ASM Programs and Publishing
ASM is committed to celebrating, supporting and elevating Hispanic and Latine scientists in STEM. In 2020, ASM published a collection of papers in the (JMBE), which includes and in remote learning faced during COVID-19 by students who are first-generation and from historically underrepresented groups.
Members of the Puerto Rico Society of Microbiologists, an ASM branch, created the first and only Spanish language session “" at ASM Microbe, and the branch produces ASM’s Spanish language podcast “El Mundo de Microbios.” The branch is also highly engaged in supporting the next generation of scientists through participation in the (ABRCMS), one of the largest conferences bringing together historically underrepresented students in STEM, a quarter of whom identify as Hispanic and/or Latine.
Committing to Inclusive Diversity with Equity, Access and Accountability (IDEAA)
As we recognize Hispanic and Latine scientists and their achievements, we also acknowledge remaining barriers that must be addressed in the field. According to ASM’s 2020 DEI Taskforce Report survey, 12% of respondents identify as Hispanic and/or Latine. This is not representative of the U.S. population, with . Our survey also indicated the need for increased Hispanic/Latine leadership within ASM and the desire for mentorship opportunities among students and early career scientists from the Hispanic and Latine communities. 
To address these gaps, we aim to increase diversity within our leadership, volunteer and mentorship positions. We launched the Future Leaders Mentoring Fellowship, which supports master’s and doctoral graduate students from underrepresented groups in exploring leadership opportunities in the microbial sciences. MicroBio-LEAP, a national Science Foundation (NSF) funded project led by ASM, will complement this programming as it focuses on driving culture changes in STEM by training and supporting senior-level leaders as IDEAA champions. We also developed an open call process on our volunteer page to increase equitable access to ASM’s opportunities and attract a more diverse applicant pool.
A Boricua Scientist Educator: From Carolina, Puerto Rico to North Carolina
Verónica A. Segarra, Ph.D., is a Hispanic/Latina scientist, artist, professor and science outreach enthusiast. Segarra celebrates her Hispanic culture by bringing her authentic self into all that she does. Hispanic Heritage Month serves as an opportunity for her to add a level of intentionality to celebrating her heritage.
Working in Academia With Mentorship at the Forefront
Jorge Vidal, Ph.D., studies the molecular pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae and has many accomplishments in mentoring. We celebrate his career as associate professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Microbes and Social Equity: The Microbial Components of Social, Environmental and Health Justice
At ASM Microbe 2022, Drs. Monica Trujillo, Ariangela Kozik and Carla Bonilla emphasized that every aspect of human life—from access to food, housing and health care—impacts how we interact with microbes and microbial ecosystems.
Research Supports Patient Care: Spotlight on Nicole Jimenez
Through her extensive research on various gynecologic conditions, Nicole Jimenez, Ph.D., underscores the critical need for research in this under-studied domain to develop diagnostics and treatment plans.
The Science of Food Safety: Spotlight on Candace Cole
From analyzing drug-resistant bacteria on dairy farms to tracking unresolved foodborne outbreaks, Candace Cole, Ph.D., is on a quest to leverage microbiology to support food safety.
Empowering Others: Spotlight on Dioscaris R. Garcia
Dioscaris Garcia, Ph.D., is dedicated to creating a legacy that isn't merely about scientific achievements, but also becoming a beacon of hope, an advocate for inclusivity and a testament to the transformative power of mentorship.
Science misinformation represents a significant challenge for the scientific community, and Hispanic communities are particularly vulnerable due to language barriers and the lack of accessible information in Spanish. In this JMBE article, learn about +Ciencia, the first science communication training program in Spanish for Hispanic high school and undergraduate students in Puerto Rico, which aims to provide training and education on science communication for Hispanic minorities through experiential and collaborative learning.
Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) is a pedagogical approach that has been shown to benefit all students, especially underrepresented students and peer leaders in STEM. Learn more about a JMBE study that evaluated the impact of PLTL on peer leaders from a controlled implementation in general biology, general chemistry and statistics courses at a Hispanic-serving, minority-serving institution.
Maria Elena Bottazzi, Ph.D., discusses Hispanic leadership in vaccine sciences while advocating for women in biotechnology in this mBio article.
IBS Biomarkers and Diagnostic Diapers With Maria Eugenia Inda-Webb
Maria Eugenia Inda-Webb, Ph.D., Pew Postdoctoral Fellow working in the Synthetic Biology Center at MIT builds biosensors to diagnose and treat inflammatory disorders in the gut, like inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. She discusses how “wearables,” like diagnostic diapers and nursing pads could help monitor microbiome development to treat the diseases of tomorrow.
Recorded at ASM Microbe 2023, Cesar A. Arias, Ph.D., has a conversation with Maria Elena Bottazzi, Ph.D., about the journey and role of women from historically underrepresented groups in science and the current challenges to delivering science and global health equitably.
Erika Espinosa-Ortiz, Ph.D., discusses how microbes like fungi and bacteria can be harnessed to create practical materials that can substitute for cement.
Get Involved at ASM
Interested in becoming involved with ASM’s DEI efforts?
- Explore opportunities to volunteer for ASM’s IDEAA web writing team.
- Volunteer as a committee member.