Diandra Vaval Taylor received her BS in Chemistry with Biochemistry emphasis from Chicago State University, was a Post Baccalaureate Research Program (PREP) Scholar at the University of Chicago and received her doctorate in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. At the University of Illinois at Chicago she was awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Bridge to Doctorate Fellowship and under the mentorship of Dr. Nancy Freitag, Diandra investigated how Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) uses a peptide pheromone to escape host cells as well as play a critical role in the survival of Lm. Diandra is an active member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and has served as the ASM Ambassador to Illinois, a Future Leader Mentoring Fellow, as well as a council member with the Illinois Society for Microbiology. Diandra enjoys mentoring and teaching undergraduate, and graduate students. She serves as a professional affiliate with the I CAN PERSIST (ICP) STEM Initiative for girls and women of color, she’s involved with the Scientists That Elevate Me organization that aims to expose students of all ages and backgrounds to careers in STEM, and volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club of America. Additionally, she has taught a Biomedical Seminar Series at a medical preparatory high school in Chicago and she has served as a guest lecturer at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and Chicago State University. Currently, Diandra is a K12 IRACDA Postdoctoral Research Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago.