SPINES Alumnus Wins "Rising Black Scientist" Award from Cell Press

Senegal Alfred Mabry of Cornell University, a 2022 graduate of the MBL Summer Program in Neuroscience, Excellence and Success (SPINES), has received a 2024 Rising Black Scientist Award from Cell Press, Cell Signaling Technology, and the Elsevier Foundation.

Mabry, who describes himself as "a storyteller, an organizer, and a scientist," received the award for his essay, " “Enough with ‘The Shakes’: Fighting Parkinson’s as a Black researcher and a community organizer.”

Mabry, the first Black male doctoral student studying human neuroscience in Cornell's psychology department, wrote in his essay:

"My scientific vision makes it impossible for research to be my only way to organize my community. I took the initiative to form a coalition of universities, clinicians, researchers, and nonprofits in Upstate New York to build a better strategy for Parkinson’s care and outreach. We are on a path to make information, medicine, and research more accessible to empower them in their fight against this disease. Without my journey advocating for an equitable educational system and opportunities for boys and young men of color, I would not have the skills to lead this coalition."

Four scientists received a Rising Black Scientist award this year. In addition to the publication of their essays in Cell, winners also receive $10,000 to support their research and a $500 travel grant.