María Del Mar Figueroa Gispert is a Ph.D. candidate in the Microbiology and Medical Zoology program at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus (UPR-MSC). She earned her bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, where she researched the intestinal microbiota of Drosophila spp. and served as president of the Wildlife Management Students Association.

Her current doctoral research, under the mentorship of Dr. Ana M. Espino and co-mentorship of Dr. Filipa Godoy Vitorino, focuses on the anti-inflammatory potential of Fasciola hepatica proteins in ulcerative colitis and their effects on the gut microbiome. María Del Mar has co-authored scientific publications and reviews, and has presented her work at multiple conferences.

She is an ASM Future Leaders Mentorship Fellow, a member of the Microbiology Graduate Chapter directive at UPR-MSC, and actively mentors students through the New York Academy of Sciences, Dr. García Rinaldi Foundation, and CienciaPR Seeds of Success program.

María Del Mar currently serves in a two-year term position as the ASM Council on Microbial Sciences (COMS). She brings a strong foundation in leadership, mentorship, and science communication, having completed specialized courses in each of these areas. She aims to amplify diverse voices in microbiology, strengthen early-career representation, and promote inclusive engagement within the ASM and SMPR community. Through this role, she is committed to fostering meaningful dialogue and building supportive networks that empower the next generation of microbiologists.

Email: maria.figueroa14@upr.edu