about me

Yesenia never imagined they’d end up as a neuroscientist. As the child of working-class Mexican immigrants, Yesenia didn’t have the faintest idea what opportunities existed beyond their hometown of Napa, CA but they knew there had to be something more out there waiting for them.

With some guidance from Questbridge, Yesenia moved across the country and attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY where they majored in neuroscience and minored in English with a focus in race & ethnicity. Yesenia commenced their neuroscience research career in the Duncan Lab studying neuroendocrinology. Outside the lab, Yesenia spent their undergraduate years advocating for gender inclusivity, leading cultural groups, dabbling in humor & satire writing, and serving the hottest looks on campus. 

As an NIH BP-ENDURE scholar, Yesenia ventured to the Midwest to work in the Gereau Lab at Washington University in St. Louis, MO where they were introduced to the exciting world of behavioral pharmacology. Over the course of two summers, they learned new skills, built connections, and gained the confidence that allowed them to blossom as a neuroscience researcher.

Now they are starting a new adventure as a neuroscience PhD student at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. They are excited to carve an original path for themselves in academia and beyond by combining their dual passions for neuroscience and gender inclusivity to produce exciting interdisciplinary scholarship and make STEM more accessible.

I was a guest on NIND’s Building Up the Nerve “How to find a mentor” podcast episode! Check out my features on the NIH Scientist Spotlights Initiative, 500QueerScientists, and The STEM Village Community for more!