Luz Milbeth Cumba García, Ph.D.

Email: luzcumbagarcia@gmail.com 

Website: luzcumbagarcia.com

SUMMARY

Immunologist, science communicator, and policy advisor with 15 years of diverse experience across academic, private, and public sectors. Adept at advising on public health, biomedical research, and international affairs policies, fostering partnerships, and translating research into development outcomes. Seeking a role to leverage expertise in science communication, evidence-informed policymaking, and efficient project management within a government or private organizational setting.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

June 2016 - June 2021: Ph.D. in Immunology

Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MCGSBS), Rochester, Minnesota

• Dissertation: Plasma-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring of gliomas
• Research Advisors: Dr. Ian F. Parney and Dr. Aaron J. Johnson
• Fellowships: NIH Ph.D. Training Grant in Basic Immunology (2018–2020); Yale-Mayo Clinic Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (2018–2019); Neuroscience Scholars Program (NSP) Fellowship (2017–2019); Dean’s Fellowship – Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD, 2016–2018)

August 2014 - May 2016: Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

• Research Advisor: Dr. Aaron J. Johnson

October 2012 - July 2013: M.S. in Investigation and Advances in Cellular and Molecular Immunology

University of Granada, Granada, Spain

• Dissertation: Leukocyte inflammatory response in a pristane-induced murine model of lupus in CD38 KO mice
• Research Advisor: Dr. Jaime Sancho López

January 2008 - May 2012: B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology

Universidad Metropolitana, School of Science and Technology, San Juan, Puerto Rico

• Research Advisor: Dr. Luis Cubano
• Fellowships: Science Honor Scholarship (2008–2012); SMART Scholarship (2010)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

October 2024 - Present: Advisor for Sustainability

Nakupuna Companies, U.S. Department of State (DoS), Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD) | Office of Financial and Programmatic Sustainability (OFPS), U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

Washington, DC | 40 hours/week (full time)

• Develop policies and guidance to ensure the long-term sustainability of PEPFAR’s programming, in collaboration with USG agencies, international organizations, and other key partners.
• Provide technical assistance to country teams by reviewing and refining Program Strategies and Sustainability Roadmaps to enhance in-country program sustainability.
• Coordinate with cross-sectoral teams to integrate sustainability into PEPFAR programming, including drafting technical guidance and communication materials for implementation by country teams.
• Conduct data analysis and develop presentation materials, including visual summaries of key findings, to inform senior leadership and support Congressional briefings.

January 2024 - October 2024: Advisor, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellow 

U.S. Department of State (DoS), Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs | Office of Mexican Affairs

Washington, DC | 40 hours/week (full time)

• Served as point of contact for global health security issues between DoS and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, including disease outbreaks like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Supported intra- and interagency response efforts within the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD)’s Office of Infectious Diseases and Outbreak Response (IDOR).
• Assisted in organizing the U.S.- Mexico High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) Mid-Year Review, focusing on aligning regulatory standards for medical devices between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Mexico’s Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS).
• Maintained relevant subject matter expertise in science, infectious disease, public health, epidemiology, and laboratory science to draft policy products that support bilateral policy development between the United States and Mexico. Monitor global health developments within political, economic, defense, and societal contexts. 
• As a detailee at GHSD from June through July 2024, provided support for the Economic and Health Dialogue of the Americas (EHA), focusing on workstream 4: foundations for strengthening supply chains. Contributed to a technical meeting on regulatory harmonization with over 70 representatives from 12 countries and nine regional regulatory agencies. Insights gathered during the discussion will help inform a factsheet aimed at enhancing the understanding of regulatory reliance mechanisms in the region.

September 2022 - September 2023: Regional Science & Technology Cooperation Advisor, AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow 

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for the Middle East | Office of Technical Support, Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program

Washington, DC | 40 hours/week (full time)

• Reviewed scientific proposals submitted by Arab-Israeli researchers and provided feedback to applicants to ensure their proposals were technically sound and responsive to regional political and development objectives.
• Served on the MERC Interagency Committee to select proposals to advance for consideration for funding, and provided expert technical advice alongside representatives from USAID and DoS.
• Conducted outreach with researchers and partners from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
• Developed workshops on effective science communication for MERC grantees.
• Contributed to the design and organization of a workshop on “One Health” with the USAID/West Bank & Gaza Mission.

September 2021 - September 2022: Policy Advisor

Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC

Washington, DC | 40 hours/week (full time)

• Provided consulting to clients regarding public policy and advocacy for the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies.
• Conducted research on policy areas and surveyed federal funding opportunities in public health, biomedical research, and international affairs of interest to the firm’s higher education clients.
• Drafted policy memos, analyses, and other written products for specific clients as well as firm-wide on relevant topics, including federal funding opportunities, federal budget updates, and government priorities.
• Engaged with Congressional and agency staff to highlight and advocate for client priorities.
• Offered webinars and presentations to clients on how to engage with the government, the federal budget and appropriations process, and federal policy.

June 2016 - July 2021: Graduate Research Fellow 

Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MCGSBS), Department of Immunology

Rochester, MN | 40 hours/week (full time)

• Developed a non-invasive technique to diagnose and monitor patients with glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumors using small particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) that can be found in plasma.
• Published five peer-reviewed publications and submitted a patent application.
• Performed immunology and molecular biology techniques, as well as big data analysis in patients’ samples, including clinical trial samples.
• Research efforts resulted in a doctoral dissertation and multiple awards and presentations at national and international scientific conferences.

May 2018 - August 2020: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Regulatory Science

Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MCGSBS), Department of Clinical and Translational Science

Rochester, MN | 3-5 hours/week (part time)

• Supported the design and implementation of a graduate-level course on regulatory science, ensuring alignment with educational and industry standards.
• Coordinated lecture content, reading materials, and course structure to enhance student learning.
• Delivered lectures on clinical trial design and regulatory frameworks, fostering student understanding of key principles.
• Assisted in course evaluation and improvement efforts, contributing to a peer-reviewed publication on best practices in regulatory science education.

August 2014 - May 2016: Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow 

Mayo Clinic, Department of Immunology

Rochester, MN | 40 hours/week (full time)

• Optimized the isolation of antigen-specific CD8 immune T cells from the brain during Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection.
• Performed fluorescence microscopy as well as neuroimmunology and molecular biology techniques.
• Published two peer-reviewed publications, presented at multiple national conferences, and received several awards for my research efforts.

November 2013 - April 2014: Research Assistant 

Universidad Central del Caribe

Bayamón, PR | 40 hours/week (full time)

• Monitored the expression levels of antiretroviral resistance-associated mutations in a population of HIV-1+ Puerto Ricans.
• Performed big data and epidemiological analysis.
• This project was a continuation of my undergraduate research work, which led to two peer-reviewed publications.

October 2012 - October 2013: Graduate Research Fellow 

Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine López Neyra | University of Granada

Granada, Spain | 40 hours/week (full time)

• Studied the role of the CD38 marker in a pristane-induced murine model of lupus.
• Performed fluorescence microscopy as well as immunology and molecular biology techniques.
• Mentored a student during her summer internship.
• Research efforts resulted in a master dissertation, one peer-reviewed publication, and multiple presentations and awards.

SELECTED TEACHING AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH

2021: Peer coach for iBiology Share Your Research (SYR) science communication online training

• Aided research trainees with elevator pitches, research presentations, and practicing their final recorded research seminar

2019: Medical Spanish Tutor- Student Services, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science - Rochester, MN

• Taught first-year medical students basic concepts in Spanish to enable them to effectively communicate with Spanish-speaking patients

2014: Professor/Research Assistant at Qiannan Normal College for Nationalities - Duyun, China

• Taught basic science skills and concepts to first-year college students
• Coordinated the communication between mentors and mentees to complete the assigned research projects. At the end of the program, students presented their projects in a symposium

2008 - 2012: Spanish tutor and Professor Assistant (Learning Zone Título V Campus) Universidad Metropolitana - San Juan, PR

• Created Spanish grammar educational modules
• Taught from basic to advanced Spanish courses and workshops to college students

SELECTED LEADERSHIP & SERVICE ACTIVITIES

2020: Mentor for Seeds of Success: STEM Girl Ambassador Program - Online mentorship program for middle and high school girls in Puerto Rico to learn more about careers in STEM

2017 - 2021: Member of the Office of Research Diversity and Inclusion (ORDI) Advisory Committee - Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

2017 - 2021: Member of the Student Services Advisory Board, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

2017: Volunteer at Saint Mary’s Hospital, Pediatric unit - Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

2015 - 2016: Committee member for the organization of the first Scientific Innovation through Diverse Perspectives (SITDP) symposium for Post-Bac students, held at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN on May 20 - 21, 2016

2011: Shelter “Santa María de los Ángeles”, San Juan, PR - Science workshops for pregnant adolescents

2010: Honor’s Student Association Vice President - Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan, PR

2010: Student Council Vice President - Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan, PR

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• UNESCO Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)
• Science Diplomacy Network in Latin America and the Caribbean (DiploCientifica) - Founding member
• National Science Policy Network (NSPN)
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Puerto Rico Science Policy Action Network (PR-SPAN)
• Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR)

LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2025: National Science Policy Network (NSPN) Leaders Program - Six-month leadership development program to inspire, empower, and connect emerging science policy leaders.

2023: Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship - Year-long training to learn about and practice skills in science diplomacy, as well as connecting and collaborating with US, Latin American and the Caribbean science-policy fellows and organizations.

2022: São Paulo Innovation and Science Diplomacy School (InnSciD SP) - World’s first school devoted to both innovation and science diplomacy.

2022: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and The World Academy of Science (TWAS) Course on Science Diplomacy - Training program in science diplomacy concepts and key contemporary international policy issues relating to science, technology, environment, and health.

2020: iBiology Young Scientist Virtual Training Series - A virtual science communication training & seminar recording opportunity.

2020: National Science Policy Network (NSPN) SciPol Scholars-in-Residence (SPSR) Program - A combination of hands-on training and experiential learning for NSPN members in the world of science policy. Includes a one-month bootcamp and a 6-month paid internship with a partner organization (Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC).

2019: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Advocacy Training Program (ATP) Fellow - A six-month externship that provides hands-on science policy and advocacy training and experience.

2018: Mayo Clinic Office of Entrepreneurship & Mayo Clinic Office of Research Diversity and Inclusion Women’s Leadership Program - A unique 21-day women’s leadership program to refine and strengthen leadership skills needed for scientific excellence and innovation.

2018: Mujeres de “HACE” (Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement) Women’s Leadership Program

(Minneapolis, MN) - A women’s leadership program geared to empower high-potential Latina professionals.

2018: AAAS Science Diplomacy & Leadership Workshop Fellow (Washington, DC) - A 1-week immersion experience in the science diplomacy ecosystem.

2017: American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) and Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) Biotech Mini Course- A hands-on course in biotech, medtech, and pharma to discover the business side of science.

2016-2017: Yale Ciencia Academy Fellow - A year-long career development program for doctoral students.

ADDITIONAL JOB-RELATED TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

July 2024: PE152 Global Health Diplomacy - Foreign Service Institute (FSI), U.S. Department of State.

April 2024: PN127 Civil Service Orientation -  Foreign Service Institute (FSI), U.S. Department of State.

February 2024: ASWHA7006 Western Hemisphere: Mexico - Foreign Service Institute (FSI), U.S. Department of State.

February 2024: PT203 Washington Tradecraft - Foreign Service Institute (FSI), U.S. Department of State.

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Articles, blog posts, op-eds, and book chapters

September 2024: Bridging Science Diplomacy and Science Communication: Recommendations for the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) Region - Article published in the "Science Diplomacy" journal of the National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), which delves into the role of science communication and capacity-building in science diplomacy across the LAC region.

August 2024: Synergies Between Science Communication and Science Diplomacy to Address Global Challenges: Lessons From the LAC Region - Book chapter on the role of science communication in science diplomacy within the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region.

May 2024: Health, Climate and the Environment in Latin America and the Caribbean - Chapter on One Health and science diplomacy to address the consequences of climate change for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and Latinoamérica21 (L21) health, climate, and environment compendium (Pages 12-14).

April 2024: Participatory Processes for the Design of Science Diplomacy Initiatives: Perspectives from Emerging Economies - Article for the “Science Diplomacy” Journal of India’s National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR–NIScPR), which delves into the significance of participatory processes in shaping science diplomacy initiatives.

March 2024: Recommendations for a Science Diplomacy strategy for the safeguarding of the Amazon - White paper providing policy recommendations to protect the Amazon.

February 2024: “One Health” as a pillar of the Loss and Damage Fund - Column for Latinoamérica21 (L21) about how science diplomacy and One Health can help mitigate non-economic losses and damages caused by climate change.

October 2023: Panama Declaration - Science Diplomacy in the Americas: Addressing Global Challenges - Joint statement on the advancement of science diplomacy in Latin America and the Caribbean issued during the science diplomacy workshop organized by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and SENACYT in Panama City, Panama.

January 2022: Overview of the 26th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Implications for Scientific Research (English version) (Spanish version) -  Summary article prepared and translated by Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC about the COP26 meeting for the Science Diplomacy Network in Latin America and the Caribbean (DiploCientifica) blog.

October 2021: “La importancia de la divulgación científica en tiempos de pandemia: un llamado” - Opinion article for Editorial Politics about misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role scientists play in this dilemma.

March 2021: Let’s talk about the gender gap on Women’s Day (English version) (Spanish version) -  Blog post during the 2021 International Women's Day discussing the impact of COVID-19 on women in science and science diplomacy.

September 2020: Reinventing Myself in a Pandemic: From Immunologist to Science Communicator - Column for the science blog SisterStem, in partnership with the organization Science Rising, summarizing my science communication efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 2020: “Entender la respuesta inmunológica al SARS-CoV-2 es clave para el desarrollo de tratamientos” - Column about the immunology of the COVID-19 virus for the Puerto Rican newspaper “El Nuevo Día”.

March 2020: “Investigadores alrededor del mundo identifican posibles rutas para una vacuna contra el COVID-19”- Column about COVID-19 for the Puerto Rican newspaper “El Nuevo Día”.

November 2019: The Power of Advocacy as a Force to Generate Changes in Science (English version) (Spanish version) - Column for the Puerto Rico Science Policy Action Network (PR-SPAN) blog (Ciencia Puerto Rico).

July 2019: Science Diplomats Bring a Gender Perspective to Science Diplomacy - Opinion article for Impakter Magazine about women in science diplomacy and gender equality.

June 2019: H.R. 1709-Scientific Integrity Act (English version) (Spanish version) - Policy Alert for PR-SPAN blog (Ciencia Puerto Rico).

April 2019: Establishing Bridges through Science Diplomacy: The Experience of a Puerto Rican Scientist in Egypt (English version) (Spanish version) - Blog post about my experience at the 3rd International Conference of Women in Science without Borders (WISWB) in Cairo, Egypt.

November 2017: Challenges of Being a Latina Scientist: Embracing your Culture (English version) (Spanish version) - Column for Ciencia Puerto Rico as part of the Yale Ciencia Academy.

September 2015: Exploring the World through Research - Column for the Mayo Clinic Diversity in Education Blog.

January 2014: Research and Mentoring: The International Experience of a Borinqueña (English version) (Spanish version) - Column for the “Borinqueña” blog (Ciencia Puerto Rico).

2011: “Una experiencia transformadora" - Column about my career trajectory for the Ana G. Méndez Alumna Magazine.

Panels and invited talks

December 2024: La Diplomacia Científica para la Salvaguarda de la Amazonía: Recomendaciones para una estrategia integral - Invited speaker at the Latin American and Caribbean Open Science Forum (CILAC), discussing policy recommendations from our white paper on protecting the Amazon.

December 2024: El vínculo necesario entre ciencia abierta y diplomacia científica en Latinoamérica y el Caribe - Invited speaker at the Latin American and Caribbean Open Science Forum (CILAC), discussing insights from our peer-reviewed publication on the intersection of open science and science diplomacy.

October 2024: Effective communication with different audiences - Panel organized by Lewis-Burke Associates and the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) as part of the 2024 Advocacy Certificate for Human Genetics & Genomics Trainees (ACGT) program.

October 2024: My journey through science - Invited speaker to the Children’s Science Center Lab’s STEM Chicas program, where Ispoked to students in grades 3-5 about my scientific journey.

September 2024: Global Health Security and Diplomacy - Panel organized by the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute (FSI) for the Fellows for the Modernization of American Diplomacy Conference.

August 2024: Science Diplomacy Conversations for Emerging Scientists - Panel organized by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Science and Technology Adviser (STAS) for the Meridian DiplomacyRISE Program.

April 2024: “Acceso limitado a la atención sanitaria en las comunidades indígenas rurales de Oaxaca: Recomendaciones desde “Una Salud” para abordar las pérdidas y daños no económicos” - Invited speaker at the Lancet Countdown Latin America meeting on health and climate change, discussing non-economic losses and damages caused by climate change in rural indigenous communities in Oaxaca, Mexico - Universidad del Valle, Guatemala City, Guatemala

April 2024: “#ActionSTePs: Estrategias de redes sociales y marca personal para científicos” - Invited speaker at the Inter-American Institute for Global Research (IAI) Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Leadership Conference, presenting on social media and personal branding for scientists - Antigua, Guatemala

April 2024: Navigating Career Transitions into Science Writing, Policy, and More - Panel organized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Research Fellows and Young Investigators Committee (CCR-FYI)  during NCI’s 24th Annual Fellows’ Colloquium: “Bridging the Gap: Integrating Basic Science and Biomedical Discoveries in Cancer Research.”

January 2024: The role of science communication in the formulation of evidence-based public policies - Guest lecturer for the Vaccine Science and Policy Program course at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

October 2023: “Rol de la comunicación científica para la formulación de políticas públicas basadas en evidencia” - Invited speaker and moderator for the Science Diplomacy Training Program for Policy Makers in the Americas organized by the Inter-American Institute for Global Research (IAI) Science Diplomacy Center and Panama’s National Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation (SENACYT) - Panama City, Panama.

September 2023: Empowering scientists to shape effective policymaking - Invited speaker for the “Unleashing Potential: Exploring STI Policies, Innovation Systems, and Scientific Progress in Central America” workshop at Georgetown University, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service - Washington, DC.

July 2023: Effective communication with different audiences - Panel organized by Lewis-Burke Associates and the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) as part of the 2023 Advocacy Certificate for Human Genetics & Genomics Trainees (ACGT) program.

July 2023: From immunologist to science communicator and policy advocate: my journey through science - Invited speaker for University of Michigan’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Biomedical Career Series Seminar.

June 2023: “Diplomacia Científica para la salvaguarda de la Amazonía: Un ejercicio colaborativo conducente a un policy brief para gobiernos y stakeholders” - Panel organized by the Science Diplomacy Network in Latin America and the Caribbean (DiploCientifica) as part of the Sustanability Research and Innovation (SRI) Congress - Panama City, Panama (panelist and moderator).

March 2023: Pathways to success for early career scientists and engineers in public policy - Panel organized by Engineers & Scientist Acting Locally (ESAL) and the National Science Policy Network (NSPN) as part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Conference.

December 2022: From immunologist to science communicator: my journey through science - Guest speaker for San Francisco State University Biol231 Success in Biology course.

October 2022: Speaking up for science and policy in your community - Panel organized by ESAL and Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) as part of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Conference - San Juan, PR.

October 2022: Climbing the professional ladder of success: Stories of women in STEM - Panel organized by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as part of the SACNAS Conference - San Juan, PR.

October 2022: Stories from the other side of the blurry tunnel: it gets better after all - Panel held at the SACNAS Conference - San Juan, PR.

October 2022: Valuing Diversity: Unique Voices and Experiences at USAID - Panel organized by USAID/ Middle East Bureau Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility (DEIA) Office as part of the second annual USAID Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)/LatinX Conference and Career Expo, Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger World.

May 2022: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine & Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MCGSBS) Minnesota Commencement - Selected as MCGSBS Commencement student speaker.

March 2022: Ethics in Science Communication During the Misinformation Era: Lessons Learned - Invited speaker, Tigers for Inclusion, Diversity, and Ethics (TIDE) 2022 Conference, Clemson University - Clemson, SC.

October 2021: Lessons learned: An immunologist journey into science communication - Invited speaker, Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics, Fort Hays State University - Hays, Kansas.

January 2021: Shaping our Future: Virtual Latinx Youth Conference - Career panel organized by “Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES)” organization for high school and college Latino students (invited panelist).

September 2020: What is science policy? - Panel organized by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Science Policy and Green Initiative.

July 2020: What you should know when applying to graduate programs - Panel held at the Mayo Clinic Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) and Post-Baccalaureate Research Program (PREP) Scientific Innovation Through Diverse Perspectives (SITDP) Clear Vision for 20/20 Conference.

January 2017: Is a Post-Bac right for you? - Organized by The New York Academy of Sciences.

October 2016: Stories from the other side of the blurry tunnel: it gets better after all - Panel held at the SACNAS Conference - Long Beach, California.

October 2014: Stories from the other side of the blurry tunnel: it gets better after all - Panel held at the SACNAS Conference - Los Angeles, California.

October 2014: Advancing your career through international research experiences - Panel held at the SACNAS Conference - Los Angeles, California.

Organized webinars, workshops, and panels

July 2020: “Diplomacia Científica en Chile y América Latina con la Dra. Johana Cabrera” - Coordinator of a series of science diplomacy webinars for PR-SPAN.

June 2020: “Diplomacia Científica en España y Europa con la Dra. Alicia Pérez Porro” - Coordinator of a series of science diplomacy webinars for PR-SPAN.

Videos produced

October 2020: “De cara a las elecciones 2020: ¿Para qué votar? y ¿Qué debes saber?” - Video prepared by members of PRSPAN about how and why it is important to vote for the Puerto Rico elections. This video is part of the initiative "Visibility and awareness for the 2020 elections" sponsored by Ciencia PR, Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and Science Rising.

Selected media appearances

Written

December 2022: Borinqueñas en STEM exhibit - Featured in a special exhibit at the C3TEC museum in Caguas, PR that celebrates 37 Puerto Rican women in STEM.

October 2022: Luz Cumba García Launches a Science Policy Career with the Help of NSPN's Programs - Blog post about my experiences and training in science diplomacy and science policy.

December 2021: Investigating the world beyond academia (Mayo Alumni Magazine Issue 4) - Article about my career development internships at Mayo Clinic and experiences in science policy and science diplomacy.

October 2021: Immunologist visits with FHSU Spanish-speaking students - News article highlighting my visit to Fort Hays State University (FHSU) as invited speaker, where I talked about science communication and my career trajectory with Hispanic students.

September 2021: “Celebramos los logros de nuestra alumna Luz M. Cumba García” - News article by my alma mater “Universidad Ana G. Mendez Recinto de Cupey” highlighting my career achievements.

June 2021: Peer Coaches: Our Secret Ingredient in the Share Your Research (SYR) Workshop - Blog post highlighting the role of peer coaches during the 2021 iBiology Share Your Research (SYR) Science Communication Workshop.

May 2021: Meet My Research: Luz Milbeth Cumba Garcia - The “Meet My Research” series aims to showcase the research students from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science are involved with, the labs where they work, and their future goals.

March 2021: 2021 AAAS Student E-poster Competition Winners (Science Magazine Volume 371 Issue 6536) - AAAS Annual Meeting (Virtual Conference).

March 2021: 2021 AAAS Student E-poster Competition Winners - AAAS Annual Meeting (Virtual Conference).

February 2021: “Expertos piden cautela con estudio sobre la vacuna de Pfizer” - Interview with the Puerto Rican newspaper “El Nuevo Día” clarifying new study findings of the Pfizer vaccine.    

February 2021: “Peligroso cambio en la segunda dosis” - Interview with the Puerto Rican newspaper “El Nuevo Día” about the importance of getting the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

February 2021: Pedro Pierluisi: “Me puse la primera dosis de la vacuna. Ya debo tener los suficientes anticuerpos para combatir el virus” - Interview with the Center for Investigative Journalism about the immunology of COVID-19 vaccines and addressing some comments made by the governor of Puerto Rico.

January 2021: Inaugural SciPol Scholars Reflect on their Bootcamp Experience - Blog post about the NSPN Scholars Fellow experience.

January 2021: Infectious Passion: Diverse virologists and immunologists strive for new ways to fight disease - Interview with Diverse in Action Magazine about my career and COVID-19 science communication efforts.  

December 2020: Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) 2020 Science Defender - Nominated by UCS for my science communication efforts related to COVID-19.

October 2020: “Colección de Mujeres en STEM Semillas de Triunfo” - Largest virtual collection of profiles of Puerto Rican and Latina scientists that are part of the Seeds of Success online mentorship program for girls in Puerto Rico.

September 2020: Yale Ciencia Academy Fellows and Alumni respond to COVID-19 (English version) (Spanish version) - Column in Ciencia Puerto Rico summarizing science communication efforts by the Yale Ciencia fellows and alumni during the COVID-19 pandemic.

September 2020: The Young Scientist Seminars program is going virtual! - Blog post about winners of the iBiology Young Scientist Virtual Training Series.

June 2020: 1 Million Women In STEM (1MWIS) Campaign - The mission of this initiative is to spotlight 1 million women in science to provide visible role models and inspire the next generation of girls to get interested in science.

April 2020: “Científicas boricuas aportan a la educación en el hogar”- Review in the digital newspaper “Voces del Sur” of my “Scientists Online at Service” talk as part of the Ciencia Puerto Rico “Seeds of Success” Program.

March 2020: 2020 AAAS Student E-poster Competition Winners (Science Magazine Volume 367 Issue 6485) - AAAS Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.

March 2020: 2020 AAAS Student E-poster Competition Winners and Honorable Mentions - AAAS Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.

February 2020: Chatting with AAAS Travel Award Winners About Research, Goals and Advice.

October 2019: Advancing the science at Mayo Clinic: Giving women the tools to take off.

October 2019: Giving women the tools to take off (Mayo Alumni Magazine Issue 3).

March 2019: How PREP Can Prep You For Graduate School.

March 2019: “El trabuco de ciencia que representó a Borinquen en Washington D.C.” - Review of my participation at the 2019 AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

August 2018: Young investigators get their feet wet (Mayo Alumni Magazine Issue 2).

June 2016: “De la ciudad de la Alhambra a codearse con un premio Nobel” - Interview with the Spanish newspaper “IDEAL” about my career trajectory.

October 2015: “Joven boricua recorre el mundo con investigaciones científicas” - Interview with the Puerto Rican newspaper “El Nuevo Día” about my career trajectory.

September 2011: “SUAGM: Más allá del salón de clases” - Interview with the Puerto Rican newspaper “El Vocero” about my career trajectory.  

Radio, podcast, Facebook Live, and YouTube

October 2024: Making a Statement - Interview with State Magazine about my motivations for pursuing public service at the U.S. Department of State.

July 2024: Storytelling: A Way to Rebuild Science in the Public Mind - Episode of the AAAS “Sci on the Fly” podcast where I discuss practicing culturally-relevant science communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. My intervention begins at minute 15:00.

June 2024: Science in Careers in Foreign Affairs - Featured on the U.S. Department of State's Hispanic and Latin Employee Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies (HECFAA) YouTube channel. In this video, I share my journey as a scientist working in foreign affairs.

March 2024: "¡Qué es la que hay!" radio show - Interview on Radio Isla 1320 AM's "¡Qué es la que hay!" show, discussing my journey in science diplomacy, public policy, and biomedical sciences within the segment "Ciencia Boricua". My intervention begins at minute 24:00.

May 2023: “Dra. Luz M. Cumba García | GET by STEM UPR Ponce” - Video created by the student organization GET by STEM from University of Puerto Rico Ponce Campus about my career trajectory.

January 2022: "8vo Cafecito con STEAM y una Pizca de Vistazo" - Interview with the organizations "Vistazo a la Ciencia" and "STEAM 100X35" about my science communication, science policy, and science diplomacy efforts.

January 2022: "Hablemos de diplomacia científica con Luz Cumba García" - Interview with the Science Diplomacy Network in Latin America and the Caribbean (DiploCientifica) about one of my articles regarding women in science diplomacy and gender equality.

December 2021: Tiny but Mighty: Decoding Brain Tumors with Extracellular Vesicles - iBiology Share Your Research (SYR) video seminar about my thesis project in glioblastoma (GBM) extracellular vesicles (EVs).

November 2021: NSPS Panel: The Unspoken Public Health Crisis: Environmental Epidemiology - Moderator for "The Unspoken Public Health Crisis: Environmental Epidemiology" panel at the 2021 National Science Policy Network (NSPN) Symposium.

October 2021: Immunologist Visits FHSU Campus - Interview with Tiger Media Network highlighting my visit to Fort Hays State University as invited speaker, where I talked about science communication and my career trajectory with Hispanic students.

August 2021: “Primer aniversario DiploCientífica” - Panel about women in science diplomacy as part of the first anniversary of the Science Diplomacy Network in Latin America and the Caribbean (DiploCientífica).

March 2021: “De inmunóloga a comunicadora científica: recorriendo el mundo a través de la ciencia”- Seminar about my career trajectory, science communication, science policy, and science diplomacy efforts with the organization "NeuroBoricuas UPR-Cayey".

February 2021: “#CuidateCuidamePR​: Conceptos básicos sobre las vacunas de COVID-19” - Panel about basic concepts regarding COVID-19 vaccines. This conversation is part of "Cuídate, Cuídame", an educational campaign about COVID-19 created by Mercy Corps, Puerto Rico Public Health Trust, and Ciencia Puerto Rico. Sign interpreters included.

February 2021: “Más allá de la biología de las vacunas contra COVID-19” - Interview about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination campaigns in Puerto Rico.

January 2021: “Luz Cumba (@scitopia) te invita a vacunarte” - Video clip in collaboration with the science blog “Nibö” to motivate the community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

January 2021: “¿Cuáles son los ingredientes de las vacunas de COVID-19?” - Video clip explaining the ingredients of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. This clip is extracted from the panel “La vacuna para todos... en arroz y habichuelas”, organized by PRSPAN members.

December 2020: “La vacuna para todos... en arroz y habichuelas” - Panel organized by PRSPAN members about COVID-19 vaccines.

November 2020: A Year in Review - The National Science Policy Network 2019-2020 - Promo video for the National Science Policy Network (NSPN) highlighting their initiatives and programs, including my participation as a fellow of the SciPol Scholars Program and the Professional Development Fund.

September 2020: “COVID-19: De la respuesta inmunológica a la ruta de la vacunación” - Interview about COVID-19 with the Colombian educational organization "Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA)".

August 2020: “Manos a la tierra” Radio Show - Interview about the public policy initiative PR-SPAN and its role during the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico. Transmitted through WIPR am and Tunein Radio.

July 2020: “Cómo el COVID-19 ha influenciado nuestra manera de relacionarnos”- Interview about COVID-19 and my career trajectory with “Erika Michael Talks” blog.

May 2020: “Interferones y tormenta de citoquinas: Respuesta inmunológica a la COVID-19”; “Tratamientos actuales contra infecciones severas por COVID-19” - Video series about COVID-19 in collaboration with the science blog “Nibö”.

April 2020: “Recorriendo el mundo como científica boricua a través de la ciencia” - “Scientists Online at Service” talk. Seminar about my career trajectory to Puerto Rican girls enrolled in the “Seeds of Success” Program from Ciencia Puerto Rico.

April 2020: “Mitos y realidades sobre el COVID-19” - Interview with “Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES)” organization about COVID-19.

March 2020: “El Desahogo del Mediodía” Radio Show - Interview about COVID-19. Transmitted through ACTIVA 1520 am and WQBS 870 am.

March 2020: “Se Rascó Así: ¡El Happy Hour! Episodio #74”- Interview about COVID-19.

November 2019: In a Perfect Policy Podcast - Episode 2: Ideas Across the National Science Policy Network - Interview with the Catalysts for Science Policy Organization (University of Wisconsin - Madison).

November 2019: National Science Policy Symposium (NSPN) Promo Video 2019.

July 2019: Luz Cumba Garcia for the Neuroscience Scholars Program (NSP) - Why NSP: Opportunities and Mentors; Why NSP: Comradery and Relationships; Why NSP: Empowerment - Video series to promote the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) NSP Program.

November 2018: NSPN Annual Promo Video 2018.

May 2018: Luz Cumba Garcia at the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) StoryBooth 2018.

Webinars

January 2025: Navigating multicultural advocacy and diplomacy: insights from a scientist turned policy advocate - National Science Policy Network (NSPN) webinar about my career journey at the intersection of science, policy, and diplomacy for fellows of the NSPN’s Science Diplomacy Fellowship.

October 2024: From immunologist to science communicator and policy advisor: bridging science and policy - Webinar for the Ponce Health Sciences University’s G-RISE Program about my career journey.

October 2024: The role of science communication in the creation of evidence-informed public policies - Webinar with the Puerto Rican Society of Microbiologists on the role of science communication in evidence-informed policymaking, its impact on science diplomacy, and my career journey in these fields.

August 2024: Science to Action: Science Diplomacy - Webinar with the American Geophysical Union (AGU) about my journey from academia to science diplomacy.

 February 2024: Navigating multicultural advocacy and diplomacy: Insights from a scientist turned policy advocate - National Science Policy Network (NSPN) webinar about my career journey at the intersection of science, policy, and diplomacy.

November 2022: Immunology and science communication - Webinar about my career trajectory, research, and science communication experiences for undergraduate students from the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) organization - University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.

March 2021: Immunology at Mayo Clinic - Webinar about my career trajectory and research experience for undergraduate students from the Women in Natural Sciences (WINS) organization - University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.

October 2020: “Inmunología del COVID-19” - Webinar about COVID-19 for medical students from University of Panama.

October 2020: Latinxs in STEM - Webinar about my career trajectory organized by the student organization “Active Transformation Pathway (ATP)” - Universidad Ana G. Méndez Recinto de Cupey, San Juan, PR.

August 2020: Educational webinar for “COVID-19 Senior Ambassadors” from Centro Tyrone Guzman, a non-profit in Minneapolis, MN serving the Latino Community. 

July 2020: Educational webinar for “COVID-19 Youth Ambassadors” from Centro Tyrone Guzman, a non-profit in Minneapolis, MN serving the Latino Community.   

June 2020: “Aprendamos más sobre el COVID-19”- Webinar about COVID-19 for science major students from the “Medicine, Education & Development for Low-Income Families Everywhere (MEDLIFE)” Movement - Universidad Ana G. Méndez Recinto de Cupey, San Juan, PR.

May 2020: “Recorriendo el mundo como científica boricua a través de la ciencia” - Webinar about my career trajectory to cadets from the SER-PR-161 unit (Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary).

May 2020: “Hablemos del COVID-19 con los niños” - Webinar about COVID-19 for third graders from the XXI Century School Abelardo Díaz Morales in Caguas, PR.

April 2020: “La respuesta inmunológica a COVID-19: qué sabemos y cómo podría contribuir a la creación de vacunas” - Webinar about COVID-19 for science major students from Universidad Ana G. Méndez Recinto de Cupey in San Juan, PR.

PUBLICATIONS  (See PubMed full list)

• Jorge A. Huete-Pérez, Alma Cristal Hernandez-Mondragon, Douglas S. Massey, Luz M. Cumba García, Bernard Amadei, Nadia De Leon Sautu, Maria L. Acosta, Omar Asensio, John Boright, Serena Cosgrove, Emilio Hernandez Hernandez, María Lopez-Selva, Juan L. Manfredi, Fanor Mondragon, Jose M. Natera, Oscar C. Picardo Joao, Angelo Rivero Santos, Harold O. Rocha. Catalyzing sustainable development: insights from the international workshop on STI policies and innovation systems in Central America. Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics. 2024. PMID: 39722835
• Reina Camacho Toro, Luz M. Cumba Garcia, Laura A. Galvis, Luisa F. Echeverría-King, Branislav Pantovic, Claudia Alarcon-Lopez, Veronica Rossana Suarez, Pedro Figueroa, Ivonne Torres-Atencio, Claudia Widmaier, Tatiana Rodrigues Fraga, Susan Benavides. The needed link between open science and science diplomacy - A Latin American perspective. Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics. 2024. PMID: 38903656
• Abudumijiti Zack Aibaidula, Cori E Fain, Luz M. Cumba Garcia, Annelise Wier, Samantha M Bouchal, Megan M Bauman, Mi-Yeon Jung, Jann N Sarkaria, Aaron J Johnson, Ian F Parney. Spectral flow cytometry identifies distinct nonneoplastic plasma extracellular vesicle phenotype in glioblastoma patients. Neurooncol Adv. 2023 Jan-Dec; Volume 5, Issue 1. PMID: 37638345
• Luz M. Cumba Garcia, Samantha M. Bouchal, Megan M. Bauman, Ian F. Parney. Advancements and technical considerations for extracellular vesicle isolation and biomarker identification in glioblastoma. Neurosurgery. Neurosurgery. 2023 Jul; Volume 93, Issue 1, Pages 33-42. PMID: 36749103 (Selected as the Neurosurgery journal cover)
• Mi-Yeon Jung, Abudumijiti Aibaidula, Desmond A. Brown, Benjamin T. Himes, Luz M. Cumba Garcia, Ian F Parney. Superinduction of immunosuppressive glioblastoma extracellular vesicles by IFN-γ through PD-L1 and IDO1. Neurooncol Adv. 2022 Jan-Dec; Volume 4, Issue 1. PMID: 35990703 
• Ross C. Puffer, Luz M. Cumba Garcia, Benjamin T. Himes, Mi-Yeon Jung, Frederic B. Meyer, David O. Okonkwo, and Ian F. Parney. Plasma ependen ton vesicles as a source of biomarkers in traumatic brain injury. J Neurosurg. 2020 Jul; Volume 134, Issue 6, Pages 1921-1928. PMID: 32707544
• Benjamin T. Himes, Timothy E. Peterson, Tristan de Mooij, Luz M. Cumba Garcia, Mi-Yeon Jung, Sarah Uhm, David Yan, Jasmine Tyson, Helen J. L. Li, Daniel Parney, Mina Abukhadra, Michael P. Gustafson, Allan B. Dietz, Aaron J. Johnson, Haidong Dong, Rachel L. Maus, Svetomir Markovic, Fabrice Lucien, Ian F. Parney. The Role of Extracellular Vesicles and PD-L1 in Glioblastoma-Mediated Immunosuppressive Monocyte Induction. Neuro-Oncology. 2020 Feb; Volume 22, Issue 7, Pages 967–978. PMID: 32080744
• Alexandra J. Greenberg-Worisek, Katherine E. Cornelius, Luz Cumba Garcia, Felicity T. Enders, Nilay D. Shah and Anthony J. Windebank. Translating innovation in biomedical research: Design and delivery of a competency-based regulatory science course. J Clin Transl Sci. 2019 Dec; Volume 4, Issue 1, Pages 8-15. PMID: 32257405
• Luz M. Cumba Garcia, Timothy E. Peterson, Mario A. Cepeda, Aaron J. Johnson, Ian F. Parney. Isolation and analysis of plasma-derived exosomes in patients with glioma. Frontiers in Oncology. 2019 Jul; Volume 9:651. PMID: 31380286
• Sonia García-Rodríguez, Antonio Rosal-Vela, Davide Botta, Luz M. Cumba Garcia, Esther Zumaquero, Verónica Prados-Maniviesa, Daniela Cerezo-Wallis, Nicola Lo Buono, José-Ángel Robles-Guirado, Salvador Guerrero, Elena González-Paredes, Eduardo Andrés-León, Ángel Corbí, Matthias Mack, Friedrich Koch-Nolte, Ramón Merino, Mercedes Zubiaur, Frances E. Lund, and Jaime Sancho. CD38 promotes pristane-induced chronic inflammation and increases susceptibility to experimental lupus epen apoptosis-driven TRPM2- dependent mechanism. Scientific Reports, Volume 8, Article number: 3357 (2018). PMID: 29463868
• April M. Huseby Kelcher, Pascal A. Atanga, Jeffrey D. Gamez, Luz M. Cumba Garcia, Stephanie J. Teclaw, Kevin D. Pavelko, Slobodan I. Macura, Aaron J. Johnson. Brain atrophy in picornavirus-infected FVB mice is dependent on the H-2Db class I molecule. FASEB J. 2017 Jun; Volume 31, Issue 6, Pages 2267-2275. PMID: 28188174
• Luz M. Cumba Garcia, April M. Huseby Kelcher, Courtney S. Malo, Aaron J. Johnson. Superior isolation of antigen-specific brain infiltrating T cells using manual homogenization technique. 2016. Journal of Immunological Methods. J Immunol Methods. 2016 Dec; Volume 439, Pages 23-28. PMID: 27623324
• Sepúlveda-Torres L Del C, De La Rosa A, Cumba L, Boukli N, Ríos-Olivares E, Cubano LA. Prevalence of drug resistance and associated mutations in a population of HIV-1(+) Puerto Ricans: 2006-2010. AIDS Res Treat. 2012; 2012:934041. PMID: 22593823
• Cubano LA, Cumba L, del Sepúlveda-Torres LC, Boukli N, Ríos-Olivares E. Prevalence of drug resistance and associated mutations in a population of HIV-1+ Puerto Ricans in 2005. Bol Asoc Med P R. 2010 Jul-Sep; 102(3):13-7. PMID: 23875516

PEER REVIEW EXPERIENCE

2023: Anonymous peer reviewer for a systematic review article in the field of glioblastoma extracellular vesicles and liquid biopsies (Neuro-Oncology Advances Journal)

PATENTS

Cumba Garcia, Luz M; Parney, Ian F. 2018. Methods And Materials For Assessing And Treating Cancer. USA. Application Number: 16762976. International Application Number: PCT/US2018/060040. Filed 05/11/2020. Patent pending

SELECTED HONORS AND AWARDS

2022: Featured in a special exhibit at the C3TEC museum in Caguas, PR that celebrates 37 Puerto Rican women in STEM

2022: Selected as the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MCGSBS) Commencement student speaker for the 2022 Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine & MCGSBS Minnesota Commencement

2021: “First Place” at the 2021 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Student E-Poster Competition, held at the AAAS Conference - Virtual Event. Project: “Identifying extracellular vesicles from glioblastoma or non-neoplastic cells via imaging flow cytometry”

2021: Accepted into the First Edition of the Science Diplomacy Course organized by the Embassy of Ecuador in India

2020: Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) 2020 Science Defender

2020: “Runner-up” at the 2020 Gattle Neurosurgery Research Symposium, held at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN - Virtual event. Project: “Identifying extracellular vesicles from glioblastoma or non-neoplastic cells via imaging flow cytometry”

2020: “Honorable mention” at the 2020 AAAS Student E-Poster Competition, held at the AAAS Conference in Seattle, WA. Project: “Plasma extracellular vesicle miRNA signatures in GBM patients receiving an experimental immunotherapy”

2020: American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Minority Scientist Travel Award and Trainee Poster Award to attend the 2020 AAI Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii (Conference canceled due to COVID-19). Project: “Immunological responses through miRNA signatures in GBM plasma extracellular vesicles from patients receiving experimental immunotherapy”

2020: Joshua E. Neimark Memorial Travel Assistance Award to attend the 2020 AAAS Conference in Seattle, WA

2019: National Science Policy Network (NSPN) Professional Development Award

2019: MCGSBS Career Development Internship (CDI) Travel Award to attend the AAAS CASE Workshop in Washington, DC (Canceled due to COVID-19)

2019: Minority Travel Award to attend the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Public Policy Institute in Washington, DC

2019: International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) US-Canada Regional Committee (USRC) Fellowship for Neuroscience Scholars Program (NSP) to attend the 2019 International Society of Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) Meeting in Kyoto, Japan

2019: “Young Investigator Award” and Scholarship to attend the 2019 ISEV Meeting in Kyoto, Japan

2018: “Top Poster Award” at the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Conference in New Orleans, Lousiana. Project: “miRNA signature derived from GBM plasma exosomes as a diagnostic biomarker”

2018: Travel Award to attend the 3rd International Conference of Women in Science without Borders (WISWB) - Cairo, Egypt

2018: Travel award for the 2018 NSPN Annual Symposium - Rockefeller University, NY

2018: Early Career Investigator Scholarship Award sponsored by the Brandt Family Scholars Fund - Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM) Conference - Rochester, MN

2018: AAI Trainee Abstract Award to attend the 2018 AAI Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas. Project: “Optimized isolation of plasma extracellular vesicles for use as potential biomarkers in patients with glioblastoma”

2017: Selected to participate in the Purdue online course “Big Data for Translational Omics Research”. Travel award to on-site workshop included (March 30-31, 2018 - West Lafayette, Indiana)

2017: Minorities Affairs Committee (MAC) Travel Award to attend the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) meeting in Philadelphia, PA

2017: “Runner-up” 3-minute thesis (3MT) competition, MCGSBS Symposium

2017: Travel Award for the 2017 James W. Freston Single Topic Conference-Extracellular Vesicles: Biology, Translation and Clinical Applications in GI disorders at Saint Paul, MN

2017: Travel Scholarship to the StratCan Interactive Summer School on Cancer Genomics at Karolinska Institutet, and the High Throughput Biology meeting at the Nobel Forum - Stockholm, Sweden  

2016: “Best Immunology Poster Presentation” at the MCGSBS Symposium. Project: “Type 2 immune responses in mouse lung cells are differently induced by the full-length and processed isoforms of IL-33” (Ph.D. rotation)

2016: Travel scholarship to the Society for Advance of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Conference in Long Beach, California

2015: 1 of the 10 outstanding young people of Puerto Rico - Junior Chamber International of Puerto Rico (JCI) and The Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) Award

2015: Travel scholarship to the SACNAS Conference in Washington, DC

2014: Travel scholarship to the SACNAS Conference in Los Angeles, California

2012: “Best Graduate Oral Presentation” at the Ana G. Méndez University System Symposium, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Project: “Reliability of skeletal muscle protein α – actin as a marker for skeletal muscle damage in athletes”

2012: Travel scholarship to the SACNAS Conference in Seattle, Washington

2012: “Ana G. Méndez Honor Medal” - Graduation Ceremony, Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan, PR

2012: Excellence Award - “Success Stories”, Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan, PR

2012: Honorific Mention in Literature Contest (Essay Category) at Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan, PR

2012: “Second place in Poster Presentation” at the 2012 Tenth Annual MGE@MSA Student Research Conference at Tempe, Arizona. Project: “Prevalence of Drug Resistance and Associated Mutations in HIV- Positive Puerto Ricans: Sex Variations”

2012: Travel Scholarship to the MGE@MSA Conference at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona

2011: Travel scholarship to the SACNAS Conference in San José, California

2011: “Third place in Poster Presentation” at the 2011 MGE@MSA Conference at Tempe, Arizona. Project: “Antigen-specific T cell response in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model

2011: “Best Oral Presentation” at the 68th Joint Annual Meeting of Beta Kappa Chi (BKX) and the National Institute of Science (NIS) in Atlanta, Georgia. Project: “Antigen-specific T cell response in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model

2011: Travel scholarship to the 68th Joint Annual NIS/BKX meeting at Atlanta, Georgia

2011: Travel Scholarship to the MGE@MSA Conference at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona

2010: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Travel Award to attend the SACNAS Conference at Anaheim, California

2010: Travel scholarship to attend the 67th Joint Annual NIS/BKX meeting at New Orleans, Lousiana

2009: Travel scholarship to attend the SACNAS Conference in Dallas, Texas

2008: Travel scholarship to attend the SACNAS Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCES

August 2014 - April 2015: Purification and characterization of an amyloidogenic immunoglobulin light chain protein. (Advisor: Dr. Marina Ramirez-Alvarado) - Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Fellowship: PREP/IMSD Program

Summer 2012 (June 22 - August 16): Reliability of skeletal muscle protein α - actin as a marker for skeletal muscle damage in athletes. (Advisors: Dr. Luiz Claudio Cameron & Dr. Wagner Coelho) - Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Summer 2011 (May 31 - July 31): Isolation of Multiple TT Virus Genotypes from Cord Blood:  Role in the Pathogenesis of Leukemia and Lymphomas. (Advisors: Dr. Harald zur Hausen & Dr. Ethel-Michele de Villiers) - German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany

Fellowship: DKFZ Summer Internship Program

Summer 2010 (May 31- July 31): Antigen-specific T cell response in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. (Advisor: Dr. Jaime Sancho-López) - Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, Granada, Spain

Fellowship: “Beca de introducción a la investigación JAE-Intro” - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)

August 2009 - May 2012: HRP cDNA expression: a label for modern electron microscopy. (Advisor: Dr. Thomas Schikorski) - Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Summer 2009 (May 31 - July 31): Oxidative enzyme activity in the root system of sunflower Helianthus annuus L. (Advisor: Dr. Lawrence Davis) - Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas

Fellowship: Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (SUROP)

SELECTED RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS AND PARTICIPATIONS

Presentations at national and international conferences

January 2021: Identifying extracellular vesicles from glioblastoma or non-neoplastic cells via imaging flow cytometry, at the 2021 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Meeting - Virtual event (E-Poster)

November 2020: Identifying extracellular vesicles from glioblastoma or non-neoplastic cells via imaging flow cytometry, at the 2020 Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Conference - Virtual event (E-Poster)

February 2020: Plasma extracellular vesicle miRNA signatures in GBM patients receiving an experimental immunotherapy, at the 2020 AAAS Meeting - Seattle, WA (E-Poster)

November 2019: Plasma extracellular vesicle miRNA signatures in GBM patients receiving an experimental immunotherapy, at the 2019 SNO Conference - Phoenix, AZ

April 2019: miRNA signature derived from GBM plasma exosomes as a diagnostic biomarker, at the 2019  International Society of Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) Meeting - Kyoto, Japan (Oral Presentation)

March 2019: miRNA signature derived from GBM plasma exosomes as a diagnostic biomarker, at the 3rd International Conference of Women in Science without Borders (WISWB) - Cairo, Egypt (Oral Presentation)

February 2019: miRNA and proteomic signatures as diagnostic biomarkers in GBM plasma exosomes, at the 2019 AAAS Meeting - Washington, D.C. (E-Poster)

November 2018: miRNA signature derived from GBM plasma exosomes as a diagnostic biomarker, at the 2018 SNO Conference - New Orleans, Louisiana

November 2018: miRNA signature derived from GBM plasma exosomes as a diagnostic biomarker, at the 2018 Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Conference - San Diego, California

September 2018: miRNA signature derived from GBM plasma exosomes as a diagnostic biomarker, at the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM) Conference -Rochester, MN (Poster and Oral Presentation)

May 2018: Optimized isolation of plasma extracellular vesicles for use as potential biomarkers in patients with glioblastoma, at the 2018 American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Conference - Austin, TX (Poster and Oral Presentation)

December 2017: Optimized isolation of plasma extracellular vesicles for use as potential biomarkers in patients with glioblastoma, at the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Conference - Philadelphia, PA

November 2017: Optimized isolation of plasma extracellular vesicles for use as potential biomarkers in patients with glioblastoma, at the 2017 SNO Conference - San Francisco, CA

November 2017: Optimized isolation of plasma extracellular vesicles for use as potential biomarkers in patients with glioblastoma, at the 2017 SfN Conference - Washington, DC

September 2017: Optimized isolation of plasma extracellular vesicles for use as potential biomarkers in patients with glioblastoma, at the 2017 James W. Freston Single Topic Conference - Extracellular Vesicles: Biology, Translation and Clinical Applications in GI disorders - Saint Paul, MN

November 2016: Type 2 immune responses in mouse lung cells are differently induced by the full-length and processed isoforms of IL-33, at the 45th Annual Autumn Immunology Conference (AIC) 2016 - Chicago, IL. (Poster and oral presentation)

May 2016: Superior isolation of activated brain infiltrating T cells using manual homogenization technique, at the 2016 AAI Conference - Seattle, WA

November 2015: Superior isolation of activated brain infiltrating T cells using manual homogenization technique, at the 44th AIC 2015 - Chicago, IL. (Poster and Oral Presentation)

Conferences and workshop attendance

November 2024: Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI)’s Science Diplomacy and Innovation workshop - Washington, DC

June 2023: Attended the Sustainability Research and Innovation (SRI) Congress - Panama City, Panama

March 2023: Attended the 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting - Washington, DC

October 2022: Attended the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Conference - San Juan, PR

February 2022: Attended the 2022 AAAS Annual Meeting - Virtual event

November 2021: Attended the National Science Policy Network (NSPN) Symposium - Virtual event

September 2021: Attended the AAAS Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop - Virtual event

November 2020: Attended the NSPN Symposium - Virtual event

October 2020: Attended the 45th AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy - Virtual event

November 2019: Attended the NSPN Symposium - Madison, WI  

October 2019: Attended the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Public Policy Institute - Washington, DC

July 2019: Attended the Neuroscience Scholars Program (NSP) Summer Conference: “Preparing the Next Generation of Neuroscience Leaders”- Washington, DC (Society for Neuroscience- SfN)

November 2018: Attended the NSPN Symposium – New York, NY

July 2017: Attended the AAI Advanced Immunology Course, at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, MA

March 2017: Attended the 2017 Writing for Biomedical Publication, CCaTS Annual Workshop - Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

February 2017: Attended the 2017 AAAS Meeting - Boston, Massachusetts (Travel Scholarship sponsored by Yale Ciencia Academy to participate in career development workshops)

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Fluent in English and Spanish. Knowledge of French and Portuguese.

EXPERTISE

●        Global Health Policy & Diplomacy

●        Global Regulatory Affairs

●        Science & Technology Policy

●        Sustainability & Health Systems Strengthening

●        International Research Collaboration

●        Science Communication & Advocacy