Kishana Taylor is a virologist, president, and co-founder of the Black Microbiologists Association (BMA), co-founder of Black In Microbiology (BIM) Week, and an incoming assistant professor at Towson University in the Department of Biological Sciences. Dr. Taylor earned a B.S. in Animal Science and an M.S. in Public Health Microbiology and Emerging Infectious Diseases before earning her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences from The University of Georgia. Dr. Taylor is a Cornell Rising Star, former HHMI Inclusive Excellence Fellow, and Visiting Assistant Professor at The College of New Jersey. Dr. Taylor’s research focuses on the pandemic potential of arthropod-borne viruses via experimental evolution, disease ecology, and molecular epidemiology.
Dr. Taylor’s broader interests include emerging zoonotic viruses and how, and to whom, they spread post-emergence; pandemic preparedness, and systemic inequalities exacerbated by infectious diseases. She is also interested in effective ways to improve science literacy and communication of science to the general public. She has communicated the importance of virology and broader science literacy to many audiences ranging from high school and college students to fiction writers. She has participated in multiple events for everyday citizens concerned about COVID-19 vaccinations.
Dr. Taylor is passionate about improving the outlook for scientists from historically excluded groups through tangible solutions to removing systemic barriers in all but, especially academic spaces. She works to promote equity in STEM centers racial justice and the facilitation of better environments for trainees (students and postdocs). Her work with BIM and BMA has garnered national recognition via the New York Times, and the American Society Microbiology via The William A. Hinton Award. In addition to her work with BMA, she has also served on the DEI committee and as a councilor for trainees for the American Society for Virology (ASV).
Virologist
B.S., Animal Science, 2011
M.S., Public Health Microbiology and Emerging Infectious Disease, 2013
Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences, 2018
Photo credit: Sara Huny Young