I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. My academic background includes a bachelor's and a master's degrees in Zoology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a PhD in Life Science from the Department of Biological Sciences at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. My doctoral research focused on the developmental regulation of acetylcholine receptor genes in the neural circuits involved in vocal learning in songbirds. Currently, my research project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms that govern neuroplasticity and the age-related decline in neurogenesis that occurs during vocal stabilization in songbirds.

Dr. Joshua Awua is a Rise 100 Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work. His research examines how social networks shape substance use outcomes among youth and young adults, with a focus on translating empirical evidence into innovative, technology based prevention and treatment interventions. He earned his PhD in Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies from Texas Tech University and an MPhil in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Dr. Awua employs advanced quantitative methods, including social network analysis, multilevel modeling, and structural equation modeling, to examine how interpersonal communication and perceived norms influence substance use. His current work centers on the development and evaluation of virtual reality–based interventions for substance use treatment. Through this scholarship, he advances substance use prevention and treatment through scalable digital therapeutics.

I am currently a Post-doc at San Diego State University, where I specialize in leveraging satellite remote sensing to monitor water quality across California’s inland lakes, reservoirs, and coastal ecosystems. My research specifically examines the hydro-ecological and public health impacts of wildfire disturbances, a trajectory I began at UC Merced as a recipient of the prestigious three-year NASA FINESST grant. I currently serve as a Lecturer for the upper-division Spatial Hydrology course at SDSU, where I translate complex geospatial analyses into actionable skills for the next generation of scientists. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue teaching alongside performing research since it is one of my passions.

I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate whose work integrates behavioral science, participatory methods, and implementation research to advance global and environmental health equity. I use mixed methods, including interviews, focus groups, surveys, and CBPR approaches such as Photovoice, to co-develop interventions with communities affected by health disparities. My current research in Southern Arizona examines how urban greenspaces influence health in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods. I also conducted NIH Fogarty-supported research in Uganda on preferences for injectable HIV prevention. Together, my work aims to inform equitable, community-engaged interventions addressing infectious disease prevention, climate-health resilience, and other pressing public health challenges.

Karl obtained his bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla. For his Ph.D. in Biology, he attended the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus and completed his dissertation in the laboratory of Dr. Carlos A. Jimenez-Rivera. His thesis explored the contribution of the hyperpolarizing cationic current in cocaine-induced excitability on dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area using both in vivo single-unit recordings and ex vivo patch-clamp electrophysiology. He joined the Glover Lab in September 2022 and is interested in how astrocyte-neuron dynamics in the lateral habenula (LHb) contribute to anxiety, depression, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms in preclinical rodent models. The LHb is a critical hub in the brain’s aversion and reward circuitry, influencing monoaminergic systems. Its unique role in encoding negative motivational states makes it a key target for exploring how astrocytes modulate neuronal activity during the aversive states

Dr. Gabriela Cervantes-Gonzales is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she investigates mechanisms of airway injury, inflammation, and tissue repair. Her work focuses on developing biomaterial-based drug delivery systems, including drug-coated endotracheal tubes designed to mitigate airway inflammation, fibrosis, and microbial disruption following mechanical or burn injury. She also incorporates bioinformatics and multi-omic data analysis to better understand immune responses and host interactions across multiple projects. Her broader interests include regenerative medicine, ECM-immune interactions, and translational device development to improve outcomes after injury.

Luis Eduardo Contreras-Llano, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis, whose work sits at the intersection of bioengineering, biotechnology, and molecular biology. He develops mechanobiological strategies to engineer durable, programmable cell-based therapeutics that he calls “Cyborg Cells” and advanced biomanufacturing platforms by integrating synthetic biology, intracellular materials, and systems-level design. His research has been published in journals including Nature Communications, Nature Chem Bio, & Advanced Science and has led to several patents and patent applications. He currently lectures an undergraduate synthetic biology course in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UC Davis and is deeply committed to mentorship, scientific leadership, and community building, having previously served as Career Development Officer of the UC Davis Postdoctoral Scholars Association and now serving as Chair.

Dr. David Coria Hernandez is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of New Mexico. He earned his B.S. in Mathematics & Physics from Kansas State University in 2020 and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Kansas in 2025. His research explores the chemical composition of cool dwarf exoplanet host stars using high-resolution spectroscopy. Through his work, we can trace the propagation of planet-forming and bio-essential elements from stars to their exoplanet companions and examine how their atmospheres and interiors evolve over time. His work complements ongoing JWST exoplanet studies! Dr. Coria is also passionate about astronomy education and outreach, particularly to underserved communities. He is a frequent planetarium and telescope show host and organizer/volunteer for numerous outreach events. He has even collaborated with NASA's Universe of Learning to develop a suite of exoplanet-themed activities/resources for educators.

Alexis Delgado is a first‑generation scientist from Port Isabel, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. Her research uses computational chemistry to understand molecular and electronic structure in complex chemical systems. She is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Hoyer Group at the University of Texas at El Paso, where she studies lanthanide‑containing complexes using advanced electronic structure methods. She previously held a postdoctoral position in the Matthews Group at Southern Methodist University and earned her Ph.D. in Computational and Theoretical Chemistry from SMU, following a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her long‑term goals are developing computational strategies for rare earth‑based catalysts and functional materials with applications in environmental remediation, solar energy, and emerging quantum technologies. She is committed to mentoring students and broadening access to STEM for nontraditional and underrepresented communities.

Mohamed Elhashash is a Postdoctoral Scholar in Physics at the University of California, Merced. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy from the University of California, Riverside, and previously held a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship at Chiba University in Japan. His research focuses on observational cosmology, galaxy clusters, and galaxy evolution, with an emphasis on using galaxy clusters to study the large scale structure of the universe and constrain cosmological parameters. He developed the FoG-GalWeight toolkit, a method for identifying galaxy clusters, determining their members, and measuring their dynamical properties in spectroscopic surveys. His work has contributed to precision studies of cosmology and the environmental effects on galaxies, and has been featured in several press releases and media outlets.

My name is Moises M. Gutierrez. I was born in Mexico and raised in California. I earned my B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of California, Riverside in 1996. For more than 20 years, I worked as a process engineer and department manager in the food industry. In 2016, I decided to return to academia to pursue graduate studies. I completed my M.S. degree online at Kansas State University in 2019, and in 2020, I began my Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the same institution. My research focuses on sustainable bioprocessing within the food–energy–water nexus, including food waste valorization, microbial applications in bioremediation, engineering living material and recovery of rare earth metals. I am married and have three children, with my youngest currently in college.

Natali Huggins holds a PhD in Higher Education Administration and a Master's in Public Administration. She has several years of experience in higher education administration, internal audit and teaching. Her research explores how policies and organizational systems shape engineering graduate students’ professional development and their transition to the workforce. She uses iterative research-to-practice loops to develop context-specific strategies that connect higher education administration systems and academia in ways that strengthen engineering graduate education and professional formation.

Dr. Karan Kakroo is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of North Texas whose work combines advanced simulation, experimental innovation, and engineering education to address complex problems in fluid mechanics. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UNT and specializes in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), fluid-structure interaction (FSI), vortex dynamics, and heat transfer. His research reveals how complex flow structures interact with flexible systems, with implications for flow control, energy technologies, and engineering design. Karan has published in leading peer-reviewed journals including Physics of Fluids, presented at APS Division of Fluid Dynamics conferences, and served as a reviewer for Physics of Fluids. He has also taught and mentored students in Technological Systems, Finite Element Analysis, Heat Transfer, and Mechanical and Energy Engineering Laboratory, reflecting his commitment to scholarship, mentorship, and future academic leadership.

Essraa Khalil is a postdoctoral researcher in Chemistry at Texas A&M University, where she works with Prof. Lane Baker using electrochemical and nanoscale approaches to study biological membranes and ion channels. Her research centers on developing bioanalytical tools, particularly pressure regulated scanning ion conductance microscopy, to map red blood cell stiffness in health and disease, and on using electrophysiology to study how lipid membranes regulate mechanosensitive K+ channels. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Cincinnati, where she developed metal nanoneedle supported lipid bilayers for long term single channel recordings, and has since held postdoctoral appointments at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and TAMU. Essraa is committed to mentoring students and building an independent research program that leverages membrane based bioanalytical paradigms to investigate disease relevant ion channels and address health disparities in Hispanic communities.

Dr. Alice Eunjung Lee is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Education Research and Policy Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso. Her research explores how institutional policies, organizational structures, and learning environments shape student persistence, identity development, and career pathways — with a particular focus on Hispanic-Serving Institutions and borderland contexts. She investigates how work-integrated learning and employment experiences influence engineering identity, skill development, and workforce transitions. Her doctoral training at the University of Arizona grounded her in how culturally responsive STEM courses foster student engagement, belonging, and persistence. Outside of her research, Dr. Lee enjoys exploring independent coffee shops, browsing vintage stores, and collecting old art books.

Jongcheol Lee is a Postdoctoral Scholar in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research focuses on electroactive polymers, particularly ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs), and phase-change-material-based thermal energy storage systems, combining experimental characterization, spectroscopy, and system development. He is interested in understanding how materials respond under real operating conditions and enjoys building custom setups to study complex electrochemical and thermomechanical behavior.

Dr. Geovana Martin is a dietitian and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona, specializing in clinical nutrition and exercise in chronic kidney disease (CKD). She holds a PhD in Nutrition and has over a decade of experience integrating exercise and nutritional strategies to improve muscle mass, physical function, and quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis and kidney transplantation. Her work has been published in leading international journals, and she is an active member of the Global Renal Exercise Group (GREX).

Luis Montero, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at San Antonio, where he contributes to the Engineering Education Program and the IES Pathways Program. He holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching, specializing in Engineering Education and STEM Education, an M.Sc. in Mathematics Education, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He has broad teaching experience and 12 years of professional practice in industry. His research interests focus on expanding high-quality learning opportunities for STEM students. Specifically, he contributes to engineering education research by investigating engineering students’ refinement and integration of disciplinary and societal knowledge through mathematical modeling.

Zabihollah Najafianashrafi is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, specializing in thermal–fluid sciences, heat transfer, and multi-physics modeling. His research focuses on transport-limited processes in energy systems, including fuel cells and electrochemical reactors. He integrates computational modeling, experimental validation, and system design to improve performance and efficiency, with particular expertise in phase-change heat transfer and coupled transport phenomena. He is currently contributing to ARPA-E–funded research on low-carbon iron production via fast electrowinning. Zabihollah has authored 17+ peer-reviewed publications with over 800 citations and has extensive experience in CFD, electrochemical modeling, and advanced manufacturing.

I’m a postdoctoral researcher in Professor Donovan German’s lab at UC Irvine, where I study how the symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia spreads among native bees. Wolbachia can influence insect reproduction and may help reduce viral infections. My research explores whether it spreads through mothers or the environment and how that knowledge could support pollinator health and biodiversity. I earned my Ph.D. in Entomology from UC Riverside, where I studied how pollution affects bee microbiomes. My work has been supported by grants and fellowships such as GAANN, the Utom River Native American Conservation Funds, and the Shipley Skinner Fellowship. From earning my GED to becoming a Ph.D. scientist, my journey fuels my passion for diversity and inclusion in STEM. As a first-generation scholar and single mom, I mentor students from underrepresented backgrounds and support my mentees as they navigate the challenges of balancing school and caregiving. I love road trips and cooking.

Elisabeth (Liz) Noland, PhD is a social psychologist working as a postdoc in the Psychology Department at UIC. She earned her PhD in social psychology from Purdue University in 2025. She also holds certificates in advanced statistics and instructional excellence. Her research focuses broadly on intergroup relations, systemic bias, how minorities' wellbeing is harmed and ways to promote their well-being. She is especially interested in developing evidence-based strategies that foster allyship and improve climate across diverse groups. She has published her work in great outlets in her field including Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (PSPB), Policy Insights for the Brain and Behavioral Insights (PIBBS), and Group Processes and Intergroup Relations (GPIR). A once active member of Purdue’s Preparing Future Faculty program, she founded and chaired the Purdue Psychology Mentorship program, which aims to cultivate psychology majors sense of belonging and professional development.

Daniel E. Ochoa is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UC San Diego in 2024, M.Sc. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 2022, and in Electronics Engineering from the University of Los Andes, Colombia, in 2019, and dual B.Sc. degrees in Electronics Engineering (cum laude) and Physics from the University of Los Andes. His work has been recognized with the Robert Skelton Systems and Control Best Ph.D. Dissertation Award from the Center for Control Systems and Dynamics at UC San Diego in 2025, an IFAC Young Author Award in 2024, and designation as a Rising Star in Cyber-Physical Systems by the University of Virginia and the National Science Foundation in 2022. His research develops mathematical foundations for control and analysis of autonomous systems.

I am a biochemist focusing on the molecular mechanisms of biomolecule assembly and how this underlies exciting new aspects of biology. As a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Shana Elbaum-Garfinkle at CUNY, I study how DNA, its accessory proteins (e.g. histones), and their modifications spontaneously form distinct liquid-like phases, asking what molecular mechanisms facilitate this phenomenon and how the cell applies this to regulate gene expression/silencing and cellular biology. I obtained my B.Sc. from the University of Michigan and my M.Sc. from Leipzig, Germany where I studied the structural dynamics of cyanobacteria photoreceptors. I earned my Ph.D at the University of Toronto in the lab of Dr. Simon Sharpe studying the assembly and material properties of the insect elastomer resilin. I am passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists and improving scientific communication to the public.

Natalia Rivera Rincon is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at the University of California, Riverside. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Auburn University, where she studied the genetic and environmental factors influencing recombination rate variation. Her current research focuses on the evolutionary genetics of recombination and structural variation, including chromosomal inversions, using integrative genomic and experimental approaches. Natalia is also passionate about science communication and increasing representation of underrepresented groups in STEM, aiming to make science more accessible and inclusive.

Katie Rocci is a soil biogeochemist and climate change scientist who is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Merced. Katie's research investigates the interactions between soil biogeochemistry and global change by investigating either soil responses to global change and potential feedbacks to climate change or soils as a climate change solution. She does this using tools of empiricism, process-based modeling, and data science. Beyond research, Katie gets great joy from teaching and is committed to improving the representation and inclusion of minoritized people in science. Before arriving at UCM, Katie completed a postdoc at the Universities of Colorado and Michigan, an MS and PhD in Ecology at Colorado State University, and a BS in Earth Science at the University of New Hampshire, where she is from.

Christina Rowley (she/ella) is a postdoctoral researcher in the THRIVE lab working with Dr. Jessica Borelli. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and completed her predoctoral pediatric internship at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Her dissertation – funded by an F31 NRSA from the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities and supported by the Center for Research on Families – investigated disparities in stress and stress-related health outcomes in multiracial families during early parenthood. Her research interests focus on the effects of racial and economic disparities on the family system, with the aim of how that, in turn, impacts children’s socioemotional development and to conduct intervention research designed to reduce these disparate effects. Christina’s goal is to become faculty conducting community-based research that addresses challenges facing families in marginalized communities.

Dr. Liz Sahagun is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Internal Medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine. As a Clinical and Translational Science Fellow (NIH CTSA TL1) and Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD) Young Investigator, her research investigates the cross-generational impact of the maternal immune system and factors that influence fetal brain development. After earning her BS at UC Davis and working at the California National Primate Research Center, Liz completed her PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience at Purdue University. Now back at her alma mater, she is dedicated to developing as an independent investigator focused on informing new strategies to improve maternal and fetal health. Beyond the lab, Liz is passionate about social innovation and fostering diverse perspectives in academia. Outside of her professional life, she can be found training for her next mountaineering objective, visiting family in Mexico, or finding joy in quiet moments of daily life.

Carmella Scorcia Pacheco is a proud nuevomexicana and Chicana who received her Ph.D. in Spanish with a concentration in Border Studies from the University of Arizona. She is currently a post-doctoral fellow with the Hispanic Southwest Studies Program in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of New Mexico. She was a 2021 Mellon-Fronteridades graduate fellow with the Confluencenter for Creative Inquiry, University of Arizona’s premier humanities-based center. She was also a 2023 American Association of University Women pre-doctoral fellow. Dr. Scorcia Pacheco’s research focuses on utilizing the folkloric record to recover feminine-voiced narratives of 19th and early 20th century New Mexico. As an interdisciplinary scholar, educator, and cultural worker, she engages with folkloristics, ethnopoetics, archival studies, community fieldwork and ethnography, women’s and gender studies, Chicana feminism, community-engaged scholarship and pedagogy, and expressive culture o

Dr. Jabila is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of North Texas, specializing in the genetics of hemostasis and thrombosis using zebrafish and mouse models. Her research integrates functional genomics, chemical biology, and translational approaches to uncover mechanisms underlying bleeding and thrombotic disorders. She has conducted genome-wide in vivo knockdown screens of over 1,000 genes, identifying novel regulators of hemostasis, including hepatocyte transcription factors controlling age-dependent Factor IX expression. Her current work focuses on glycobiological pathways in thrombopoiesis and their role in regulating platelet production and function. She holds a Ph.D. in Life Sciences and was a university topper in her master’s degree in Microbiology. Her contributions include developing zebrafish-based methods for genetic screening, studying coagulation factors, identifying novel regulators, and developing antiplatelet compounds.