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Yesmarie De La Flor
MS Candidate Biology
Yesmarie De La Flor
Juan Zuluaga
PHD Candidate Biology
Juan Zuluaga
Our goal is to increase the representation of the Latinx community in STEM at UNCW. Through individualized and group mentorship, provided to Latinx-identifying undergraduates, we hope to impart guidance and support as students develop their academic and professional trajectories. As an underrepresented community in STEM, many LatinX students receive less guidance than their well-represented peers. Our mentorship program efforts go beyond filling this gap; it provides a platform for Latinx students to learn about various aspects of STEM, including advice for applying to graduate school, securing funding, finding internships, developing competitive resumes, and navigating obstacles faced by marginalized groups in STEM. We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in the STEM field, building a collaborative and supportive community, facilitating the professional development of Latinx students, and providing ongoing feedback to ensure long-term success in STEM careers. Our ultimate goal is to have a lasting impact on the Latinx community and the broader STEM field.
Yesmarie De La Flor
MS Biology
Juan Zuluaga
PHD Candidate Biology
"Through personalized guidance, unwavering support, and a commitment to excellence, we empower tomorrow's leaders to navigate the complexities of academia and beyond. Together, we're not just shaping futures; we're building bridges to success, one mentorship at a time."
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Juan was born in Bucaramanga, Colombia, and he grew up in multiple cities on the East Coast of the US. Juan is enrolled in the PhD in Integrative, Comparative, and Marine Biology program. He enjoys conducting research and mentoring undergraduate students at UNCW. He aspires to develop a research program to study the thermal biology of birds where he can continue to mentor students and develop new research projects that push forward the field of avian ecophysiology.
For his PhD, Juan conducts research on thermal biology and behavior in birds. Juan's research investigates the challenges that birds face when regulating their body temperature. Some of the challenges to thermoregulation that Juan studies include climate change, human disturbance, and seasonal change. Juan is the current recipient of multiple highly competitive fellowships on state, federal, and international scales, and he has published two of his research papers in one of the leading journals in his field. Juan was interviewed by the Journal of Experimental Biology in 2023 following his first publication. (Links below)
In his off time, Juan's favorite things to do often involve spending time with his family and being outside in nature. Juan's perfect Saturday or Sunday consists of waking up early to surf or run at the beach until he is completely exhausted, then going to PT's for a burger with fries (extra seasoning) and a freshly squeezed lemonade, then taking a nap (no alarm), and ending the day with a movie. This is Juan's perfect recharge routine to gear up for the next work week.
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Yesmarie, a Puerto Rico native raised on Florida's southeast coast, cultivated a passion for marine life and ecosystems early on. However, it wasn't until after earning a bachelor's in biology that Yesmarie's interest in coral disease research was fueled by her participation in the Latino Internship to Fellowship Program at the Smithsonian Marine Station.
In the Coral Health and Marine Probiotics Lab, she focused on developing probiotics for stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD)-affected corals. Now pursuing a master's in biology at UNCW's Ushijima Lab, Yesmarie's thesis focuses on developing a biomedical tool, peptide conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PPMOs), to be applied to marine systems and aid in disease etiology studies. The most fulfilling aspect of her work is her dedication and advocacy for diversity and inclusion in STEM, as she is happiest when she can provide others of similar backgrounds with guidance and support.
Her favorite pastimes include Latin dancing, rock climbing, and eating tacos.
