Speakers List
A recurring issue at conferences and seminars is the underwhelming number of URM speakers giving talks. A commonly cited reason for this is not knowing who to invite. To that end, we’ve begun compiling a list of prominent URM researchers across every field of STEM and Medicine. We hope that conference organizers can use this list as a resource when inviting speakers. However we hope that organizers use this list conscientiously. There is a well-known, and well-documented, issue of “tokenism”, i.e. the idea that women and minorities are included to give an appearance of diversity. We would like to stress that a diverse conference is not just about representation of minority speakers but also about creating an environment that is conducive to sharing ideas and collaborating. See our “Best practices” page for tips on how to create an inclusive environment.
We are not the only resource out there! Check out this database for more lists of underrepresented researchers.
NOTES ON USING OUR LIST
1) Please see here for the Speakers List in spreadsheet format (useful for more complicated searches), an explanation of all of the fields (and how to search them), and a list of sorted subfields.
2) Our website saves your previous search for future reference! If you would like to clear your search, press the “Clear” button (next to the “Submit” button).
| Field (see Notes for sorted subfields) | Preferred Name | Institution | Position | Description | Website | Tags | Date Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neuroscience, Pharmacology | Dr. Leah Mayo | Linköping University | Assistant Professor | The Mayo lab investigates the role of the endocannabinoid system in stress-related psychiatric disorders. | Lab Website | endocannabinoids, stress, emotion, reward | October 29, 2020 |
| Immunology, Pharmacology | Dr. Jason Sello | University of California - San Francisco | Professor | The Sello lab investigates the antibacterial activity of molecules targeting CIpP peptidase and how resistance to these molecules arise. | Faculty Page | antibiotics, peptidases, proteasome inhibitors, drug resistance, gene expression | October 29, 2020 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, Neuroscience | Dr. Ismail Ahmed | New York University - School of Medicine | Post-doc | Dr. Ahmed investigates the neuromodulatory role of oxytocin in the context of social behavior in rodents. | Research Page | behavior, oxytocin, neuropeptides, hormones, neuroplasticity, learning | October 22, 2020 |
| Epidemiology, Immunology, Infectious Disease, Microbiology, Virology | Dr. Marcos Ramos-Benitez | NIH - National Institute of General Medicine | Post-doc | Dr. Ramos-Benitez investigates the pathophysiology and molecular pathogenesis of severe emerging viral infections. Currently, he is leading a project to evaluate the role of Neutrophils Extracellular Traps in COVID-19 severity. Also, he is the principal investigator in a project aiming to elucidate the mechanisms of gastrointestinal fluid loss in Ebola virus disease. Dr. Ramos-Benitez is also the founder and president of “Ciencia en Tus Manos” a non-profit organization that uses social media to create innovative online programs to promote STEM within Hispanics communities. | Google Scholar | COVID-19, Ebola, virus, molecular pathogenesis, emergent pathogens | October 22, 2020 |
| Immunology, Veterinary Medicine | Dr. De'Broski R. Herbert | University of Pennsylvania | Associate Professor | The Herbert Lab investigates the mechanisms controlling development of alternatively activated macrophages and Type 2 inflammation within the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. | Lab Website | regulatory networks, immunity, inflammation, tissue repair, mucosal interface, gastrointestinal, respiratory | October 22, 2020 |
| Neuroscience, Psychology | Dr. Crystal Carr | Reed College | Visiting Professor | Dr. Carr investigates how the psychomotor activating effects of psychomotor stimulant drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamine, can change (i.e. development of tolerance or sensitization) based on their administration. | stimulants, cocaine, amphetamine, tolerance, sensitization, plasticity, behavior, dopamine, substance use | October 22, 2020 | |
| Neuroscience | Dr. Dayan Knox | University of Delaware | Associate Professor | The Knox lab investigates how stress-induced changes in peripheral hormonal and ascending arousal systems contribute to abnormal cognitive/emotional processes. | Lab Website | hormones, cell signaling, cognition, emotion, stress, mental health, basal forebrain, learning, memory, behavior | October 19, 2020 |
| Epigenetics, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology | Dr. Antonio Gomez | University of California - Davis | Post-doc | Dr. Gomez conducts research in Epigenetics and RNA function with emphasis on the role of these processes in development and cancer. He completed a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Stanford studying host genetics of infection and is currently a postdoc in the labs of Janine LaSalle and David Segal at UC Davis. | Research Page | CRISPR Screens, Data Analysis, Epigenetics, Viral Engineering, Protein Analysis, Immunology, RNA biology | October 19, 2020 |
| Neuroscience | Dr. Ruth Barrientos | The Ohio State University | Associate Professor | The Barrientos Lab investigates the vulnerabilities of the normal aging brain that, when challenged (i.e. with infection, surgery, high-fat diet, etc), lead to exaggerated neuroinflammation and long-lasting memory deficits. | Lab Website | aging, infection, long-term memory, neuroinflammation | October 16, 2020 |
| Bioinformatics, Microbiology | Dr. Phillip Brooks | 10X Genomics | Senior Scientist | Dr. Brooks investigates bioinformatics and applied microbiology within the biotechnology sector. | Microbiome, Metagenomics, Bioinformatics | October 15, 2020 |