About Us
Throughout our journeys, we were lucky to have mentors who invested in us, whether it was through mentorship, providing access to research opportunities or making us aware of fellowship opportunities. We believe that everyone deserves to have someone who can push forward potential and guide him/her along the way.
The Científico Latino Project comes from a drive to increase the pool of minority scientists and professionals by creating a platform where everyone—regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability or immigration status—has equal access to fellowship and scholarship opportunities, and the chance to learn from their peers to becoming successful STEM professionals and other related fields.
Our Initiatives
To help spread information about relevant opportunities in STEM through practical professional development workshops for college and high school students.
Create equal access opportunities that provide critical support needed to succeed in STEM through public databases.
Preparing underrepresented students to navigate the STEM graduate school application process.
Amplifying the voices of underrepresented scientists and allies through a platform that features diverse scientists and scientific journeys.
Team Alumni
Sebastian Diaz
Volunteer
Born in San Juan, Sebastian has lived most of his life in the island of Puerto Rico. He majored in Industrial Microbiology at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus where he became a part of the local MARC program (Maximizing Access to Research Careers). Through a series of summer internships, as well as undergraduate research, Sebastian gained significant research experience in host-pathogen interactions, which motivated him to pursue a PhD in Immunology. As a current PhD student at Yale University, Sebastian currently works studying immune responses in the brain and how those responses may promote pathology under certain conditions. As a Puerto Rican and a MARC fellow, Sebastian feels a deep commitment to helping students from underrepresented groups apply to, navigate and perservere in grad school. As part of the Científico Latino team, Sebastian works closely with the Graduate School Preparation Initiative.
Marisa Rubio, PhD
STEM Communications Director
Marisa is passionate about addressing the disconnect between basic science and society through more effective communication and by making careers in science available to everyone. She earned her B.S in Chemistry from Marshall University and Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry from Yale University. After postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health, Marisa returned to Yale and is currently a science writer in the Office of Development. She is a first generation Cuban-American and grew up in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of West Virginia.
Diego Alvarado Mateo
Assistant Editor at York College, City University of New York
Diego is a biologist at York College, City University of New York, and a Spanish speaker from the island of Puerto Rico. Previously, a 2016 CUNY Summer Research Program (CSURP) fellow and a 2017 Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) scholar, where he conducted research in a Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience at Hunter College. He always felt that exploring and learning go hand in hand. Therefore, he is enthusiastic about being able to help others learn or understand and increase their knowledge of a subject and the STEM community.
Gabriela Bosque Ortiz
co-Director of STEM Initiatives
Gabriela is currently a Ph.D. student in the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program at Yale University. She was born and raised in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Previously, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences at Cornell University.