Are you interested in building a career in STEM? Join the last session of The New York Academy of Sciences series designed for you to Chat with Experts in a variety of professions.

This session features Yaihara Fortis Santiago, Ph.D., Associate Director of Postdoctoral Affairs and Trainee Diversity Initiatives at Sloan Kettering Institute. A former AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Yaihara holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and is an active and engaged leader in scientific training and workforce development.

About the speaker

Yaihara Fortis Santiago, PhD

Dr. Fortis Santiago holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras and a PhD in Neuroscience from Brandeis University. Upon graduating with her PhD, she joined the National Science Foundation (NSF) as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow. In 2014, she joined the New York Academy of Sciences, where she created the first leadership program for STEM graduate students: the Science Alliance Leadership Training. And in 2017, she joined Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) to lead the postdoctoral office. More recently, in 2025 she expanded her portfolio to oversee MSK’s scientific Pipeline Training Programs. She is also a doctoral scholar of the Leadership Alliance, and a former fellow of the 92Y Women inPower fellowship.

About the NYAS Chat with Experts Series

Each session features guest speakers from distinguished organizations, including Noven Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and more. Gain invaluable insights into their career journeys, the roles they hold today, and the innovative work they do.

Engage in live Q&A sessions to ask questions that will help shape your own career path. Whether actively pursuing a STEM career or simply exploring possibilities, this event series provides the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.

This series is open to all, regardless of age or background, and is the perfect opportunity to network and learn. Don’t miss your chance to connect with leading STEM professionals and take the next step in your career journey!

Free Cornell Membership to NYAS

Available to all Cornell students, postdocs and faculty, free membership to the New York Academy of Sciences grants access to various resources such as networking, resource building, and career readiness training.