First-generation Ph.D. student receives second National Latino Leader Award

 

POSTED ON Jun 25, 2021

 

Wayne State University announced Thursday that Julio Pimentel has been selected to receive the National Latino Leader Award and a scholarship to present at the 2021 Society of Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in the Sciences (SACNAS) Conference.

According to Wayne State, Pimentel, a first-generation doctoral candidate in the School of Medicine’s Cancer Biology program, who has been supported by a Dean’s Diversity Fellowship and the National Institutes of Health’s Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, first won the SACNAS National Latino Leader Award in 2020.

“I am grateful for the recognition that I received for our work last year, and more so to have been selected for the honor to present again this year,” Pimentel said in a statement. “To be recognized as a role model within my community stems from the fact that I may have reached a certain milestone that has not been observed in a long time. I am aware that my conduct and behavior sets some standard that is admired among aspiring Latino/Latina students. It’s a massive compliment.”

Pimentel’s research focus in the Cancer Biology Graduate Program is overcoming tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, or TRAIL, resistance in triple-negative breast cancer.

In March 2020, Pimentel was recognized by the Wayne State University Board of Governors and acknowledged for positive accomplishments continued throughout the university community despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, Pimentel won first place in poster presentations at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Junior Faculty Research/Retreat, and the Cancer Biology Director’s Award.

He was selected in 2018 for a WSU Dean’s Diversity Fellowship, designed to attract new doctoral students and support departmental recruitment of students who demonstrate academic excellence and are underrepresented in their disciplines.

In addition to continuing his research during the pandemic, he gave a virtual presentation to minority high school students interested in STEM in the FocuSSTEM NextGen program and was nominated as a Latino role model shaping the world by the Latino Community Stage.