Out in Science

Millie Copara, PhD (she/her)
Millie Copara is a senior scientific recruiter at Recruitomics Consulting, where she helps biotech companies hire scientists. She has a PhD in neuroscience and previously was a career exploration program specialist at UC Davis where she helped PhD researchers explore a wide variety of careers. She also served as co-chair of the Chancellor’s Committee for LGBTQIA+ Communities at UC Davis. Copara has always been motivated to support students and researchers in advancing their careers and she is a fervent advocate for equity and inclusion, especially in STEM. She is a queer Latina immigrant from Peru who grew up undocumented and low-income—and hopes that she can pave the way for others with similar experiences.

Read 5 Questions with Millie Copara.

Angel Kaur, PhD (she/her)
Angel Kaur is a neurobiologist by training and her research focuses on high-impact practices in undergraduate STEM education in a liberal arts environment. She is particularly interested in pedagogical innovation to increase student engagement and promote deep learning. Kaur is currently serving as an associate faculty fellow for the UNC System Digital Learning Initiative and will join the UNC Asheville Center for Teaching and Learning as a faculty fellow this fall. She is also an artist and graphic designer, and a mom to 6-year-old twins and a 75-pound puppy named Flynn.

Read 5 Questions with Angel Kaur.

Jonathan Mathias Lassiter, PhD (he/him)
Jonathan Mathias Lassiter is a polymath who utilizes psychology, writing, and dance to help others heal and thrive. His roles include licensed clinical psychologist, professor, author, public speaker, and choreographer. As a public intellectual, Lassiter has been featured on television, radio, podcasts, and print such as PBS, Sirius XM, and The Hill. He is the co-editor of the award-winning text, Black LGBT Health in the United States: The Intersection of Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation. He is currently working on his first sole-authored book that will explore contemporary issues of race and mental health in the United States.

Sharon Milgram, PhD (she/her)
Sharon Milgram received a PhD in cell biology from Emory University. She completed postdoctoral training at The Johns Hopkins University before joining the faculty at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, she rose to the rank of full professor in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology. In 2007 she joined the NIH Office of the Director as the Director of the Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) where she directs a trans-NIH office dedicated to the career advancement of over 5000 trainees. Milgram lectures widely on science careers, mentorship, leadership, and management in research environments. She lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with her wife and son.

Stephanie Miller, PhD (she/her, they/them)
Stephanie Miller is a postdoc and systems neuroscientist in the lab of Jorge Palop at Gladstone Institutes, studying the breakdown of brain waves in mouse models for familial and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. After conducting post-baccalaureate research at NASA, they earned a PhD in biophysics at the University of Maryland, College Park while studying cortical synchrony and neuronal avalanches at the National Institutes of Health. Miller has worked to support the LGBTQ+ community since 2005 with a focus on transgender advocacy. They have also spoken on the topic of scientific mentorship and advocated for scientific funding on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.