Elizabeth Aguilera, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

I have been promoted within SACNAS as Director of Programs. In this new role, I am excited to oversee and guide all of SACNAS' suite of programs, including Student Programs, Native Initiatives and Professional & Leadership Programs. In addition, I am eager to expand upon my previous duties & responsibilities which include, but are not limited to, participation within the Executive Leadership Team; supervision of direct reports within the Programs Team; and continued engagement in facilitation and management of existing and future programs (targeted at the continuum from undergraduates, graduates, postdocs, and professionals).

I have been promoted within SACNAS as Associate Director of Programs. In this new role, I am excited to expand upon my previous duties & responsibilities which include, but are not limited to, increased leadership responsibilities within and outside of the organization; supervision of direct reports; continued engagement in facilitation and management of existing and future programs (targeted at the continuum from undergraduates, graduates, postdocs, and professionals) that will focus on enhancing leadership skills and/or supporting professional development.

I have been promoted within SACNAS as the Senior Manager of Professional and Leadership Programs. In this new role, I am excited to expand upon my previous duties & responsibilities which will include, but is not limited to, engaging in facilitation and management of existing and future programs (targeted at the continuum from undergraduates, graduates, postdocs, and professionals) that will focus on enhancing leadership skills and/or supporting professional development.

Aurora, Colorado, United States

I have joined the SACNAS team as the Professional and Leadership Programs Manager to support these programs designed for STEM professionals from underrepresented and historically marginalized backgrounds. My responsibilities, include, but are not limited to: managing existing and future programs, targeted at postdocs and professionals, that will focus on enhancing leadership skills and supporting professional development (e.g. the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute (LPSLI) and the Postdoc Leadership Institute (PLI)) as well as serve as staff-liaison for relevant sub-committees and collaborate with board members and/or society members on the planning and development of such programs.

Aurora, Colorado, United States

Think Like a Scientist (TLaS) is a community outreach STEM education program in association with the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. We are aimed at getting historically underrepresented students more interested in science as a career. In the program, we work with 3rd-5th grade students at elementary schools around Denver and Aurora. My responsibilities, include but are not limited to: coordinating with school administration and teachers, managing the recruitment of and training of volunteers, assisting in budget management, supply ordering, science kit construction and showing elementary students that anyone can be a scientist!

Aurora, Colorado, United States

During my time as a Postdoctoral Fellow, I also assumed the role of Lab Manager. My responsibilities include, but are not limited to, maintaining lab infrastructure, scheduling lab meetings, sending appropriate correspondence to all lab members, maintaining organization of lab protocols, and delegating lab duties.

Denver, Colorado

As a Postdoctoral Fellow, I am currently investigating innate immune responses during viral/bacterial infection. Specifically, I am studying the role of NK cells during Influenza-S. pneumoniae (co)infections.During my time as a postdoctoral fellow, I have been involved in diversity and inclusion by being a part of the SACNAS-CU Anschutz Chapter. In this organization, I have held several leadership roles (Vice President, Secretary) and have helped recruit students to the university during SACNAS national conferences.

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

I was a Ph.D. candidate working in Dr. Julie Pfeiffer's lab. My thesis project focused on studying the interactions between enteric viruses and the mammalian gut microbiota.During my time as a graduate student, I was also heavily involved in scientific outreach and student recruitment to UTSW. I held several leadership positions (GSO co-social chair, Diversity and Inclusion Graduate Student Representative) to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion to the campus. I also helped recruit students to the university during interview weekends and at SACNAS national conferences.

El Paso, Texas Area

I began working with Dr. Manuel Llano, M.D./Ph.D. during the start of my sophomore undergraduate studies. During my time in his lab, I was funded by the RISE and MARC scholarship programs to facilitate my research. My project focused on generating a Drosophila melanogaster model of HIV infection and I defended my undergraduate thesis based on this project.

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

As an undergraduate, I applied and was selected as a SURF fellow at UTSW. During that summer, I worked with Dr. Chandrashekhar Pasare, Ph.D. and my project was focused on determining the role of IL-1 during Th17 cell differentiation.

Berkeley, California

As an undergraduate, I applied and was selected as an AMGEN Scholar to perform summer research at UC Berkeley. During that summer, I worked with Dr. Laurent Coscoy, Ph.D. and my project was focused on the determinants of B cell differentiation.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Molecular Microbiology

Activities and Societies: Graduate Student Organization

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Microbiology

Activities and Societies: American Society for Microbiology-UTEP Chapter, Student Government Organization, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor.