Diana Hernandez
“The willingness to keep learning is key to growth in all aspects of life.”
I am the first in my family to graduate from high school and college. I was born in Oaxaca, Mexico and am an immigrant who grew up in a low-income Los Angeles, California household. I love exploring botanic gardens, being near a body of water, and spending hours in libraries. Outside of the laboratory, I am dedicated to preserving my indigenous heritage and working to revitalize my mother’s native language. In the laboratory, as a research associate, I explore innovative gene therapy approaches aimed at improving lives.
I’m excited to work in biotech because I get to work with teams to find new ways to study and treat diseases. I also get to learn how to make and test ideas to help improve people's health. I believe research labs should bring together people from different backgrounds and reflect the diversity of those affected by the diseases being studied, as well as the global population. My goal is to be in a position where I can extend my knowledge and resources beyond a laboratory environment and provide scientific exposure and research opportunities to underrepresented communities.
My family is from Oaxaca (“Wah-haka”), Mexico. We moved to central Los Angeles, where I grew up in a low-income household. Despite the challenges, I was determined to pursue higher education and eventually became the first in my family to graduate from high school and college. My interest in science was inspired by my experiences in high school biology and my love for problem-solving, which I inherited from my mother. The first time I learned about the different stages in mitosis, I was amazed about the “dance of the chromosomes,” how the process occurred in such a tiny cell, and impressed that our bodies were capable of such mechanisms. In college, for my senior design project, I joined the J. Craig Venter Institute’s Synthetic Biology group. After completing my Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering with a focus on biotechnology, I sought more opportunities. I was part of LabCentral Ignite’s Career Forge program, where I honed my laboratory skills. After completing the program, I landed my current role in the biotech industry, where I am committed to advancing our understanding of genetic therapies. I am deeply thankful for the support and advice from various mentors throughout my journey.
I love exploring botanic gardens and being near bodies of water, where I enjoy kayaking and hiking to see waterfalls. I am also passionate about exploring libraries and independently owned bookstores and can spend hours reading contemporary fiction and memoirs. I set a goal to read 12 books a year, a tradition I’ve maintained for the past three years. In addition, I enjoy science fiction TV shows, building 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with my family.
I am passionate about preserving my cultural heritage. I am working on a project with a PhD student in Linguistics to learn and protect my mother’s indigenous language, Chinanteco, which belongs to the Oto-Manguean linguistic family. This work is incredibly meaningful to me, as it helps keep our cultural history alive and allows me to connect more deeply with my family’s roots. I also like to eat nopal cactus and prickly pear, although both can be hard to find in Massachusetts.
I believe in the power of sharing, and I’m always looking to support those around me. Mistakes will happen; what is essential is what you learn in the process, and you should avoid making the same mistake twice. I highly encourage students to take advantage of the resources available at their campuses and network as much as possible. Actively seek mentorship and career advice and stay connected with people who support your journey.
