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 underrepresented minority researchers 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.
Finally, we would like to stress that:
(i) Speakers on our list should be compensated properly for their time.
(ii) We are not the only resource out there! Check out this database for more lists of underrepresented researchers.
(iii) Our list is mainly nomination based (we then reach out to the researchers for their consent to be featured on the list). Please consider nominating yourself or others to be on the list! You can do so here or by emailing us at dscnatl@gmail.com.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epidemiology, Health Equity, Public Health, Research Ethics | Dr. Francine C. Gachupin | The University of Arizona | Associate Professor | The Gachupin group investigates chronic disease and related behavioral risk factors within Native American/American Indian communities. (https://www.facebook.com/francine.gachupin) | Faculty Page | health equity, epidemiology, cancer, diet, hepatitis, diabetes, cognitive impairment, Indigenous, chronic disease, health promotion, human subjects protection |
| Metabolism, Neuroscience | Dr. Frankie D. Heyward | Harvard Medical School | Post-doc | Dr. Heyward is a post-doc in the Rosen Lab who investigates the effects of obesity on neural processes, specifically focusing on the transcriptional targets of STAT3 in neurons. | Linked In | obesity, transcription regulation, diabetes |
| Neuroscience | Dr. Ana-Clara Bobadilla | Medical University of South Carolina | Research Assistant Professor | Dr. Bobadilla is a behavioral and molecular biologist with a focus on addiction and goal-directed behaviors. Her research addresses the differences between how the brain processes seeking if natural rewards (such as food or water) and drugs of abuse. | ResearchGate | addiction, reward, cocaine, sucrose, rodent behavior, neuronal ensembles |
| Neuroscience | Dr. Osama Ahmed (Sama) | Princeton University | Post-doc | Dr. Ahmed investigates neural mechanisms that coordinate distinct behaviors in Drosophila. | Google Scholar | behavior, Drosophila, multitasking, motor control, courtship song, systems neuroscience |
| Neuroscience | Dr. Heather Snell | Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Post-doc | Dr. Snell investigates the intrinsic activity of cerebellar Purkinje cells and their role in cerebellar disorders such as ataxias and dystonias. Twitter Handle: @HeatherDSnell | Research Page | purkinje cells, GABA, ataxia, dystonia, movement |
| Materials Chemistry, Thermodynamics | Dr. Jorge A. Muñoz | The University of Texas at El Paso | Assistant Professor | The Muñoz group investigates thermodynamics and systems in disequilibrium using computational modeling and machine learning. | Lab Website | thermal expansion, chaos, computational physics |
| Cellular Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology | Dr. Chynna N. Broxton | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | Post-doc | Dr. Broxton investigates genetic mitochondrial disorders including those related to superoxide dismutases and mitochondrial respiration. | mitochondria, cellular respiration, candida albicans | |
| Neuroscience | Dr. Cristina Banuelos | NIH - National Institute on Aging | Post-doc | Dr. Banuelos investigates the neurobiological mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive decline. | Google Scholar | GABA, prefrontal cortex, memory, behavior, aging, basal forebrain |
| Ecology, Endocrinology, Neuroscience | Dr. Daniel Tobiansky | Brown University | Post-doc | Dr. Tobiansky investigates neuroendocrine signaling that underlies mating, territorial, and social decision-making behavior. Twitter Handle: @DTobiansky | Research Page | Behavioral Ecology, endocrine, mating, territorial behavior, behavior, steroid hormones, ethology |
| Education/Pedagogy, Health Equity, Psychology, Public Health | Dr. Sinead Younge | Morehouse College | Professor | The Project Ujima Lab investigates sexual health practices amongst college students, HIV+ adults and Black men, amongst other underserved communities. Dr. Younge and her lab also examine prison reform issues. | Faculty Page | Sexual health, HIV/AIDS, health equity, Prison, carceral system |