Project Title: Allostatic Load and Race: Implications for Cardiovascular Health in Pregnancy and Beyond
Position: Postdoctoral Scholar
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Funding NIH Institute/Center: National Institute of Nursing Research
Grant ID: K99NR020215
Mitali Ray was born to Indian immigrants from Kolkata, West Bengal, in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, where she grew up. Her deep love for science was sparked during an undergraduate prerequisite biology course when she learned about the structure and function of the protein, ATP synthase, in cellular respiration (yes, really!). Dr. Ray earned a BS in biology from Towson University, a PhD in biomedical sciences from Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and an accelerated BS in nursing from West Chester University. Her ongoing postdoctoral training has taken place at University of Pittsburgh, where she has been supported by T32 programs in omics and cardiovascular disease epidemiology in the Schools of Nursing and Public Health, respectively. Dr. Ray is strongly committed to developing a diverse research workspace and creating inclusive spaces for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent communities in science. She is currently a postdoctoral representative for the Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Discrimination Advocacy Committee of the University of Pittsburgh senate and a board member for Queer Family Planning Project, a nonprofit dedicated to offsetting family planning costs for the queer community in Pittsburgh.