Sebastián A. Cruz-Romero, Michael Álvarez Navarro, Luis Huallparimachi Saire, Dr. Heidy Sierra Gil

NIH Maximizing Access to Research Careers Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research 2023
Evaluation of High-Dynamic Range Image Aesthetics

Sebastián A. Cruz-Romero, Dr. Orazio Gallo, Dr. Ekta Prashani

NVIDIA Ignite Program, Learning and Perception Research Team 2022
AI Binary Classifier for Male & Female Magnetics Resonance Images

Sebastián A. Cruz-Romero, Evelyn Lliguicota, Michal Brzus, Dr. Hans Johnson

NSF Computational Bioengineering Research Experience for Undergraduates 2021
Evaluating Effects of ZnS and ZnS Mn-doped Nanoparticles in Lactuca sativa

Sebastián A. Cruz-Romero, Carla I. Quiles Vélez, Josian Luciacno Velázquez, Dr. Martha L. López Moreno

NSF Puerto Rico Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation 2020-2022