Meet Dr. Cagney Coomer, Ph.D.; the June featured Science Sista of the month! Dr. Coomer, a born and raised Kentucky native, received her bachelor's in Biology from Virginia State University. She recently graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. It was during her time at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, where she received an AAS in biotechnology, that Dr. Coomer discovered both her passion for research and outreach. While working as a research technician in the core sequencing facility, Dr. Coomer founded her non-profit NERD SQUAD Inc. dedicated to empowering, supporting, and mentoring the next generation of black and brown girls in STEM fields. NERD SQUAD Inc. designs and develops STEM-based curricula that high school students facilitate at schools and community events throughout Kentucky. During graduate school, Dr. Coomer was honored for her work towards improving diversity and inclusion on campus and received the highest honor given for service from the President of the University (The Sullivan Award). She was also recently honored by the Society of Developmental Biology with the first Trainee Science Communication award (2020) for establishing NERD SQUAD. Dr. Coomer is currently working as a Post-Doctoral Associate in the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College where she is studying Neuroscience and regeneration.
