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The Keystone Symposia Fellowship Program

The Keystone Symposia Fellowship Program graduated its inaugural class in June 2009. This highly unique, research-driven, diversity-centered program educates early career scientists regarding the inner workings of the life sciences community and provides a venue for high-level interaction with established and leading scientists nationally and globally. The Fellowship provides context, understanding and insight regarding the development of high-powered research meetings, utilizing shadowing experiences with scientist organizers and key Keystone Symposia staff members. Fellowship experiences allow for learning how the research agenda is set, how to engage in high-level discourse on research topics and how to broaden perspectives in life science research.

Fellows Class of 2009-2010

Dana Crawford, Ph.D.
Dr. Crawford received her PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology with Dr. Stephanie Sherman at Emory University in 2000. Following her graduate studies, she spent two years as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and in 2006, she joined the faculty of Vanderbilt University's Center for Human Genetics Research after a four-year post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington with Dr. Deborah Nickerson. Dr. Crawford's primary research interests include the broad field of genetic association studies to identify genetic variations associated with human complex diseases or traits. Dana Crawford is Hispanic.

Jameel Dennis, Ph.D.
I am a post-doctoral fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University. I earned my Baccalaureate of Arts degree in Philosophy and Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Neuroscience from the University of Virginia. My previous research projects focused on mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinsonism and extracellular matrix dependent inflammation in renal fibrosis. I am currently investigating oligodendrocyte morphogenesis during Central Nervous System development. My diverse training experience has been an invaluable asset that has enriched the quality of my research and perspective of scientific investigation. Similarly, I believe cultural diversity in scientific research also combines unique experiences essential for the advancement of science. Jameel Dennis is African American.

Dana-Lynn Koomoa, Ph.D.
Dana-Lynn T. Koomoa is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Cancer Research Center of Hawai'i. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology at Brown University, in the Spring of 2005. Her current research interests include investigating the Malignant Progression of Neuroblastoma. She believes that increasing diversity in Science is important because bringing people with diverse perspectives together will drive innovation and enhance Bio-Medical and Life science research. Furthermore, she feels that increasing diversity in science will result in more role models and mentors for under-represented minority students who may be interested in science. Dana-Lynn Koomoa is Native Hawaiian.

Fatima Rivas, Ph.D.
Fatima comes from a Salvadorian immigrant family and believes that she adds a different perspective to her research as a Hispanic woman. Fatima attended Huntington Park High School and obtained her BS in chemistry from CSUDH. She earned her doctorate degree in 2006 from UCSD and attributes much of her success to programs such as USTAR (NIGMS), which played an important role in her decision to go to graduate school. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at TSRI working in the Nicolaou laboratory. Her current research areas are total synthesis of natural products and drug design. Fatima Rivas is Hispanic.

David R. Wilson, Ph.D.
David Wilson is a Native American molecular immunologist who graduated from Arizona State University and is currently at the NIH investigating the biological functions of the SIRT6 enzyme. He was raised on the Navajo Nation reservation and strives to encourage younger Native generations into pursuing careers in science. Diversity at the bench gives rise to diverse ideas pushing towards a common goal. Collections of ideas then enable research groups to choose which ideas best fits the laboratories needs such as cost, time, man power, novelty of design etc.

Fellows Class of 2008-2009

Cherié L. Butts, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Immunology
CDER/OPS/OBP/DTP
U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Research Area: Endocrine-Associated Tumor Immunomodulation

De'Broski R. Herbert, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor Cincinnati Childrens Research Foundation, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine
Research Area: Immunoparasitology and Mucosal Immunology Macrophages

Nicole LaRonde-LeBlanc, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Maryland
Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research Area: Structural Biology of Ribosome Biogenesis

Application Process

Applications must be submitted by September 1 of each calendar year, and notification will be made by October, with a start date of November 1. Requests for applications for the Keystone Symposia Fellowship Program should be sent to KSFellowsApplication@keystonesymposia.org. Applications will be sent via U.S. postal mail or electronic email attachment when an email address is provided. NOTE: Submission of applications must be done via U.S. postal mail. No electronic or facsimile applications will be accepted.
Keystone Symposia Fellowship Application List of Requirements   (40k)
Keystone Symposia Fellowship Program Flyer   (204k)
For general information regarding the Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology Fellowship Program, please contact:

Ms. McKennzie Rains
Administrative Assistant
Diversity in Life Science Programs
Keystone Symposia
Silverthorne, Colorado 80498
mckennzier@keystonesymposia.org
Tele: 970-262-1230 Ext. 119

Dr. Laina King
Director, Diversity in Life Science Programs
Keystone Symposia
Silverthorne, Colorado 80498
lainak@keystonesymposia.org

Dr. Andy D. Robertson
Chief Scientific Officer
Keystone Symposia
Silverthorne, Colorado 80498
andyr@keystonesymposia.org

The Keystone Symposia Perspective on Diversity
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Longitudinal Parameters of the Keystone Diversity Perspective
The Keystone Symposia Model of Diversity
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Keystone Symposia Initiatives in Diversity
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	Dana Crawford, Ph.D. Dr. Crawford received her PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology with Dr. Stephanie Sherman at Emory University in 2000. Following her graduate studies, she spent two years as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and in 2006, she joined the faculty of Vanderbilt University's Center for Human Genetics Research after a four-year post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington with Dr. Deborah Nickerson. Dr. Crawford's primary research interests include the broad field of genetic association studies to identify genetic variations associated with human complex diseases or traits. Dana Crawford is Hispanic.
	Jameel Dennis, Ph.D. I am a post-doctoral fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University. I earned my Baccalaureate of Arts degree in Philosophy and Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Neuroscience from the University of Virginia. My previous research projects focused on mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinsonism and extracellular matrix dependent inflammation in renal fibrosis. I am currently investigating oligodendrocyte morphogenesis during Central Nervous System development. My diverse training experience has been an invaluable asset that has enriched the quality of my research and perspective of scientific investigation. Similarly, I believe cultural diversity in scientific research also combines unique experiences essential for the advancement of science. Jameel Dennis is African American.
	Dana-Lynn Koomoa, Ph.D. Dana-Lynn T. Koomoa is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Cancer Research Center of Hawai'i. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology at Brown University, in the Spring of 2005. Her current research interests include investigating the Malignant Progression of Neuroblastoma. She believes that increasing diversity in Science is important because bringing people with diverse perspectives together will drive innovation and enhance Bio-Medical and Life science research. Furthermore, she feels that increasing diversity in science will result in more role models and mentors for under-represented minority students who may be interested in science. Dana-Lynn Koomoa is Native Hawaiian.
	Fatima Rivas, Ph.D. Fatima comes from a Salvadorian immigrant family and believes that she adds a different perspective to her research as a Hispanic woman. Fatima attended Huntington Park High School and obtained her BS in chemistry from CSUDH. She earned her doctorate degree in 2006 from UCSD and attributes much of her success to programs such as USTAR (NIGMS), which played an important role in her decision to go to graduate school. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at TSRI working in the Nicolaou laboratory. Her current research areas are total synthesis of natural products and drug design. Fatima Rivas is Hispanic.
	David R. Wilson, Ph.D. David Wilson is a Native American molecular immunologist who graduated from Arizona State University and is currently at the NIH investigating the biological functions of the SIRT6 enzyme. He was raised on the Navajo Nation reservation and strives to encourage younger Native generations into pursuing careers in science. Diversity at the bench gives rise to diverse ideas pushing towards a common goal. Collections of ideas then enable research groups to choose which ideas best fits the laboratories needs such as cost, time, man power, novelty of design etc.

	Cherié L. Butts, Ph.D. Laboratory of Immunology CDER/OPS/OBP/DTP U.S. Food & Drug Administration Research Area: Endocrine-Associated Tumor Immunomodulation
	De'Broski R. Herbert, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Cincinnati Childrens Research Foundation, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine Research Area: Immunoparasitology and Mucosal Immunology Macrophages
	Nicole LaRonde-LeBlanc, Ph.D. Assistant Professor University of Maryland Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Area: Structural Biology of Ribosome Biogenesis