Dr. Vernon Morris, as an Air Force brat, grew up in many places including the United States and Japan. His early education was marked by combative experiences with teachers, leading him to focus on sports and later develop an interest in science.…
Scott Edwards, raised in Colorado Springs and New York City, developed an early interest in natural history and birds. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy for high school and went on to Harvard University, initially studying the history of science…
Dr. Sarah Lemer is an assistant professor in marine invertebrate genomics at the University of Guam, focusing on mollusk evolution and coral gene expression during climate change. Growing up, Dr. Lemer lived in multiple countries due to her father's…
Dr. Robert Green, born in Johns Island, South Carolina, grew up in the Gullah-Geechee community. His parents nurtured his natural curiosity and analytical skills. Excelling in science and math, Green attended magnet schools before majoring in…
Dr. Pascale Schaaba Guiton, grew up in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, before moving to the United States at 18. She currently serves as an assistant professor of biological sciences at Santa Clara University, where her research focuses on exploring regulatory…
Dr. OmiSoore Dryden developed a passion for social science and health equity from an early age, influenced by her parents' professions in education and nursing. She pursued undergraduate studies in political science, sociology, and women and gender…
Dr. Michelle Samuel-Foo, born in Trinidad and Tobago, grew up in a large family practicing subsistence agriculture. Excelling in her studies, she won a scholarship to Brewton-Parker College in Georgia, where she graduated summa cum laude in biology.…
Dr. Kevin Cox, born and raised in Florissant, Missouri, is a postdoctoral associate at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. He attended the University of Missouri in St. Louis for his bachelor's degree in biology. Initially aspiring to become a…
Dr. Keenan Jerome Adams, born at Landstuhl Air Force Base in Germany, grew up navigating the complexities of his mixed heritage and frequent relocations due to his father's Air Force career. Despite initial academic hurdles, Keenan excelled in…
Dr. Jonathan Auguste, born in Trinidad and Tobago, and raised in Arima, where he experienced both urban and rural lifestyles. Despite a challenging start to his undergraduate career, he excelled academically at the University of the West Indies…
Dr. Jessica Lee Ware, born on May 12, 1977, is an entomologist currently holding a dream position at the American Museum of Natural History. Raised in Toronto by a single mother and later her father, Dr. Ware grew up in a challenging environment but…
Dr. Ela-Sita Carpenter, born in Baltimore, Maryland, grew up in a small, nature-loving family. Despite living in a cramped rowhouse, her parents fostered her early interest in nature. This passion led her to Hampton University, where she studied…
Dr. Candice Morrison Duncan, born in Durham, North Carolina, grew up in a close-knit family, where her mother encouraged her academic pursuits, fostering her early interest in STEM. She attended UNC Greensboro for her undergraduate degree in biology…
Dr. Austin Douglas Gray, born oin North Charleston, South Carolina, is an assistant professor in the biological sciences department at Virginia Tech. Growing up, Dr. Gray was inspired by his father's academic achievements and his mother's dedication…
Dr. Aris Benjamin Winger II, from Washington, D.C., is a mathematics educator at Georgia Gwinnett College. His early interest in mathematics was encouraged by significant mentors and his family, which inspired him to pursue higher education at Howard…