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100 inspiring Black scientists in America

Posted by Antentor O. Hinton Jr.

100-inspiring-black-scientists-featured-final

A few months ago, an African-American colleague of mine was speaking with an undergraduate student. During the conversation, the student raised two poignant questions: (1) are there any other Black science professors, and (2) if they do exist, why aren’t we learning about their accomplishments in our curriculum?

Conversation like this are all too common, and if we don’t this perception, young Black scientists won’t realize the amazing legacy they come from. When Dr. Saboor raised this conversation with me, I immediately acted. There’s a plethora of Black scientists who make significant contributions to science, but many of them are unknown to the masses. It’s imperative that young Black scientists know about the myriad accomplished scientists from African, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latinx, and African-American backgrounds in the fields of life sciences, chemistry, engineering, and physics.

To provide some revelation and encouragement to existing and forthcoming generations of scientists, I worked with my colleagues Zer Vue and Haysetta Shuler to compile a list of 100 inspiring Black scientists. We’ve included 75 established investigators that range from tenure track Assistant Professors to Associate Professors and Full Professors. The last 25 scientists included are those that we consider rising stars. Our hope is that this resource will have a significant and long-lasting effect on all members of the scientific community and continue to emphasize the need for diversity in the academy.

Please keep in mind that there are many more Black scientists in the United States, but this list provides an example for what universities, societies, and nonacademic institutions should take the initiative to do.

Established Investigators

Chanda Prescod-WeinsteinChanda Prescod Weinstein, PhD
Assistant Professor of Physics, University of New Hampshire
Jordan BookerJordan Booker, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri
Folami IderaabdullahFolami Ideraabdullah, PhD
Assistant Professor of Genetics and Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Herschel WadeHerschel Wade, PhD
Associate Professor of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University
Laura DassamaLaura Dassama, PhD
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Stanford University
Larry GladneyLarry Gladney, PhD
Phyllis A. Wallace Dean of Diversity and Faculty Development and Professor of Physics, Yale University
Namandje BumpusNamandje Bumpus, PhD
Associate Dean for Basic Research and Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University
Stephen MayoStephen Mayo, PhD
Bren Professor of Biology and Chemistry and William K. Bowes Jr. Leadership Chair in Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology
Donita BradyDonita Brady, PhD
Presidential Professor of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania
Michael JohnsonMichael Johnson, PhD
Assistant Professor of Immunobiology, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona
Rotonya CarrRotonya Carr, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Emery BrownEmery Brown, MD, PhD
Warren M. Zapol Professor of Anesthesia and Edward Hood Taplin Professor of Medical Engineering and Computational Neuroscience, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Yava Jones HallYava Jones Hall, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Associate Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University
Erle RobertsonErle Robertson, PhD
Professor of Microbiology, Director of the Tumor Virology Training Program, Harry P. Schenck Professor in Otorhinolaryngology, and Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania
Beronda MontgomeryBeronda Montgomery, PhD
MSU Foundation Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University
Damian YoungDamian Young, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine
Craig E. CameronCraig E. Cameron, PhD
Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Jeffrey Houpt Distinguished Investigator, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Gustavo M. SilvaGustavo M. Silva, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biology, Duke University
François M. AbboudFrançois M. Abboud, MD
Founding Director of the Francois M. Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center (1974-2012),  Associate Vice President for Research, Edith King Pearson Chair of Cardiovascular Research, and Professor of Internal Medicine - Cardiovascular Medicine, and Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa

Neil HanchardNeil Hanchard, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine

 

 

Isiah M. WarnerIsiah M. Warner, PhD
Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Boyd Professor and Philip W. West Professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, Louisiana State University

Chester BrownChester Brown, MD, PhD
St. Jude Chair of Excellence in Genetics, Division Chief of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, LeBonheur Children's Hospital, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Marcus LambertW. Marcus Lambert, PhD, MS
Assistant Professor of Education Research in Medicine and Assistant Dean of Diversity and Student Life, Weill Cornell Medical College

 

Ishmail Abdus SaboorIshmail Abdus Saboor, PhD
Mitchell J. and Margo K. Blutt Presidential Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Pennsylvania

Sandra A.MurraySandra A. Murray, PhD
Professor of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh

Debra AugusteDebra Auguste, PhD
Professor of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University

Jacquin NilesJacquin Niles, MD, PhD
Professor of Biological Engineering and Director of the Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Christine HendonChristine Hendon, PhD
Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University

 

Gary GibbonsGary Gibbons, MD
Director of National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health

Genevieve S. Neal-PerryGenevieve Neal Perry, MD, PhD
Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine

 

 

Russell Debose BoydRussell Debose Boyd, PhD
Beatrice and Miguel Elias Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science and Professor of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 

Jedidah IslerJedidah Isler, PhD
Assistant Professor of Astrophysics, Dartmouth University

 

Manu PlattManu Platt, PhD
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Diversity Director, Georgia Institute of Technology

Paula HammondPaula Hammond, PhD
Department Head and David H. Koch (1962) Professor of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 

George LangfordGeorge Langford, PhD
Dean Emeritus of the College of Arts and Sciences and Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience Biology, Syracuse University

Karine GibbsKarine Gibbs, PhD
Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University

Erich JarvisErich Jarvis, PhD
Director of the Field Research Center for Ethology and Ecology and Professor and Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Rockefeller University

Squire BookerSquire J. Booker, PhD
Howard Hughes Medical Investigator, Evan Pugh University Professor of Chemistry, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Eberly Distinguished Chair in Science, Pennsylvania State University

Kafui DzirasaKafui Dzirasa, MD, PhD
Principal investigator, K. Ranga Rama Krishnan Associate Professor, Duke University School of Medicine

Tirin MooreTirin Moore, PhD
Professor of Neurobiology and Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University

Cato LaurencinCato Laurencin, MD, PhD
University Professor, Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Professor of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering; Director, The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Center for Biomedical, Biological, Physical and Engineering Sciences; Director, Institute for Regenerative Engineering; and Chief Executive Officer, Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Connecticut

Nathan SmithNathan Smith, PhD
Principal Investigator, Center for Neuroscience Research, The Children's National Hospital and Research Institute, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Michael BurtonMichael Burton, PhD
Assistant Professor of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas, Dallas

Derek ApplewhiteDerek Applewhite, PhD
Associate Professor of Biology, Reed College

Andrew CampbellAndrew Campbell, PhD
Professor of Medical Science and Dean of the Graduate School, Brown University

Avery AugustAvery August, PhD
Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Cornell University

E. Dale AbelE. Dale Abel, MD, PhD
Chair/Department Executive Officer of the Department of Internal Medicine, Director of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, John B. Stokes III Chair in Diabetes Research, François M. Abboud Chair in Internal Medicine Professor of Internal Medicine Endocrinology and Metabolism, Professor of Biochemistry, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering (BME), University of Iowa

Ayotunde DokunAyotunde Dokun, MD, PhD, FACE
Verna Funke Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center Chair, Associate Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Iowa

Stanley AndrisseStanley Andrisse, PhD, MBA
Founder and Director of From Prison Cell to PhD; Assistant Professor, Howard University College of Medicine; and Alumni Adjunct Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins Medicine


Shreilynn J. BlackSherilynn J. Black, PhD
Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement, Assistant Professor of the Practice of Medical Education, Duke University

Michelle GrayMichelle Gray, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Ibrahim CisséIbrahim Cissé, PhD
Class of 1922 Assistant Professor of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dionna WilliamsDionna Williams, PhD
Assistant Professor of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University

Azizi SeixasAzizi Seixas, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Population Health, New York University

Tyisha WilliamsTyisha Williams, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biology, Wilkes University

Jelani ZarifJelani Zarif, PhD
Assistant Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University

Heather PinkettHeather Pinkett, PhD
Associate Professor of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University

Bil ClemonsBil Clemons, PhD
Professor of Biochemistry, California Institute of Technology

Ketema PauLKetema Paul, PhD
Associate Professor of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles

Farah LubinFarah Lubin, PhD
Associate Professor and Director, NINDS Neuroscience Roadmap Scholar Program, Associate Scientist, Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging, and  Associate Scientist, Comprehensive Neuroscience Center

Gerald DownesGerald Downes, PhD
Associate Professor of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Stephon AlexanderStephon Alexander, PhD
Professor of Physics, Brown University

James WhitfieldJames Whitfield, PhD
Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth University

Gerald GriffinGerald Griffin, PhD
Associate Provost of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Biology and Psychology, Hope College

Tomeka L, SuberTomeka L. Suber, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Breann BrownBreann Brown, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University

Tracy JohnsonTracy Johnson, PhD
Maria Rowena Ross Chair of Cell Biology and Biochemistry; Professor of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology; and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, University of California, Los Angeles

Scott V. EdwardsScott V. Edwards, PhD
Alexander Agassiz Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Curator of Ornithology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University

Samira MusahSamira Musah, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University

Winston-AndersonWinston A. Anderson, PhD
Professor of Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, Howard University

Jennifer RichesonJennifer Richeson, PhD
Philip R. Allen Professor of Psychology, Yale University

Joseph S. FranciscoJoseph S. Francisco, PhD
Professor of Chemistry and President’s Distinguished Professor, University of Pennsylvania

Tamia Harris TryonTamia Harris Tryon, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Tyrone B. HaynesTyrone B. Haynes, PhD
Professor of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley

 

Rising Stars

Samantha C. LewisSamantha C. Lewis, PhD
Assistant Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Berkeley

Elizabeth RanseyElizabeth Ransey, PhD
EE Just Postgraduate Fellow and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Duke University

 

Christopher BarnesChristopher Barnes, PhD
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Fellow and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program Fellow, California Institute of Technology
Renata Pereira AlambertRenata Pereira Alambert, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Iowa
Melanie McReynoldsMelanie McReynolds, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Fellow, and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program Fellow, Princeton University
Kevin Cox Jr.Kevin Cox Jr., PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Fellow, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Jaimie Marie StewartJaimie Marie Stewart, PhD
Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow and Postdoctoral Scholar, California Institute of Technology
Joshua J. JosephJoshua J. Joseph, MD
Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Ohio State University
Sharifa Love-RutledgeSharifa Love Rutledge, PhD
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Theanne GriffithTheanne Griffith, PhD
Instructor, Department of Pharmacology, Psychology, and Neuroscience, and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program Fellow, Rutgers University
D'Juan FarmerD'Juan Farmer, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Fellow, and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program Fellow, University of California, San Francisco

Laramie LemonLaramie Lemon, PhD
FIRST Postdoctoral Fellow and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program Fellow, Emory University

Arif A. HamidArif A. Hamid, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Fellow, Brown University
Jarrett SmithJarrett Smith, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Fellow, Whitehead Institute
Rhonda SouvenirRhonda Souvenir, PhD
Associate Faculty, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Iowa
Tameka ClemonsTameka Clemons, PhD
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Spelman College
Frankie D. HeywardFrankie D. Heyward, PhD
Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program Fellow and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School
Chantell EvansChantell Evans, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Fellow, University of Pennsylvania
Brittany TaylorBrittany Taylor, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program Fellow, University of Pennsylvania
Derrick J. MortonDerrick J. Morton, PhD
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service
Postdoctoral Fellow, Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program Fellow, and Recent Faculty Acceptance (Assistant Professor), Emory University
Shamsideen OjeladeShamsideen Ojelade, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program Fellow, Baylor College of Medicine
John F. Brooks IIJohn F. Brooks II, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Fellow, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Florentine RutaganiraFlorentine Rutaganira, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Fellow, University of California, Berkeley
Quinton SmithQuinton Smith, PhD
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna Gray Fellow and Postdoctoral Researcher, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Christophe E. JacksonChristophe E. Jackson, PhD, DMA, MSPAS, PA-C
Clinical Design Engineer and Neurosurgery Physician Assistant, Tulane University