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Jonathan Herrera

University of Michigan

Jonathan Herrera is an MD/PhD student at the University of Michigan, researching the effects of exercise on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a BS in molecular biology and an MS in physiology.

APS Porter Physiology Development Fellowship is one of the Society’s flagship award programs, highlighting scientific excellence in researchers from underrepresented backgrounds. We asked our Porter Fellows to tell us about their research, the impact of the Fellowship and their advice to other underrepresented scientists. Here, Jonathan Herrera, one of our esteemed Porter Fellows, shares more about his background and words of wisdom.

What's your background? Are others in your family involved in science and medicine or are you a trailblazer in STEM?

I grew up in a border city and went to public schools that were resource-challenged. I was incredibly lucky that both of my parents were elementary school administrators and put a high value on education. I’m the first in my family to pursue a career in science and medicine, and having the opportunity has been such a privilege and joy.

What is your advice to young people from underrepresented backgrounds interested in getting into science?

It’s important to identify and cultivate passions that you have in science. To help in this process, spend time seeking out those that share your passions, including mentors that you might be able to work with in a laboratory or clinical setting. If possible, try to find mentors that come from similar backgrounds or share aspects of your identity. During your education, look for opportunities to immerse yourself in the type of work you might do in the future. For instance, seek out our summer research fellowships, where you can learn and grow exponentially in a condensed time frame. And many of these fellowships are aimed at recruiting and supporting individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.