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Greetchen Díaz, Ph.D., is the Executive Director at Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR). For more than 10 years, Díaz was a volunteer, part of the administrative team of CienciaPR. At CienciaPR, she participated in numerous projects in science communication, science outreach and science education. She is the founder and coordinator of CienciaPR's "Borinqueña," the bilingual blog for Hispanic and Puerto Rican women in science and technology. Also, Díaz is founder and coordinator of the photoblog "Ciencia a tu alrededor." In 2015, she was the coordinator of "Semillas de Triunfo" (Seeds of Success), the first STEM ambassador program for middle school girls in Puerto Rico.

Before joining CienciaPR's staff in 2017, as the director of the Science Education Unit, Díaz led the grants program at the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust. Díaz was responsible for the implementation of the first local grants mechanism in Puerto Rico with initiatives, such as the Science and Technology Research Grants, the Small Research Grants and the Researcher's Startup Funds. At the Trust, Díaz also coordinated the outreach activities that include the Research & innovation Meetups, the Forward Research & Innovation Summit and the Forward Grantees Symposium, among many others.

Díaz served as the President of the Puerto Rico Society of Microbiologists (PRSM), where she also previously served as the PRSM's Board of Director's secretary and 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ councilor. The PRSM is the local branch for the American Society for Microbiology (91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ).

Díaz completed a B.S. and M.S. in biology at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez. Then she earned her Ph.D. in molecular, cellular and developmental biology at The Ohio State University, where she studied intracellular protein trafficking, using budding yeast as a model system. Her research described a requirement of the spindle pole body (yeast centrosome) for targeting/tethering peripheral proteins to the inner nuclear membrane. After earning her Ph.D., Díaz started as a postdoctoral researcher at the Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where she got a NIH T32 postdoctoral fellowship to conduct studies in reproduction of human papilloma virus.

Díaz has received numerous awards and honors from various organizations such as CROEM Alumni, the University of Puerto Rico, The Ohio State University, 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ, SACNAS and the Ford Foundation, among others. In 2017, Díaz was recognized by the Senate of Puerto Rico for her professional achievements and her election to the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Board of Directors. Her work and projects have been featured on local and international media outlets, such as El Nuevo Día, el Vocero, Noticel, Metro, Caribbean Business, News in My Business, Diálogo, Voces del Sur, Periódico La Perla, Microbe and Scientific American, among others.

Iyiola Oladunjoye is a Nigerian microbiologist with a strong passion for addressing the overwhelming infectious disease burden in Africa through a systemic approach known as One Health. Oladunjoye’s journey in microbial sciences began in 2018 when he graduated from University of Ilorin with a B.S. in microbiology and with First Class Honors. Oladunjoye has embarked on further studies in the field of vaccinology at the University of Antwerp. Currently, as a recipient of the prestigious Erasmus+ scholarship under the Joint Master in Leading International Vaccinology Education program, Oladunjoye is actively involved in cutting-edge learning endeavors that explore innovative technologies, such as vaccines and biologics, to combat infectious disease challenges. 

One of Oladunjoye's core aspirations is to contribute to the establishment of resilient health systems in Africa, which are capable of effectively controlling endemic diseases and curbing persistent outbreaks of zoonotic infections across the continent. To this end, Oladunjoye has dedicated his career to supporting Africa in augmenting its local capacity for vaccine discovery and production. This aligns with the goals set forth by the African Union and Africa CDC's Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing initiative, which aims to manufacture and produce 60% of the required vaccines within the continent by 2040.

Driven by the desire to address the challenges of poor workforce development in microbial sciences and instill confidence in microbiology students, Oladunjoye assumed the role of 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Young Ambassador to Nigeria in January 2021, as well as becoming a member of the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Young Leaders Circle and the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Future Leaders Mentoring Fellow. Leveraging the abundant resources offered by the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ, Oladunjoye has organized professional development webinars and workshops, empowering the next generation of microbiologists in Nigeria.

The culmination of Oladunjoye’s experiences in public health, environmental management and animal health has solidified his commitment to addressing the global challenge of zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance. Through his work, Oladunjoye has honed his skills in scientific writing and research, resulting in the collaborative publication of several articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Driven by a deep sense of purpose and a relentless pursuit of knowledge, Oladunjoye strives to make a significant contribution to the field of microbiology and the overall improvement of public health in Africa and beyond, especially in improving microbial science education and practice in historically underrepresented groups.

Catherine Eze, Ph.D. is a researcher in public health microbiology and an environmentalist with over 15 years’ experience in a wide variety of laboratory and field techniques. Eze is a specialist devoted to the implementation of existing technology in microbiology, public health and the environment. Eze’s research interests include focusing on the influence of the environment on human health, controlling such influences through prevention and intervention strategies and predicting and manipulating the microbial community with a goal towards protecting and sustaining human and environmental health. Eze also works to investigate areas of health systems and evaluation of health programs/interventions. Her ongoing community-based projects include disease-specific research, mainly on malaria, HIV/AIDS and vector control involving designing, conducting and analyzing trials and surveys.

Dioscaris R. Garcia, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of orthopaedics (research) and Co-Director of the Diane N. Weiss Center for Orthopaedic Trauma Research at Rhode Island Hospital. Garcia is an experienced pharmacologist and microbiologist specializing in drug development and infectious diseases.

Through a diverse multidisciplinary approach, Garcia has amassed extensive experience in the development and characterization of translational technologies at both the academic and industrial level. Garcia has also received numerous recognitions for his mentorship and research training of hundreds of students at Brown University’s Alpert Medical School. Garcia has also received several accolades and awards for being a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the region.

Garcia’s work on infectious diseases in the Department of Orthopaedics at Brown University has led to the development of cutting edge diagnostic technologies and antimicrobial coatings against the emerging threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Garcia has also received several municipal, state and national citations for his leadership and role as an architect of the Rhode Island State COVID-19 response. Garcia currently serves on a number of committees focused on improving public health disparities, improving the urban education to college pipeline and optimizing diversity, equity and inclusion at Brown University.

Margaret Powers-Fletcher, Ph.D., is a research director for the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. She earned her doctorate in pathobiology and molecular medicine, focused on medical mycology, from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. She then completed fellowship training in medical and public health laboratory microbiology at the University of Utah, after which she became board-certified in clinical microbiology.

Her personal research portfolio includes work to improve health care outcomes through diagnostic stewardship research and education, as well as COVID-19 clinical trials and epidemiology research. She is also passionate about empowering others and building inclusive research and learning environments throughout the scientific community.

Olivia Harriott, Ph.D. is an associate professor of biology, and an Associate Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences at Fairfield University. Harriott teaches and mentors biology majors in the microbial sciences while also engaging non-science majors through interdisciplinary and social justice teaching in the university’s core curriculum.

Harriott’s research interests include, host-microbe interactions, antibiotic discovery and microbial diversity. To support and develop diverse STEM talent, Harriott served on the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Committee on Minority Education from 2007-2013. She also contributed to professional development programming as a facilitator at the AAAS Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM (2015, 2018), and to several other 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ programs, including the Kadner Institute for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scientists, the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Presentation Institute, the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Research Capstone and the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students. Most recently, Harriott served on the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Task Force on diversity, equity and inclusion from 2019-2020.

Harriott earned a B.S. in biological sciences and Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Connecticut, Storrs. After graduate study, she was a postdoctoral research associate and USDA fellow at the Biotechnology Center for Agriculture & the Environment at Rutgers University.

Rachel Roper, Ph.D. is a professor at East Carolina University’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Brody School of Medicine. Roper has published over 50 manuscripts on viral genomics, virulence genes, immune regulation, bioinformatics and vaccines and has been cited more than 6800 times. She has published on flavivirus, coronaviruses, poxviruses and oncolytic viruses. Roper was part of the team that first sequenced and analyzed the SARS Coronavirus genome and oversaw SARS vaccine development and testing. She has served on numerous national and international Grant Panels and Editorial Boards and received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation as well as regional centers and industry partners.

Roper is a recipient of the East Carolina University Woman of Distinction Award, the School of Medicine Women’s Advocacy Award, and the Faculty Senate Extraordinary Service Award.
 
Roper became interested in DEI issues in science, and has published on bias and strategies for improving diversity and inclusion in academia and STEM. She has given numerous national and international seminars and workshops on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She was a Co-Principal Investigator on a National Science Foundation ADVANCE grant to promote Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

Amy Reese, Ph.D., is an associate professor of biology at the University of Health Science and Pharmacy in St. Louis, Mo., where she teaches microbiology, biology, and science, ethics, and society. She also leads a research team of students studying fungal organisms that cause disease in humans whose immune systems have been suppressed or compromised.

Reese's undergraduate degrees were in chemistry and music at The College of Wooster, in Wooster, Ohio. She obtained her Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Minnesota. It was during her postdoctoral work at Washington University School of Medicine that she found microbiology and fell in love with studying microbes. She was able to combine that interest with her passion for teaching when she joined the faculty at the women’s liberal arts institution of Cedar Crest College, in Allentown, Penn. in 2004, where she taught for 11 years. In 2015, she joined the University of Health Science and Pharmacy faculty to help expand their undergraduate program offerings and perform research with students. In 2018, she was invited to join the team of faculty and staff delivering the co-curricular social awareness and cultural sensitivity training for pharmacy students.

Emily Stowe, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Biology at Bucknell University. Stowe earned her B.A. from the College of Wooster and Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she studied light-regulated gene expression in Arabidopsis. She moved to the microbial world during her postdoc at Indiana University-Bloomington, where she studied light regulated gene expression in cyanobacteria. Since joining the faculty at Bucknell, Stowe has continued to study chromatic acclimation in different species of cyanobacteria and isolate novel chromatic acclimating species from the waters of central Pennsylvania. Currently, she is transitioning her research program to look more broadly at photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in freshwater communities. 
 
In addition to teaching genetics, microbiology, microbial genetics and first-year seminar courses, Stowe is the Director of Bucknell’s STEM Scholars program, where students take part in a 5 week research experience before their first semester. Stowe has mentored more than 60 undergraduate research students and is always eager to welcome first-generation, underrepresented or POSSE scholar students to the lab. At 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Microbe 2021 (online) she presented the lab’s work on non-photosynthetic freshwater bacteria, which had contributions from 5 POSSE scholars. 

Nanushka Mia Bonano-Collazo, M.S., is a recent master's graduate from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus. Bonano-Collazo holds a bachelor’s degree in science with a concentration in microbiology and a minor in foreign languages, as well as a master’s degree in science with a concentration in microbiology molecular diagnostic. 
 
Bonano-Collazo recently defended their master’s dissertation, which focused on the analysis of spatio-temporal microbial dynamics in the bioluminescent lagoon in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, and graduated in June 2024. Throughout their graduate studies, Bonano-Collazo worked as a laboratory technician under the STEM-Guided Pathway Approach (GPA) and at the UPR-Medical Science Campus and IUAPR-Metro. Additionally, Bonano-Collazo served as a STEM educator at EcoExploratorio, delivering workshops and talks across various educational levels, from primary school to university, in numerous towns and schools across the island. 
 
Since their bachelor’s studies, they have been dedicated to volunteer work in science as a volunteer leader with the Tree Campus Program at CECIA (Centro de Educación e Interpretación Ambiental). In this role, Bonano-Collazo trained undergraduate students in basic environmental education, interpretation and research skills. Bonano-Collazo also promoted awareness about the conservation, management and sustainability of forest resources and led various workshops related to environmental projects. 

Bonano-Collazo was recently selected as a fellow in the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship (FLMF) program. Bonano-Collazo’s aspiration is to inspire the next generation of scientists to explore the wonders of marine microbial ecology. By fostering curiosity, critical thinking and scientific inquiry, Bonano-Collazo aims to empower students to become future leaders and innovators in the field. Their next goal is to pursue doctoral studies in marine microbial ecology, either in Puerto Rico or the domestic U.S., to deepen their understanding and contribute to advancements in this fascinating field.  

Sharvari Narendra, M.S., is a bioinformatics analyst in the lab of Amy Mathers, M.D., at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Narendra has a master's degree in bioinformatics from Northeastern University, Boston, as well as a master's degree in microbiology from Savitribai Phule Pune University, India. She is particularly interested in optimizing and improving bioinformatics tools and pipelines utilized in the analysis of microbial genomics, particularly in the public health domain. She is currently working on bacterial long and short read data analysis and wastewater metagenomics analysis, as well as understanding the movement of mobile genetic elements in bacteria.

Narendra belongs to professional organizations, including the Public Health Alliance for Genomic Epidemiology (PHA4GE) and the American Society of Microbiology (91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ), where she is currently a mentor for the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Future Leaders Mentoring Fellowship (FLMF) and a member of the Subcommittee on the Status of Women in Microbiology (SSWiM). In her spare time, Narendra likes to write stories, poems, blogs and read books and articles.

Angélica Rosado-Quiñones, Ph.D., is currently an ORISE Health Equity Postdoctoral fellow in the Health Equity Unit at the Office on Smoking and Health, part of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the CDC. Her research focuses on identifying the factors behind disparities related to commercial tobacco use, conducting comprehensive assessments and advancing health equity. She works closely with her team to assist individuals seeking improvements in health equity interventions.

Rosado-Quiñones aims to merge her expertise in infectious disease control and prevention with public health policy and emergency response initiatives at the CDC. She received her Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico, where she worked on antimalarial drug development, and her B.A. in molecular biology with a history minor from The University of Texas at Dallas.

Throughout her academic career, she has been a strong advocate of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging (DEIAB) in STEM for underrepresented communities. She mentors the 2024-2026 cohort as an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship mentor and actively champions the importance of microbiology in Puerto Rico. She currently resides in Puerto Rico with her husband and their 2 beloved pets, Cherry and Chloe. 

Nneoma Confidence Anyanwu, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral research fellow at New York Medical College, where she investigates the role of nano-sized extracellular vesicles (EVs) and extracellular condensates (ECs) in HIV-associated neurodegenerative disorders, HIV-induced inflammation and barrier dysfunction, amongst other things. She is also the Membership Committee Chair for the Black Microbiologists Association (BMA) and a university lecturer at Bingham University, Nigeria (BHU).

Since 2014, Anyanwu has taught various medical microbiology courses in the BHU's Department of Biological Sciences, where she has also held administrative posts such as the Departmental Seminar/Research Coordinator, Departmental Examination Officer and the Level Coordinator/Students Advisor.

Anyanwu is a stellar researcher, trainer, young achiever and resourceful member of the STEM community. Anyanwu belongs to various professional organizations including the American Society of Microbiology (91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ), where is also a mentor for the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Future Leaders Mentoring Fellowship (FLMF) and a member of the Subcommittee on the Status of Women in Microbiology (SSWiM).

Michaela Gazdik Stofer, Ph.D., is a molecular microbiologist and educator who has focused her career engaging undergraduate students in the excitement of microbiology. Gazdik Stofer has taught a variety of courses including microbiology, emerging infectious diseases, microbial pathogenesis and general biology. Her research interests focus on understanding the role of cAMP in Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis, and she engages a team of undergraduate students using non-pathogenic mycobacteria to investigate her research questions.

Gazdik Stofer earned her B.S. in biotechnology from Rutgers University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from SUNY Albany, where she was also a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease Fellow. Gazdik Stofer has held academic faculty positions at 2 primarily undergraduate institutions. The first from 2007-2014 at Ferrum College, a small liberal arts institution, and the second from 2016-2023 at Utah Valley University (UVU), a large public undergraduate-focused university. At UVU she held the position of associate professor and served as department chair of the 45-member biology department for 3 years. During her time at UVU she was awarded the College of Science Faculty Excellence Award, Office of Teaching and Learning Flexible Teaching Award and most recently the Provost Excellence Award.

Gazdik Stofer is interested in equity in science education. She has engaged in a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) workshops and is a co-PI on a National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM grant to improve educational outcomes of underrepresented biology students through mentored research experiences. Outside of her academic positions, she has also worked in in the Division of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease at Intermountain Healthcare, using molecular strain typing to better understand hospital-acquired infections.

Zoe Hansen, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher in plant pathology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Hansen earned her doctorate in microbiology and molecular genetics from Michigan State University in 2022. Hansen’s research interests broadly focus on the intricacies of microbial ecology across different systems. She has explored multiple facets of microbial communities in her doctoral and postdoctoral work, ranging from metagenomics analysis of the human gut microbiome to characterizing competitive interactions among soil microbes. Hansen aspires to further investigate and understand the complex interplay between microbes, their host(s) and their environment.

Hansen has been a committed advocate for women in STEM throughout her career. As a graduate student, Hansen held multiple leadership positions for Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) Mid-Michigan and co-facilitated the GWIS National Conference in 2021, as well as the organization’s annual outreach event, Girls Math and Science Day. Now, as a postdoctoral researcher at UMN, Hansen serves as chair for the Outreach Committee of Empowering Women in Science, a group committed to the advancement of women and genders that are historically underrepresented in STEM. Hansen is also involved in multiple initiatives emphasizing inclusive mentorship and teaching practices. Hansen is passionate about improving diversity, inclusion and accessibility of STEM spaces across career levels. Hansen is an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ member and a member of the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Subcommittee on the Status of Women in Microbiology (SSWiM).

Rachel Roper, Ph.D. is a professor at East Carolina University’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Brody School of Medicine. Roper has published over 50 manuscripts on viral genomics, virulence genes, immune regulation, bioinformatics and vaccines and has been cited more than 6800 times. She has published on flavivirus, coronaviruses, poxviruses and oncolytic viruses. Roper was part of the team that first sequenced and analyzed the SARS Coronavirus genome and oversaw SARS vaccine development and testing. She has served on numerous national and international Grant Panels and Editorial Boards and received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation as well as regional centers and industry partners.

Roper is a recipient of the East Carolina University Woman of Distinction Award, the School of Medicine Women’s Advocacy Award, and the Faculty Senate Extraordinary Service Award.
 
Roper became interested in DEI issues in science, and has published on bias and strategies for improving diversity and inclusion in academia and STEM. She has given numerous national and international seminars and workshops on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She was a Co-Principal Investigator on a National Science Foundation ADVANCE grant to promote Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

Akorede Seriki, Ph.D., is a program specialist for the Institute for Health in the Human Ecosystem (IHHE) at the University of Idaho. Seriki completed her master’s degree at the University of Lagos in Lagos State, the commercial capital of Nigeria in the heart of West Africa and her Ph.D. in biology at the University of Idaho, U.S. Seriki’s academic background is in human physiology, however, she developed a staunch interest in studying life forms at the molecular level. This led Seriki to her doctorate research, which focused on stress response in bacteria.

In addition to her scientific interests, Seriki enjoys traveling and exploring new places. Seriki is invested in several diversity, equity and inclusion activities, and she works to help lead these activities at 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ as a member of the Subcommittee on the Status of Women in Microbiology (SSWiM).

Ariane L. Peralta, Ph.D., is a professor of biology at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, North Carolina. Her current projects examine climate change effects on plant-microbe interactions and biogeochemical processes in urban, freshwater and coastal wetlands. Peralta’s scholar-teacher approach increases student access to research opportunities focused on applying ecological principles to address critical environmental problems that require microbiome management.

Peralta actively mentors both graduate and undergraduate students, fostering meaningful research experiences that prepare them for advanced studies and careers in STEM fields. Peralta leads interdisciplinary microbiome research and collaborates with economists, engineers, geologists and anthropologists to understand how ecological systems interact with human systems to better predict ecosystem responses to environmental changes. The interdisciplinary team uses environmental monitoring and data science to support community-engaged research to empower communities to address real-world environmental-related issues facing coastal communities. 

In addition to serving as the Chair for Subcommittee on Maximizing Opportunities through Education (MOTE), Peralta serves as the 2026 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Microbe Applied and Environmental Microbiology Meeting Program Committee Chair. Peralta was a member and then chair of the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Microbe Program Committee Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity track and a member of the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Subcommittee on Minority Education. As a scholar in the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ-led, NSF-funded Microbiology Leaders Evolving and Accountable to Progress (MicroBio-LEAP) project, Peralta launched an initiative at ECU to strengthen the culture of research mentoring by enhancing relationships between faculty and students. This effort is grounded in the Entering Mentoring curriculum, which applies evidence-based strategies developed by the Center for Improved Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER).

Emmanuel Adukwu, Ph.D., is Dean of Students and professor of Applied Microbiology at the University of the West of England, Bristol. He was previously Deputy Head of the School of Applied Sciences. Adukwu's research focuses on antimicrobial chemotherapy, resistance and stewardship. He is a member of the board of trustees at Applied Microbiology International, U.K.'s oldest microbiology society. He is actively involved in maximizing opportunities for underrepresented communities in academia and the life sciences, through his work as member of the advisory board for the Black in Biomedical Research Advisory Group (BBRAG) for the Medical Research Council (MRC) at U.K. Research and Innovation and Chair of the Minoritised Life Scientists Future Forum (MLSFF). He was the winner of the Royal Society of Biology’s Bioscience Teacher of the Year award in 2023, recognizing his outstanding contribution to learning and teaching practices as well as advancing employability and careers.

Carla Y. Bonilla, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at the University of San Diego. Bonilla was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States at the age of 13 to be reunited with her parents. Bonilla spent her academic formative years in San Francisco, Calif., where she attended high school and community college before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley to receive her bachelor’s degree in molecular and cell biology.

Bonilla then received a master’s degree in biology at San Francisco State University before earning her Ph.D. at the University of California, San Francisco. Knowing with all her heart that she wanted to be a faculty member who trained and supported undergraduate students, Bonilla sought postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop a bacterial genetics research program. Bonilla taught molecular biology for 10 years at Gonzaga University before joining the University of San Diego in 2022 to teach molecular biology, microbiology and genetics.

In her lab, Bonilla works with undergraduate students, teaching them the wonders of bacterial genetics. Bonilla’s lab studies the bacterial response to environmental and oxidative stress. Bonilla is also a founding member of the Microbes and Social Equity working group, which aims to generate discussion around issues of microbial research, policy, pedagogy and social equity. Bonilla joined the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ MicroBio-LEAP task force to help promote reflective action amongst microbiology leaders and make 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ an exemplary scientific society of inclusion and equity. She is passionate about pedagogy and mentoring. Bonilla is excited to help create and promote opportunities that enhance microbiology education. 

J. Alan Goggins, Ph.D., is an associate principal scientist in the pre-clinical development group (PCD) within —South San Francisco. In this role, Goggins supports Merck’s discovery pipeline by characterizing the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug properties of candidate compounds, with particular emphasis on immunogenicity risk assessments.

Prior to his role at PCD, Goggins completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in the Biologics and Vaccine Bioanalytics group at Merck, where his research project focused on developing assays to characterize the antigen-specific cellular immune response to mRNA vaccine platforms. During his postdoc tenure Goggins operated as President of the Merck Postdoc Association, facilitating career development and training opportunities for the postdoc community and served as New Jersey’s Young Science Ambassador for the American Society for Microbiology.

Goggins obtained his doctorate in biomedical sciences (2016) from the Microbiology & Immunology Department at the and a bachelor's degree in environmental health from (2010). In 2014, Goggins was awarded the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Robert D. Watkins Minority Research Fellowship to support his dissertation research. Goggins identifies as a Latinx, first-generation college graduate. Goggins is a passionate advocate for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the microbial sciences and across the STEM enterprise.

Danielle Graham, Ph.D. currently serves as interim associate dean and associate professor of microbiology in the Department of Biological and Forensic Sciences at Fayetteville State University (FSU). With over 15 years of academic experience, Graham has demonstrated a strong commitment to student success by creating meaningful pathways that lead to positive educational and career outcomes.  

An alumna of Fayetteville State University, Graham earned her bachelor's degree in biology, followed by a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Arkansas for medical sciences. She completed a SPIRE postdoctoral fellowship funded by NIH at UNC-Chapel Hill, with a focus on pedagogy and research training. 

Since joining the faculty at FSU in 2017, Graham has taught numerous courses in microbiology and related disciplines and has established a productive research program centered on microbial pathogenesis, antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation. Her current research focuses on the identification of novel antimicrobial-producing microorganisms from soil that inhibit the growth and biofilm formation of ESKAPE pathogens. The goal of this work is to identify chemical compounds that may play a synergistic role in combating antibiotic resistance and biofilm-related infections. She currently manages several federally funded research projects and has established impactful collaborations to support her work. Her efforts have contributed to securing significant external funding in support of her department and students. 

In 2020, Graham was recognized as one of the “1,000 Inspiring Black Scientists in America” by Cell Mentor. She is also an active member of the American Society for Microbiology, serving on the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Subcommittee on 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Maximizing Opportunities through Education. Graham is passionate about cultivating an inclusive scientific community and remains actively engaged in mentoring the next generation of scientists through research, teaching and service. 

Cesar A. Perez, CQA, RAC, Ph.D., is the Director of the Division of Establishment Support, Office of Regulatory Programs (ORP), Office of Product Evaluation and Quality (OPEQ), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The division is responsible for the development and implementation of policies and processes related to imports, registration and listing, exports, regulatory inspections/audits and compliance programs for medical devices. As the director, Perez is responsible for providing strategic leadership for the division and serves as the technical authority and principal advisor to the office director on medical devices programs. From 2015-2018, he was the branch chief within the Division of Premarket Labeling and Compliance, FDA, responsible for enforcing premarket, labeling and promotion/advertising requirements for medical devices. Prior to that, for 7 years, he was a consumer safety officer within the Office of Compliance, CDRH, FDA. In 2009, Perez joined the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) and currently holds the rank of Commander (CDR).

Perez attended the State University of New York at New Paltz in 1998 and obtained his bachelor’s degree in biology. In 2008, Perez received his doctorate in microbiology from New York University Sackler Institute. His research thesis focused on elucidating the mechanisms responsible for manipulating cellular protein synthesis in cells infected with the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Perez was the recipient of the American Society for Microbiology (91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ) Minority Undergraduate Research Fellowship (1997) and the Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship (2007). Perez is passionate about mentoring students and young professionals in leadership development and career progression.

Chioma M. Okeoma, Ph.D., is a professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, & Immunology at New York Medical College (NYMC) Valhalla, N.Y., and a fellow at Lovelace Biomedical Institute Albuquerque, N.M. Okeoma’s vast expertise in cutting-edge research focuses on understanding the biology and functions of extracellular particles, including extracellular vesicles (EVs) and extracellular condensates (ECs). These particles are released from all cells in the body and play vital roles in intercellular communication. Okeoma studies how EVs and ECs regulate host responses to drug abuse, cancer and viral infections, such as HIV. She is also focused on developing tools to facilitate/aid research in the field of extracellular condensates.

Kayla Simanek, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral associate at Indiana University. They completed their B.S. and M.S. degrees at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. They also completed a fellowship at the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services in Richmond, Virginia through the Association of Public Health Laboratories and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Antimicrobial Resistance Fellowship program, where they performed whole genome sequencing of gram-negative patient isolates.

Simanek earned their doctoral degree under the mentorship of Jon Paczkowski at the Wadsworth Center. Their dissertation research focused on quorum sensing in clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Simanek’s general research interests include, microbial evolution and adaptation, virulence and pathogenesis of antibiotic resistant and hospital endemic pathogens. 

Simanek has a long-standing interest in outreach and advocacy, which began with the opportunity to teach high-school students over the summer during their master’s degree. Simanek is a member of the Nourishing Opportunities for Women (STEM NOW) graduate student organization, which was founded by Monica Ventura at SUNY Albany to provide professional development and networking opportunities to graduate students, as well as advocate for gender equality in STEM. Simanek is passionate about helping trainees from historically excluded groups gain access to opportunities and dismantling institutionalized biases. Their work focuses on advocating for LGBTQIA+ scientists and addressing intersectionality of marginalized groups.

Cynthia A. Adinortey, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, where she received her doctorate in molecular biology and biotechnology. She is a member of the inaugural cohort of the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ mBio Junior Editorial Board. 
 
She is eager to remain relevant and useful to the scientific community and society, and she is committed to gaining new skills and knowledge while contributing to lasting solutions to pressing issues confronting society. She has a keen interest in training and mentoring the next generation of scientists. Her passion for research is driven by the enthusiasm to contribute to finding sustainable solutions to issues affecting the society and the environment, as well as the desire to continue to impact lives. 
 
Her research interests include surveillance of antibotic resistance, molecular mechanisms of bacterial virulence, fishery microbiology and fish health, food hygiene and safety, as well as antimicrobial properties of natural products. In 2022, she was elected as an African Academy of Sciences Affiliate for her meritorious contribution to the progress of science. 
 
Adinortey is a passionate STEM advocate and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Insights Ambassador. She served as treasurer for the Cape Coast branch of the Ghana Science Association from 2015-2019 and is currently coordinator for international relations of the Ghana Association of University Women, Convener of the Hegg Hoffet CommiGee of Graduate Women International and a member of the Organization of Women in Science for the Developing World. 

As a woman scientist and academic from Africa, Adinortey has an appreciable history of mentoring a diverse group of undergraduate and postgraduate students, and she believes that it is her ethical responsibility to promote inclusion and equity in her professional and private life. She is committed to teaching and training individuals regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, body size, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information or disability status. With this, she is open to networking and collaborations across the globe. 

Samina Akbar, Ph.D., is currently a professor of microbiology at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Akbar is an experienced microbiologist with more than 15 years of experience as an osteopathic educator focusing on human infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

Akbar earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the Department of Microbiology at University of Karachi, Pakistan. Akbar received her Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular biology from University of California Davis. Akbar’s dissertation was on genetic analysis of the signal transduction network that activates the transcription factor B of Bacillus subtilis in response to adverse environmental conditions. After finishing her Ph.D., Akbar worked in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Harvard Medical School for 3 years as a postdoctoral fellow working on virulence gene regulation in Salmonella Typhimurium. Akbar then moved to the University of British Columbia, Center for Disease Control, Canada where she was a research associate examining the presence of a Type III secretion system in Chlamydia trachomatis.

Akbar has been a member of the Indiana Academy of Sciences (IAS) since 2013 and was appointed chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee of the IAS in 2021 for a 4-year term. The committee put together a DEI statement and strategic plan for the IAS. As part of the strategic plan, the DEI Committee requested and received a grant of $15,000 from the IAS to invite proposals for projects that focus on DEI issues from academic institutions across Indiana. The committee awarded 6 grants to graduate students and faculty from different universities in Indiana.

In 2023, the committee received approval from the academy council for annual DEI advocate awards to bestow upon individuals who have promoted diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and/or justice within the IAS and/or their scientific communities through actions sustained over time or that have made a recent critical impact (e.g., initiating new programs, etc.).

Akbar has been a member of the American Society for Microbiology since 1990 and became a member of the Indiana branch of the 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ in 2014. She has been an NBOME (National Board of Osteopathic Medicine) and an NBPME (National Board of Podiatric Medicine) board exam question writer and reviewer since 2008. Akbar was appointed NBOME National Faculty in Clinical Microbiology and Immunology in 2013.

Akbar’s broad research interests include genetic and molecular analysis of gene regulation in both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, as well as molecular analysis of host-pathogen interactions. The research projects in her lab focus on studying multiple antibiotic resistance in bacteria from different sources, including humans, animals and the natural environment. Currently, Akbar’s lab focuses on the isolation and characterization of multiple drug resistant bacteria from fresh bodies of water in the greater Indianapolis area.

For the past 15 years, Tracey Taylor, Ph.D., has extensively taught medical microbiology at medical schools. Taylor is currently an associate professor in the Department of Foundational Medical Studies at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) and operates as the Assistant Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, where she is interested in evaluating meaningful diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) related content in the curriculum.

Prior to joining OUWB, Taylor was an assistant professor, and then an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Microbiology at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, where she taught microbiology to M1 and M2 osteopathic medical students.

Taylor received a B.S. and a M.S. in cellular, molecular and microbial biology from the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada and a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Western Ontario, London. Taylor’s main research areas are medical education research and microbiology and pathogenesis. She is specifically interested in the use of online learning modules for microbiology laboratory teaching, medical student peer assessment, investigation of the quality of life of Polio survivors, how the aquatic bacteria Plesiomonas shigelloides cause diarrhea and other infections in humans and infections (including the antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or (MRSA)) among populations that are experiencing homelessness.

Taylor joined 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ in 1997 as a master’s student and has continued her membership through her Ph.D. program, post-doctoral fellowship and now as a faculty member.