Venessa Cerda
As a Mexican American woman raised bi-culturally on the South Texas border, I am a member of a largely underrepresented group of individuals pursuing a scientific research career. I was the only student from my high school graduating class to pursue a PhD and move on to a postdoctoral position in STEM. I lean heavily on this experience as I strive to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in all facets of my work. As I navigated my own research career, hearing career stories of other scientists helped me understand the realistic aspects of life in academia. With this in mind, I aim to build a community with diverse groups of peers, and advocate for their success at all stages of their career. I have strong experience promoting representation in science. I reach out to my home community on the South Texas border yearly, participating in interviews and presentations, encouraging students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to pursue STEM-related careers. I continue to be involved with organizations advocating for diversity in research, including the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). Under my funding mechanism, I am also tightly connected to the NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Network, and regularly attend their workshops aimed at diversity. My research focuses on Spanish-English bilingual children, a population that is underrepresented and understudied in developmental research. Overall, I hope to continue to support inclusivity and representation within the Vanderbilt Postdoc Community!
Lidiana de Moraes
Lidiana de Moraes is a Ph.D. in Literary, Cultural, and Linguistic Studies and part of Vanderbilt's Collaborative Humanities program (2022-2025), housed in the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (CLACX). In her research and teaching, she explores different perspectives of social justice in Latin American and Lusophone contexts through the lenses of cultural production, including music and film. At Vanderbilt, she teaches classes such as Conceptualizing Social Justice in Latin America and Music is Power, focusing on fostering awareness towards diversity, equity, and equality; thus the reason why she is interested in expanding her work beyond the classroom as part of the Executive Board of Postdoctoral Fellows. De Moraes has actively engaged in initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout her academic journey. She has shown commitment to addressing the challenges individuals from historically marginalized or underrepresented communities face in the academic world, as she served for four years as a senator of the Graduate Students Association of her alma mater, three years as a member of the Social and Civic Engagement group, and as chair of the committee created to allocate funds for graduate students. As a result of her advocacy for students, she was recognized with the Graduating Leadership Award (2002). As part of the postdoctoral life at Vanderbilt, De Moraes hopes to work on amplifying diverse voices and perspectives, prioritizing creating a safe space where postdocs can express themselves, knowing they will be heard, as we work as a community eager to contribute to the growth and well-being of the postdoc community at Vanderbilt University and create an environment that fosters a culture of inclusivity and opportunities.
Haya Hayek
I am writing to express my strong interest in the position of Chair of the Advocacy and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. With my extensive experience in student leadership and my unique perspective as a physician from the Middle East, I am confident in my ability to promote inclusivity and advocate for equity within this research community. As a former Vice President of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) in Jordan, I have successfully advocated for the rights and well-being of students from diverse backgrounds. In this role, I collaborated with externals, like the World Health Organization and Ministry of Health, developed initiatives, and implemented programs to address pressing issues such as gender equality, accessibility, mental health, and inclusivity in medical education. These experiences have equipped me with valuable skills in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and policy implementation. Furthermore, serving as the student body president, I had the privilege of leading and advocating for students of various backgrounds and ages. This experience sharpened my ability to actively listen, understand diverse perspectives, and implement inclusive policies and programs. I am passionate about creating an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and supported. As a queer Arab woman, I intimately understand the challenges and barriers faced by individuals from minority communities. I am committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive. My personal experiences fuel my drive to advocate for underrepresented groups and ensure their voices are heard. If given the opportunity to serve as the Chair, I will bring a proactive approach to promoting advocacy and fostering a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the community. I am dedicated to collaborating with fellow postdocs, listening to their needs, and implementing meaningful initiatives that address the unique challenges faced by individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Madushika Wimalarathne
My experiences as a postdoctoral researcher have provided unique experiences and challenges that I faced as an early-career scholars. As an immigrant woman from under representative community,I have seen undergraduates ,graduate students and postgraduates struggle to access resources, face implicit biases, discriminations and have limited opportunities for professional development. These experiences have highlighted the urgent need for robust advocacy and promote their well-being and I believe that I can contribute the most.