As a “Salmonella Fellow,” I was lucky enough to have a flock of mentors, all working in different capacities and bringing different types of expertise to our project. I am excited to be able to bring the knowledge and expertise they shared to bear in the work we are developing.

I am particularly thankful for the opportunity to have worked this summer in a lab with two Latina women. Recently, Dr. Belen Cadenas, our teacher for the summer, was able to visit our school district as the keynote speaker for a Math and Science Night for Spanish-speaking families. Because of the mentor relationship, we were able to offer an opportunity for our families who are often literally left out of the conversation about supporting children in science.