These judges will choose the 1st, 2nd, and 3nd place awardees from among the finalists at the live Postdoc Slam event on September 21, 2022. See also the screening judges who will review initial video entries and select the finalists.
Peter Chin-Hong, MD, associate dean and professor in the School of Medicine, specializes in treating infectious diseases. He has a focus on infections that develop in immunosuppressed patients, such as recipients of organ and stem cell transplants, particularly HIV-positive recipients of organ transplants. In research, Chin-Hong studies human papillomavirus, Chagas disease, and viral and fungal infections in patients with suppressed immune systems. Chin-Hong earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Brown University, and completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in infectious diseases at UCSF. Chin-Hong was selected by students to deliver the 2021 UCSF Last Lecture.
Sona Chowdhury, PhD, is a virologist who works as a specialist in the Department of Medicine at UCSF. As a postdoc, Sona won the top prize in UCSF's 2018 Postdoc Slam competition for her talk "But, the 'Butt Cancer' that No One Talks About," in which she discussed her research into anal cancer. She earned a PhD in virology from Louisiana State University, and did postdoctoral work at UCSF with mentor Joel Palevsky.
Mina Kim is host of the 10 a.m. statewide hour of KQED public radio's Forum, a live daily talk show for curious Californians on issues that matter to the state and nation, with a particular emphasis on race and equity. Before joining the Forum team, Mina was KQED’s evening news anchor, and health reporter for KQED's The California Report. Her award-winning work has included covering natural disasters in Napa and gun violence in Oakland. At the University of Michigan she studied the intersection of gender, race and class. She was a first-grade teacher through Teach For America, and ran a mentorship program for students aspiring to be the first in their families to go to college. Mina grew up in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Renee Navarro, MD, PharmD, is UCSF's first-ever vice chancellor for Diversity and Outreach, charged with creating and maintaining a diverse university environment where everyone has an opportunity to excel. She is also a professor of anesthesia and perioperative care. After completing medical school and residency at UCSF, Navarro joined the faculty in 1990. Before medical school she completed a PharmD at the University of the Pacific, and she is a registered pharmacist as well. Throughout her career, Navarro has served on many committees and commissions for local, regional and national initiatives to advance the efforts of women, people with disabilities, African Americans and vulnerable populations, as well as trauma and critical care providers. She has been recognized for her service to UCSF with the Chancellor’s Celebration of Women Faculty Award and the Chancellor’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award.
Katherine Nielsen, MS, MA, is director of UCSF's Science and Health Education Partnership (SEP) – now celebrating it's 35th year – and co-founder of the Bay Area Science Festival, which annually brings together tens of thousands of STEM role models, families, youth and adults to experience the wonder of science. Her experience in education and science includes teaching science at the middle and high school, community college, and undergraduate level, and conducting research in developmental neurobiology. Katherine completed an MA in education at Stanford University, and an MS in biological sciences from Montana State University.