What do you consider your hometown, and how has it shaped who you are today?
I grew up in South Florida and consider the whole region my hometown. South Florida, particularly Miami, is a beautiful, diverse mix of individuals from all ethnic backgrounds and walks of life. Growing up in a cosmopolitan area, intimately surrounded by Latiné culture, particularly Cuban culture, has shaped all aspects of my identity and the work I find meaningful to conduct. I grew up hearing the immigration history of Cuban refugees and seeing the ways in which this history manifested in mental and physical health outcomes within my own community. This eventually spurred my interest in conducting community-based health-related research with my community.
Can you tell us about your current research at Dartmouth? What do you find most exciting or meaningful about your work?
My current research project at Dartmouth seeks to investigate the physical embodiment of social experiences using genetics and genomics. I work with Latiné people in understanding their experiences in the United States as it relates to their immigration history, mental wellbeing, experiences with political stress, and sources of structural and social support. I use tools within the fields of epigenetics and genetics to measure biological aging and compare aging profiles against self-reported stressors and sources of support. The purpose of this research is to investigate how both positive and negative social experiences are inscribed in the body, and the implications this may have in understanding inequities in the manifestation of chronic diseases within marginalized populations.
The most meaningful aspect of my work is getting the opportunity to work with my own community of Latiné immigrants and their descendants. My work is community-based, meaning my research projects, ideas, interpretations, and consultations intimately involve members of my community to which my work directly applies to and affects.
What is your academic background? Where did you complete your graduate studies, and what led you to pursue a postdoc?
I received my undergraduate degrees in 2015 from the University of Florida (UF), majoring in biology and anthropology. I took two years off working as a science educator at the Center for Precollegiate Education and Training also at UF. I enrolled in my graduate program pursuing a PhD in anthropology at Penn State University (PSU). I received my master's from PSU in 2019 and my PhD in 2024.
During my graduate training, I applied for and received a Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award for a Diverse Genomics Workforce (F99/K00) from the National Human Genome Research Institute (part of the NIH). This fellowship provided me with monetary support to complete the last two years of my graduate program and funding for three years of a postdoctoral position, including pay, benefits, and research expenses. I knew I wanted to continue my research program after I graduated with my PhD and this award made that possible for me.
What drew you to Dartmouth for your postdoctoral experience?
I was drawn to Dartmouth because of the work of Dr. Zaneta Thayer, Associate Professor in anthropology. Her approach to incorporating epigenetics in the study of human health was exactly the next step of my research program that I was looking for. As my previous work centered on associations between social experiences and adverse physical health outcomes, I became interested in what the process of embodiment of social experiences looked like. Dr. Thayer's work addressed exactly this, while also including a much-needed perspective on the role of positive social experiences and social support within this embodiment.
Additionally, I was drawn to work at Dartmouth because of the opportunity to work at a smaller, liberal arts focused institution. My previous institutions were large, research-focused institutions, which at times felt bureaucratic and difficult to navigate. I also did not have the opportunity to develop and teach college courses in my previous positions and wanted to gain these skills at an institution that deeply focuses on teaching. I felt that Dartmouth was an excellent choice for both my future research directions and professional growth.
You received a Postdoc Professional Development Award this year. How did this opportunity enhance your professional growth or advance your work?
As a postdoc, networking with colleagues and professionals is an essential component of my development as a research scientist and my future in this profession. I used the Postdoc Professional Development Award to attend the annual conferences for the Human Biology Association (HBA) and the American Association of Biological Anthropologists (AABA), which took place from March 12-15, 2025. During these conferences, I met individuals that are passionate about reducing barriers for members of marginalized communities within our field (through my inclusion as a Faculty Scholar at the AABA Increasing Diversity in the Anthropological Sciences (IDEAS) program), was referred to faculty and science-related positions (one of which I landed an in-person interview for), and networked with scientists also employing community-based research methods (which resulted in the development and acceptance of a symposium on community-based research in biological anthropology to be hosted during the SACNAS NDiSTEM 2025 Conference in October and November 2025). I would not have had these successes in networking had it not been for this award, of which I am incredibly grateful to have received.
What are some key skills, perspectives or experiences you've gained during your postdoc that you think will be especially valuable in your next career step?
The most important skills I have gained during my postdoc experience are those related to problem solving, resilience, and community connection. My identity, community, research, and research program are currently under attack by the federal government. Because of these attacks, I've had to consistently pivot different aspects of my project to both better reflect the real-time stressors my community is experiencing and continue this work in the face of potential cuts to grant funds and my salary. These experiences have been incredibly challenging personally and professionally, as these two seemingly separate aspects of my life are deeply intertwined. I have been so lucky to have the support of my mentor, department, college, colleagues, family and friends to help me through this time. It is the very community that I am working with that has shown up for me unwaveringly during the most difficult moments of my postdoc experience.
Developing these skills is essential in moving towards the next step of my career, where I hope to continue to produce scholarship that challenges social norms, advocates for marginalized peoples, and works in collaboration with community in an equitable and loving capacity.
What are your career goals after your postdoc?
After my postdoc, I want to continue to do health-related research work in service of the communities I work with. I like to think about my future career being included in my role in the community. I feel that understanding health and the social and environmental factors that affect it can be used to support community-based grassroots level efforts for the betterment of all peoples. I would like to contribute to this mission through my research work and beyond.
Which resources, career support programs, or professional development opportunities at Dartmouth have been most valuable to you, and how have they impacted your experience?
Dartmouth has provided me with a wealth of resources and professional development opportunities that have been invaluable to me during my postdoc experience. I received an award from the Claire Garber Goodman Fund through the anthropology department. This grant is covering research expenses related to my postdoc project and provides funds to hire a research assistant, who is also my mentee.
I have received the majority of my teaching training from the Dartmouth Center for the Advancement of Learning (DCAL). I have undergone training related to teaching neurodiverse students, am actively participating in their Course Design Institute to design an anthropology course on Human Biological Variation I am teaching in the Fall term, and will participate in their GenAI Institute to learn how to work with and implement generative AI in the classroom.
These opportunities have allowed me to bolster my research work and mentor a research assistant that aims to pursue an MD-PhD. I am also gaining valuable teaching skills through DCAL to be an effective and inclusive course designer and instructor.
Beyond research, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy in the Upper Valley?
I am a remote postdoc (I work and live in Miami, FL) but will be living in the Upper Valley during the Fall 2025 term. I'm most excited to enjoy the fall foliage and explore nature with my pets in tow. At home, I enjoy the sun and warm weather Florida provides, painting my nails using niche, small-batch nail polishes, and cooking for my friends and family.
