Bio

Alyssa Paparella is currently a second-year Ph.D. student in the Cancer and Cell Biology Program at Baylor College of Medicine. In 2019, Alyssa graduated from Sarah Lawrence College before pursuing an NIH PREP program at UC Davis. Alyssa is currently a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program recipient. 

Besides pursuing STEM, Alyssa has been actively involved in disability advocacy. In 2020, Alyssa created the DisabledInSTEM platform, which is hosted across a website, Twitter, and Instagram in order to raise more awareness and create community. Through this platform, Alyssa has also created a mentorship program, which is launching its second year and has partnered with Disabled In Higher Education to run a Non-STEM mentorship program in its inaugural year. Alyssa also is an Executive Team Member for Disabled in Higher Education. Additionally, Alyssa serves on DisabilityIN’s Advisory Council. Alyssa also is an Executive Team Member for Disabled in Higher Education. Within her own institution, Alyssa is co-president of the disability club called Got Spoons?, is an event planner for a wellness program called BCM LIFE, and serves on the Inclusion and Excellence Council. 

Through her work, Alyssa aims to continue conversations regarding accessibility. Thus far, Alyssa’s impact has ranged from presenting at individual institutions, such as being an invited keynote speaker for  Yale University’s Science Communication week, to conferences, such as ReclaimingSTEM and The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), and to the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy. Alyssa strives to make STEM more inclusive for all throughout her career.