Upcoming speakers (2024):
February 27, 2024 - Dr. Ucaine Scarlett, Principal, MPM BioImpact
Previous Speakers:
Current Position: AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow, U.S Agency for International Development (USAID)
Biography:
BS Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad Metropolitana
MS Immunology, Universidad de Granada
PhD Immunology, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Postdoctoral Fellowship: USAID
Current Position: Scientist, Moderna
Biography:
BS Biochemistry and Mathematics, Buena Vista University
PhD Immunology, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Stanford University
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Xavier University of Louisiana
Biography:
BS Chemistry, Morehouse College
PhD Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Physics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Virginia Tech
Diversity Statement: Diversity is only effective when coupled with inclusion to achieve equitable outcomes. Equity is the result of intentional sustained engagement and full participation of diverse groups of people. To address the global issues we face as a society through STEM research, the empathy, creativity, and innovation that comes from exposure to different technical training opportunities, life experiences, and social/cultural perspectives is critical. Therefore, a sustained commitment to diverse representation, inclusive practices and equitable outcomes is required for the advancement of all people.
Current Position: Health Scientist at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Biography:
BS Biology, Tuskegee University
PhD Integrative Biosciences, Tuskegee University
Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of Alabama at Birmingham; CDC
Diversity Statement: Diversity is a state of mind. It is embracing unique cultures, backgrounds, experiences, and thus, perspectives. It's ensuring those voices have a seat at the table and are comfortable being their authentic selves. Diversity is being open to hearing those voices and learning from them.
Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Genentech; Co-Lead SACNAS@GNE; Cell Culture and Bioprocess Operations, Genentech
Biography:
BS Biochemistry, San Jose State University
PhD Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley
Diversity Statement: To create a research and scientific training environment where everyone is truly able to succeed as their authentic-self, academic and research settings must view their institutions through 4 different lenses: (1) justice, (2) equity, (3) diversity, and (4) inclusion. Justice to assess, evaluate and amend current and past policies. Equity to construct and progress policies that are anti-racist, anti-misogynistic, anti-LGBTQIA+, anti-disability, etc. Diversity to ensure that policies are made in collaboration and consultation with those from diverse backgrounds, especially those from disadvantaged and underrepresented communities. Inclusion to better understand the ever-changing needs of their communities and to adjust accordingly so that the communities are able to thrive and succeed. Lastly, institutions should COMPENSATE service work accordingly for all those involved from trainees to administrators to faculty members.
Current Position: Director of Communications & Science Outreach for Ciencia Puerto Rico & Associate Director of Diversity & Communication Training for iBiology
Biography:
BS Human Biology, University of Puerto Rico in Bayamón
PhD Neurobiology, Harvard University
Diversity Statement: Beyond diversity, I prefer to think about inclusion. Yes, having people from different backgrounds, cultures, abilities and life experiences represented in science is important. But what’s even more important is that all of us work hard to ensure that those folks can bring their whole selves and thrive in science.
Current Position: Managing Partner, Chalker Flores, LLP
Biography:
BS Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin
PhD Molecular Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis
JD, University of Texas School of Law, Austin
Diversity Statement: To me, diversity means appreciating that every individual is unique, that we live in a diverse society with diverse opinions and needs, and that we must recognize and honor each other’s uniqueness.
Current position: Manager Scientific and Medical Affairs Strategy, Janssen Scientific Affairs
Biography:
BS Biology and Statistics, University of Georgia
PhD Human and Statistical Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis
Diversity Statement: Situations, circumstances, and decisions shape our lives. Diversity relates to our unique combination of situations, circumstances, and decisions. We often think of diversity through the lens of classifiers like socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, age, gender, etc. However, intersectionality and unique experiences shape our perspectives creating diversity.
Current position: Program Officer, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease
Biography: Dr. Gondré-Lewis received his BA from Oberlin College and his PhD in Microbiology & Immunology from Virginia Commonwealth University. His then completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the Trudeau Institute and was hired as an Assistant Professor from the City University of New York. From there, he transitioned to his current position as a Program Officer at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation.
Diversity Statement: At the NIH I strive to advocate for and include all persons in the scientific workforce. I seek to promote accessibility to NIH resources and opportunities for all members of the research community and serve as an ally for scientists from the beginning of their research careers through their development to senior scientists.
April 16, 2019 - Rosemarie Figueroa, PhD (UM Industrial & Operations Engineering PhD alum) [website, LinkedIn, Link to presentation]
Current position: Scientist, Explico Engineering Co.
Biography: Dr. Figueroa received her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and her PhD in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. As a consultant at Explico Engineering since 2017, Dr. Figueroa’s areas of expertise are human factors, ergonomics and biomechanics.
Diversity Statement: Diversity is usually defined as the range of human differences. On a personal level, the concept of diversity to me means that you will interact with many unique individuals in professional and social settings every day. Teams that recognize the similarities and differences of their members are more likely to succeed because they are able to leverage different skills, backgrounds, perspectives, knowledge, and experiences to reach a common goal.
Current position: Pharmacology & Toxicology Reviewer, US Food and Drug Administration
Biography: Dr. Hardy received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Tuskegee University, where she was an NIH Cancer Research Fellow. She then performed her doctoral work at Purdue University, receiving her PhD in Molecular Pharmacology. She subsequently conducted a postdoctoral fellowship in the Biosystems and Biomaterial Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Since 2017 she has served as a Pharmacology and Toxicology Reviewer in the Office of Tissues and Advance Therapies (OTAT) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Silver Spring, MD.
Diversity Statement: Diversity is more than just the presence of multiple identities, but the inclusion of a variety of experiences rooted in ethnic, racial, geographic, religious, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and socioeconomic differences. Diversity promotes a culture that is more creative and innovative inside and outside of the lab. Because of diversity, we better understand how lifestyle and genetics influences our health and how we respond to different therapies. Because of diversity, we are able to engage different communities regarding public health. Aside from having diverse recipients / beneficiaries of biomedical innovation, diversity is also essential for the scientists and engineers of that biomedical innovation. It is through diverse professionals that we can truly address the mounting health challenges of a changing demographic.
Current position: Chancellor, California Community Colleges; Regent, University of California System
Biography: Chancellor Oakley is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, where he received his BA and MBA. His expertise and experience in the fields of higher education and community colleges is vast, including having served as Superintendent of the Long Beach Community College District from 2007-2016 and Chancellor of CCC since 2016. In 2014, he was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve on the University of California Board of Regents, term ending in 2024. Chancellor Oakley has received numerous awards and is regularly invited to speak nationally on a variety of topics pertaining to improving student outcomes, increasing access to higher education, among other initiatives.
Diversity Statement: Diversity means having the classroom, the workforce and leadership roles reflect the face of communities. Equal access to opportunity for all regardless of background.
Current position: Senior Scientist (Research Department), New England Biolabs
Biography:
BS in Chemistry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
MS in Chemistry, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Microbiology, Penn State University, University Park, PA
Postdoctoral Fellow, New England Biolabs, Inc., South Hamilton, Massachusetts
Diversity Statement: It seems so odd that we have to plan and work hard to achieve diversity, not only in science, but in any discipline, when diversity is simply the way of the world. So diversity to me is the natural way of being. It is to surround ourselves in science and life with people from all races, religions, cultures, sexual orientation, gender, economic status, physical abilities, etc. When we do so, we open ourselves to new ways of thinking, learning, and discovering.
November 13, 2018 - Marta González-Hernández, PhD (UM Immunology PhD alum)
Current position: Group Leader, R&D, Takara Bio USA, Inc.
Biography:
BS in Biology and Chemistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
PhD in Immunology, University of Michigan
Post-doctoral Research Fellowship, University of Michigan
Diversity Statement: Diversity to me, means being different without being divided. Diversity exists when you are aware and accepting of the differences that make us human (background, religion, education), and you actively learn from those differences to make the whole community a better place.
Current position: Associate Director of Medical Affairs, Merck
Biography:
BS in Biological Sciences, minor in Nutritional Sciences, 2008, Louisiana State University
PhD, Molecular Medicine and Translational Science Graduate Program, May 2016, Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
MBA, April 2015, Wake Forest University School of Business
SPIRE Postdoctoral Fellow, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Diversity Statement: Diversity in my profession and the broader biomedical community means practicing genuine curiosity in all things. It’s about being vulnerable enough to ask questions about yourself and your work in lieu of an ever-changing scientific and professional landscape. More importantly, it’s about establishing a safe space for mutual understanding and getting to know others around you. Everyone’s unique experiences play a role in cultivating success on an individual and organizational level. By widening the lens through which we view ourselves and others, we can all develop in new ways. We were all uniquely created for a reason and it is our responsibility to create a culture that celebrates these differences.
Current position: Medical Writer at Technical Resources International, Inc.
Biography: Natasha Brooks earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from the Pennsylvania State University. She later went on to earn her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Texas Medical Branch under the co-mentorship of Dr. Darren Boehning and Dr. Marc Jeschke. Following the completion of her Ph.D., Natasha pursued her interests in regulatory writing and clinical research management at Shriners Hospital for Children-Galveston as the Medical Services Research Coordinator. Through clinical trials management at Shriners Hospital for Children, she became very interested in the key interplay between science and business; thereby pursing a position that offered relevant experience in business, client relations, and research and development as an Associate with alliantgroup, LP. Opting to pursue a position that held science writing and regulatory affairs as core components, Natasha joined Technical Resources International as a Medical Writer. She is a member of the Minority Affairs Committee for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as well as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Diversity Statement: Diversity enhances our awareness, collaborative and communication skills, and knowledge base. These attributes will play a key role in ensuring that we are well equipped for integrated work environments as well as valuing, maintaining respect, and including all individuals in order to address complex scientific questions. Further, diversity helps to lay the framework to effectively communicate our science and engage others who have different cultures, experiences, and backgrounds.
Current position: Program Director at the Translational Research Program within the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Biography: Leah Hubbard received her PhD in Immunology at the University of Michigan in 2011, working the lab of Dr. Bethany Moore on infectious complications of the lung post-bone marrow transplant. After completing her PhD, Leah continued her training as an intramural postdoctoral fellow at the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases characterizing autoimmune dysfunction in mouse models of chronic granulomatous disease. Following her postdoc, Leah worked at the National Cancer Institute as a grants program analyst administratively managing P50 SPORE grants for the Translational Research Program. Currently, Leah is a program director at the Translational Research and manages SPOREs in head & neck, thyroid, endometrial, and cervical cancers.
Diversity Statement: It is an honor to come back to the University Michigan to speak at the Diversity Career Series because the high value and importance U of M places on diversity is one of the top reasons I choose to attend this great institution. Diversity provides an opportunity for everyone to have a seat at the table and to insure that we incorporate a variety of backgrounds and experiences into the conversation to help shape our everyday decision-making. Because we cannot truly bring about positive change in our society without diversity.
Current position: Assistant Professor, Developmental biologist, University of South Carolina Department of Biological Sciences
Biography: Dr. Armstrong is originally from Newport News, Virginia. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia where she majored in Biology and minored in Spanish. An upper level developmental biology lab course sparked her interest in development and basic research science. She pursued this interest as a Master's student in the Department of Biology at the College of William and Mary under the advisement of Dr. Diane C. Shakes. While there, she studied the interaction of sperm and oocyte membranes during fertilization using the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, as a model system. Her phenomenal experience at William and Mary encouraged her to join the graduate program in the Department of Biology at Johns Hopkins University. For her Ph.D., she switched fields completely to study the development of the sympathetic nervous system using embryonic mice as a model under the direction of Dr. Rejji Kuruvilla. During this time, she was also an active member of a graduate student group MInDS, Mentoring to Inspire Diversity in Science, whose goal was to recruit, retain and provide outreach to underrepresented groups at all academic levels, starting in elementary school. Although she stayed in the Baltimore, MD area, she switched fields again for her postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Daniela Drummond-Barbosa in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. There she developed her current research program investigating how nutrient sensing by multiple organs/tissues influences the activity of adult stem cells.
Diversity Statement: There is no singular way to address a scientific issue. Having a diverse group of scientists, with different backgrounds and cultural experiences, allows complex biological questions to be approached from a variety of perspectives.
Current position: Associate Professor in Microbiology and Immunology, Immunologist, University of Maryland
Biography: Dr. Webb earned a PhD degree from Indiana University in the laboratory of Dr. Randy Brutkiewicz. She has conducted research as a Leadership Alliance/ Howard Hughes fellow at Dartmouth College. She worked on mechanisms regulating immune tolerance, as a postdoc in Dr. David Wilkes’ lab. Her second postdoctoral fellowship focused on cancer immunology at Johns Hopkins. She joined the University of Maryland School of Medicine faculty in 2009. Her current research focuses on the role of NKT cells in cancer. She is working to develop NKT cell-based cancer immunotherapy using natural and artificial platforms. However, many cancer patients have a reduction in both NKT cell number and function, and these deficits currently limit their potential clinical application. She is trying to understand why cancer patients have fewer NKT cells, and design novel therapeutic strategies to restore NKT cell number and function in these patients.
Diversity Statement: Diversity is very important to me – it is one of our greatest strengths. Cultural diversity increases our understanding and empathy; diversity in thought strengthens our science.