Robert Fernandez is a fifth-year graduate student in the department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. Robert is studying signaling through G protein coupled neurotransmitter receptors, using C. elegans as a model system in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Koelle. Robert has made many contributions to the Yale community and underrepresented minority student groups. He started a graduate student mentorship program in MB&B and he is a mentor for the STARS community, a program for Yale underrepresented minority students. Robert is the founder of a growing online resource called Científico Latino that is a hub for information about fellowships, summer programs, post-baccalaureate research education programs and other useful information about education in the STEM fields. Robert states that one of his goals is to increase diversity in the sciences.
Stephanie Noble is a fifth-year graduate student in the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program and is working in the laboratory of Dr. Todd Constable. Stephanie’s research has contributed to a better understanding of the reliability of fMRI functional connectivity. In addition, her thesis focuses on investigating the validity of fMRI activation mapping. Stephanie’s outreach activities have broadly involved reaching out to underrepresented minority groups and women in science. She has contributed to groups such as the Yale Graduate Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program Outreach, Women in Science at Yale, the Yale Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity, La Casa Cultural programs, and ManyMentors. Stephanie has also been actively involved in the Yale Minority Scientist Research Network, offering advice and mentorship to other graduate students.