Promoting Black biologists and science literacy

Over the past few years, I have built a collection of "spotlights" on Black faculty in STEM aimed at a lay audience, to promote the work of these scientists and engage non-experts in thinking about scientific inquiry. Originally posted on Facebook throughout the month of February, these spotlights are now collected here.

If you are featured and would like to make an addition/correction (or if you would like me to take down your profile), please let me know! If you are a Black scientist who I have not written about and you would like to be featured in a future February, I would love to hear from you.

Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (University of Florida)

Dr. Agbandje-McKenna works to characterize the life cycle of single-stranded DNA viruses and the viral proteins that make infection possible.

February 12, 2018

Karl Castillo, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Marine Sciences (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Castillo studies the relationship between coral physiology and the physical environment, comparing samples collected in Belize to those grown in the lab.

February 11, 2018

Cathrine Hoyo, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biological Sciences (North Carolina State University)

Dr. Hoyo, an epidemiologist, was recruited to NC State in 2014 as a part of their Environmental Health Science cluster, which brings together faculty from all 10 colleges within the university to collaborate on interdisciplinary projects.

February 10, 2018

Joseph Larkin III, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Microbiology and Cell Science (University of Florida)

Dr. Larkin’s work focuses on regulatory T cells (part of the immune system) and on uncovering their connection to diabetes, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

February 9, 2018

Melissa Kemp, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Integrative Biology (University of Texas, Austin)

Dr. Kemp has just finished a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, and is in the process of starting her lab at UT Austin as of September!

February 8, 2018

Aaron Frank, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Assistant Professor of Biophysics (University of Michigan)

Dr. Frank is developing new tools to build computer models of RNA, DNA, proteins, and the interactions between these various biomolecules.

February 7, 2018

Maria Miriti, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology (The Ohio State University)

Dr. Miriti studies how plants interact with their environment, with a particular focus on desert plants in Joshua Tree National Park in California.

February 6, 2018

Kwaku Dayie, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry (University of Maryland)

Dr. Dayie is interested in understanding how RNA forms complexes to regulate gene expression, and much of his work focuses on devising new research methods.

February 5, 2018

Marja Hurley, M.D.

Professor of Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery (University of Connecticut)

Dr. Hurley studies the genes responsible for maintaining healthy bones. She is also the Associate Dean of the Department of Health Career Opportunities Programs at UConn, which runs enrichment programs for middle school, high school, and college students to encourage those from underrepresented minorities to pursue a medical degree.

February 4, 2018

Chiswili Yves Chabu, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences (University of Missouri)

Dr. Chabu, who joined the faculty at Mizzou about a year ago, is interested in the way that the environment around a tumor impacts its growth and development.

February 3, 2018

Walter Suza, Ph.D.

Adjunct Associate Professor of Agronomy (Iowa State University)

Dr. Suza is the Director of the Plant Breeding E-Learning in Africa (PBEA) initiative, which draws upon the agronomic expertise at Iowa State to create open-source online training materials in plant breeding and genetics. These materials are being used by faculty in Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana to supplement Masters’ programs at their universities, with a particular emphasis on improving food security to combat hunger.

February 2, 2018

Tracy Johnson, Ph.D.

Maria Rowena Ross Chair of Cell Biology and Biochemistry (University of California, Los Angeles)

In 2014, Dr. Johnson was recognized for her leadership in both research and teaching as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor. This honor includes a grant of $1 million over 5 years to develop programs that better integrate undergraduate education into research.

February 1, 2018

Adana Llanos, Ph.D., M.P.H

Assistant Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Rutgers University)

Dr. Llanos studies molecular epidemiology, trying to identify new “biomarkers” that can be used to predict the onset, severity, and prognosis of disease.

February 28, 2017

Emmitt Jolly, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology (Case Western University)

Dr. Jolly's lab studies schistosomiasis, an infectious disease caused by parasitic schistosome worms.

February 27, 2017

Andrew Campbell, Ph.D.

Dean of the Graduate School (Brown University)

Dr. Campbell, a Professor of Medical Science, is a molecular biologist. His research focuses on a family of enzymes called RNases H, which digest RNA.

February 26, 2017