Biology Doctoral Student Receives the Lydia Mendoza Fellowship

Lorissa Saiz Brings Representation to Labs While Mentoring Students

Graduate fellowships should not be taken lightly and are a major accomplishment. Lorissa Saiz in the University of Houston’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is proving why she is worthy.

Lorissa Saiz

Saiz, a biology Ph.D. student, has been honored with the Lydia Mendoza Fellowship from UH’s Center for Mexican American and Latino Studies. CFE International LLC sponsors the fellowship.

The program brings awareness to not only Mexican culture, but Latino culture as well. Students receiving the fellowship must show how they help others in the Latino community through service, training, advising, research, and teaching. Saiz was awarded $16,500 for the full year. Two physics Ph.D. students were also awarded the fellowship.

Lorissa Saiz: Bringing Awareness to Cultural Differences in STEM

Saiz, from Houston, studies evolutionary genetics, with a background in quantitative genetics. While completing her studies, Saiz also serves as president of the UH chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). Through SACNAS, Saiz advocates for diversity in STEM academics.

“It is really important to have people with different perspectives and backgrounds involved in scientific conversations,” said Saiz. “That’s how we push things forward.”

Saiz mentored several students while studying at UH, adding it’s something she is proud of.

“Lorissa has worked tirelessly to build a supportive STEM community at UH, not only for Latino and Native American students, but for all students. She is a leader in every sense, and it is wonderful to see her efforts recognized in the form of this fellowship,” said Erin Kelleher, Saiz’s mentor and an associate professor of biology.

When asked about challenges the Latinx community faces in STEM, Saiz said there is a lack of representation for future students to look up to. However, she hopes others will find inspiration through her work as she advocates for more diversity in STEM education and research.

- Ashley Byers, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics