We would like to congratulate Dr. Nicolle Rosa Mercado, a Borinqueña who was recently selected for the ultra-competitive Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program. A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, Cayey, and Yale University for her PhD, Nicolle was also part of our Yale Science Academy program in 2017. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University.

Nicolle is one of only 25 postdoctoral researchers across the United States to receive the fellowship. The Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program increases diversity and inclusion in the biomedical sciences by providing independent research funding to talented investigators from historically underserved groups in the sciences. The fellowship provides $70,000 in salary and $20,000 for research expenses for 2-4 years as a postdoc and also includes $270,000 per year for research funding for up to 4 years if the individual continues to a faculty position. Congratulations Nicolle!

We also congratulate our Cerebros Boricuas winners of the New Gilliam Fellowships to Advance Diversity and Inclusion in Science. Among the 51 winners, we congratulate Cristina Rivera Quiles, Héctor Torres Vera, Tania González Robles, Leeza Santiago Millan, Albit Cabán, Franklin Staback Rodríguez, Axel Vera, y Aura Alonso Rodríguez. This is the largest group of scholarship recipients and Puerto Rican students receiving this prestigious scholarship. 

The Gilliam Scholarship recognizes scientific excellence and promise in diverse scientific fields of biology, as well as student leadership in promoting greater equity and inclusiveness in the sciences. The scholarship recipients not only receive a significant stipend for up to 3 years, but also receive professional development workshops, and acquire funding and training for their research mentors so that they can carry out activities that promote a more inclusive scientific culture.

Congratulations to all the winners for their efforts, commitment and sacrifices to be part of these programs! We wish them the best of success in their professional careers!