![\"Monique](\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/MM-800w-225x300.jpg\")
Monique Mendes \u201918M (MS), \u201920M (PhD)<\/p><\/div>\n
Monique Mendes \u201918M (MS), \u201920M (PhD) moved from Kingston, Jamaica to South Florida, when she was a teenager. Her parents came to the U.S. with the hope that Monique would live the American dream. And, because of her hard work, determination, and passion for science, she has.<\/p>\n
Mendes recently earned her PhD in neuroscience from the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½\u2019s School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD). She\u2019s among just a small percentage<\/a> of Black students in the U.S. who earn a PhD each year and an even smaller percentage of Black women in the U.S. who pursue an advanced degree in neuroscience. Mendes is also among a small number of Black graduates from SMD\u2019s doctoral program in neuroscience.<\/p>\n \u201cMy love for science began as a small child in Jamaica,\u201d says Mendes. \u201cI was always the one bringing in my science projects early.\u201d Her interest grew during her undergraduate years at the University of Florida. Understanding the complexities of the brain was important work, and it was exciting. That\u2019s when she started doing research on strokes in a neuroscience lab there. Mendes quickly discovered that a career in neuroscience was for her.<\/p>\n In her senior year of college, Mendes was awarded a Ronald E. McNair Scholarship<\/a>, which provides resources to prepare eligible scholars from underrepresented backgrounds for graduate education. Mendes\u2014an immigrant and first-generation Black student\u2014was ready for her next step at the URochester. And, today, she is a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University pursuing research on the brain, learning, and memory.<\/p>\n A few things come to mind. During my PhD program, I was given the Edward Curtis Peck Award<\/a> for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student and the Outstanding Student Mentor award<\/a>. It\u2019s inspiring to me to watch people learn, grow, and become better scientists.<\/p>\n I was also awarded a fellowship that provides young neuroscientists from diverse backgrounds a pathway to develop independent research careers. It\u2019s different from many other fellowships in that it provides support over six years, so it has funded two years of my graduate study at SMD and will fund four years of my post-doctoral work at Stanford. Earning this has been such an honor. And, because it eases financial pressures, I can really focus on my research.<\/p>\n As a graduate student, I organized an annual equity and inclusion breakfast for SMD students during Welcome Weekend. As a first-gen student, I knew first-hand how hard it was to successfully navigate the academic, social, and cultural aspects of higher education. So, at these events we hosted panels that featured women in science, international students and faculty, graduate students of color, and others. We wanted new students from underrepresented backgrounds to know that there would be a culture and community here for them.<\/p>\n The Black in Neuro<\/a> initiative is led by a group of Black neuroscientists from around the world who are dedicated to amplifying Black voices and celebrating Black excellence. This summer, the group hosted #BlackinNeuroWeek<\/a>, an online effort to support one another. I participated on social media and got to know Jamaican American scientists and many others\u2014it was eye opening, collaborative, and connecting. The website is powerful, too, and offers many resources. I\u2019m featured<\/a> there as are many others who are available to speak, offer advice, and build community.<\/p>\n Moving to the U.S. from a small Caribbean island and shifting from a private, all girls, Catholic school to public school was hard, but it was also a huge growth experience. It was definitely challenging being an immigrant and a Black, first-gen student in college and graduate school. I worked hard to identify opportunities to grow, ask questions, and contribute ideas. And, because there aren\u2019t many faculty members in this field who look like me, I sought mentors inside my doctoral program and outside of SMD. Having a strong community has been critical to my success.<\/p>\n My goal is to be a principle investigator at a research-intensive institution, to have my own lab, and to be a mentor and inspire students. Mostly, I want to pursue great science.<\/p>\n Overall, be fearless. I mean that. Go out and pursue challenging questions. Be inquisitive. Reach out and collaborate. Advocate for yourself. Seek out mentors and remember that it takes a village to be successful, which was certainly the case for me.<\/p>\n I play the violin. During high school, I was part of the Florida Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. I thought about becoming a professional musician and attending a conservatory, too, but my love for science won out. While at SMD, I played in the Brighton Symphony Orchestra. I even performed in two side-by-side concerts with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.<\/p>\n I just finished Michelle Obama\u2019s book, Becoming<\/em>. For me, she is the definition of fearless.<\/p>\n I told myself I\u2019d have a career in science and I\u2019m doing what I love and set out to do. I\u2019m proud of my achievements, of the way I\u2019m advocating for young scientists, and I enjoy being a mentor. I\u2019m happy that so many important people in my life were there for my dissertation defense this summer. Because of COVID-19, it was a virtual defense, which made it possible for about 75 family members and friends to attend, each of whom has helped me get where I am today. It was exciting to look at the Zoom participants and see them all there, smiling and proud of me, too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” background_color=”#e6f3fa” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1601409790686{padding-top: 1px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;background-color: #e6f3fa !important;}”]Learn more about Monique Mendes here<\/a> and in this<\/em>\u00a0Democrat and Chronicle<\/a> article.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”10px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1601499418724{border-top-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;border-top-color: #999999 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;}”]<\/p>\n \u2014 Kristine Thompson, October 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Monique Mendes \u201918M (MS), \u201920M (PhD) moved from Kingston, Jamaica to South Florida, when she was a teenager. Her parents came to the U.S. with the hope that Monique would live the American dream. And, because of her hard work, determination, and passion for science, she has.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":19672,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[272,762,732,62,652],"class_list":["post-19562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-profiles","tag-alumni","tag-bay-area-san-francisco","tag-black-alumni-network","tag-diversity-and-inclusion","tag-women-who-roc"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat recent achievements stand out for you?<\/h3>\n
What community activities have meant the most to you?<\/h3>\n
What is the Black in Neuro initiative?<\/h3>\n
What are some of the biggest challenges you\u2019ve overcome?<\/h3>\n
What are your goals?<\/h3>\n
What advice do you have for Black women in science?<\/h3>\n
What would surprise people to know about you?<\/h3>\n
What are you reading?<\/h3>\n
What are you most proud of?<\/h3>\n