For Women's History Month, we are highlighting the many inspiring women who are making history in science and medicine! From students to field leaders, across academia and industry, women scientists are pioneering new discoveries and leading the charge towards advances with clinical and global health impacts.
Here we feature the women of Keystone Symposia’s Fellows Program. Of the 78 Keystone Symposia Fellows who have participated in the Program since 2009, over 50 percent are women! Each plays a vital role in advancing the biomedical research enterprise across a diverse range of scientific disciplines and research environments. These women scientists apply their talents as academic researchers and administrators, clinicians and translational scientists, educators, pharmaceutical scientists, and as leaders in biotech.
In addition to their primary research, many Fellows also contribute their talents in support of underserved communities and are at work promoting inclusive excellence in the biomedical workforce by cultivating students and trainees from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM education and research.
Did you know? Women in pharmaceutical industries account for about half of all employees but represent only about 17% of biotech senior management. The Keystone Symposia Fellows Program helps to position women in biotech to successfully pursue leadership and decision-making roles by enhancing confidence, leadership skills, networking opportunities, and visibility of Fellows within the biomedical research community.
#WomensHistoryMonth
Assistant Professor, The Salk Institute
Fellows Class of 2021-2022
Research Area(s): Cancer, Cell Biology
I would not be where I am today without fantastic mentors during my PhD and Post-Doc studies. These experiences have strongly shaped my views on mentorship today. I am deeply committed to being an attentive, compassionate, and encouraging mentor to my own trainees to help them achieve their unique career goals. But I also recognize that as junior PI, I am still in need of strategic mentorship. This can be much harder to find at this level of my career than when mentorship was more structured during my PhD studies for example. The Keystone Fellows program has been fantastic in providing a structured mentorship program for me and I am so grateful for this opportunity."
Assistant Professor, Colorado State University/Boettcher Investigator
Fellows Class of 2021-2022
Research Area(s):Cell Biology, Infectious Disease, Neurobiology
Assistant Professor, University of Florida
Fellows Class of 2021-2022
Research Area(s): Bioengineering, Immunology
Dr. Erika Moore is the co-founder of #BlackInBME and founder of Moore Wealth Inc., a non-profit created to empower students in financial literacy.
See our Keypoint Blog highlight on Dr. Moore here!
Senior Scientist, Janssen R&D
Fellows Class of 2021-2022
Research Area(s): Cardiovascular, Cell Biology
Senior Principal Scientist - Lab head, Pfizer, Inc.
Fellows Class of 2020-2021
Research Area(s):Cardiovascular, Metabolic Disease
Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University
Fellows Class of 2020-2021
Research Area(s): Biochemistry, Digital/Computational
Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Fellows Class of 2020-2021
Research Area(s): Immunology, Cell Biology
Fellows Class of 2020-2021
Research Area(s): Structural Biology, Biochemistry
Research Area(s): Immunology, Infectious Disease
Associate Professor, Texas A&M University
Fellows Class of 2018
Research Area(s): Veterinary pathologist
Assistant Professor, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Fellows Class of 2018
Research Area(s): Infectious Diseases, Immunology
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is an advocator of STEM education and vaccine awareness in underserved communities.
Associate Professor, Stetson University
Fellows Class of 2018
Research Area(s): Cell Biology
Associate Professor, Southern Methodist University
Fellows Class of 2018
Research Area(s): Neurobiology
Assistant Professor, Duke University
Fellows Class of 2018
Research Area(s): Developmental Biology, Regenerative Biology
Assistant Professor, Hunter College, City University of New York
Fellows Class of 2017
Research Area(s): Neurobiology
Assistant Professor, University of Florida
Fellows Class of 2017
Research Area(s): Genetics/Genomics, Neurobiology
Dr. Paola Giusti-Rodriguez is the co-founder of the Latin American Genomics Consortium, which seeks to increase the representation of research participants from Latinx admixed ancestry in genetic studies on psychiatric disorders.
Chief Diversity Officer & Associate Dean, Emory University
Fellows Class of 2017
Research Area(s): Neurobiology
Dr. Amanda Marie James serves as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement in the Laney Graduate School at Emory University.
Florastina Payton-Stewart, PhD
Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, Xavier Univ. of Louisiana
Fellows Class of 2017
Research Area(s): Cancer
Dr. Florastina Payton-Stewart has dedicated her career to exposing and nurturing individuals and undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in STEM, assisting with junior faculty, and enhancing university initiatives for recruitment, retention, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Assistant Professor, High Point University
Fellows Class of 2017
Research Area(s): Biochemistry
Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut Health Center
Fellows Class of 2016
Research Area(s): Cancer
Gordon S. Marshall Early Career Chair & Assoc. Professor, University of Southern California
Fellows Class of 2016
Research Area(s): Cancer
Lindsey Treviño, PhD
Assistant Professor, City of Hope
Fellows Class of 2016
Research Area(s): Cancer
Dr. Lindsey Treviño focuses her efforts on health disparities research.
Assistant Professor, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Fellows Class of 2015
Research Area(s): Metabolic Diseases
Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Anschutz Med. Campus
Fellows Class of 2015
Research Area(s): Cancer, Neurobiology
Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University
Fellows Class of 2014
Research Area(s): Cancer
Dr. Melinda Aldrich focuses her efforts on health disparities research.
Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Fellows Class of 2014
Research Area(s): Neurobiology
Assistant Professor, Saban Research Institute at Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Fellows Class of 2014
Research Area(s): Metabolic Diseases
Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Fellows Class of 2013
Research Area(s): Infectious Diseases
Director of Scientific Strategy and Portfolio Lead, Pfizer Inc.
Fellows Class of 2013
Research Area(s): Immunology, Infectious Diseases
Dr. Magdia De Jesus is currently developing a STEM pipeline program for Pfizer that targets middle school and high school students.
Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Fellows Class of 2013
Research Area(s): Genetics/Genomics
Dr. Digna Velez Edwards focus her research on health disparities and women's health.
Associate Professor of Biology, Saint Louis University
Fellows Class of 2012
Research Area(s): Microbiota and Flora
Deputy Chief Science Officer, IBM
Fellows Class of 2012
Research Area(s):Drug Discovery, Technology
Dr. Kelly Craig advances health equity through the design, implementation, and management of strategic initiatives to improve racial justice, workplace culture, data asset diversity, and use of digital technologies in healthcare.
Associate Professor, University of Texas at Austin
Fellows Class of 2012
Research Area(s): Molecular Biology
Associate Professor, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Fellows Class of 2011
Research Area(s): Metabolic Diseases, Neurobiology
Scientific Advisor/Patent Agent, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Fellows Class of 2011
Research Assistant Professor, North Carolina Central University
Fellows Class of 2011
Research Area(s): Drug Discovery, Technology
Associate Professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Fellows Class of 2010
Research Area(s): Genetics, Genomics
Dr. Dana Crawford has played leading roles in NIH-funded consortia dedicated to developing the infrastructure for national studies emphasizing diversity and promotes the cultivation of women and minorities in STEM education and research.
Associate Professor, University of Hawaii- Hilo, College of Pharmacy
Fellows Class of 2010
Research Area(s): Cancer
Dr. Dana-Lynn Koomoa is involved in activities to promote Native Hawaiians in STEM fields.
Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University
Fellows Class of 2010
Research Area(s): Drug Discovery/Technology
Medical Director, Biogen
Fellows Class of 2009
Research Area(s): Drug Discovery, Immunology, Neurobiology
Senior Principal Scientist, Pfizer Inc.
Fellows Class of 2009
Research Area(s): Molecular Biology, Infectious Diseases
#WomensHistoryMonth