Science Outreach
Science Communication
Ciencia Pa' Todes (Co-Founder)
A Spanish-language, scicomm initiative based in the Caribbean. Founded in 2020, our mission is to provide a digital, accessible and educational space to scientists in training where discrimination in the field of science is addressed. We want to propose inclusive and intersectional solutions, while taking into consideration race, gender, sexuality, disability, etc.
Learn more: cienciapatodes.org
I've both hosted & participated in a variety of workshops, online storytelling events and graduate school panels.
Click on the images for examples!
General Public Presentations
Ortiz, M., (2024, March). Stress in the Gut and Mind, Oral Presentation at the Brown University Brain Fair in Providence, RI
Ortiz, M. (2023, November) Narrando Historias Personales de la Ciencia, Oral presentation at Story Collider Event, Online
Minardi,C., Ortiz, M. (2023, October) STEM From Podcast Episode Guest, https://rss.com/podcasts/stemfrom/1165862
Ortiz, M., (2023, March). Can Microbes Make You Anxious: The Gut Microbiome & Anxiety. Oral Presentation at the Brown University Brain Fair in Providence, RI
Conference Presentations
Ortiz, M. & Belenky, P., (2024, October). I’ve Gut a Feeling: Effects of sex and gastrointestinal location on microbiome-induced anxiety in an early-life stress model. Flash talk at the 2024 Women in Data Science conference at Brown University in Providence, RI
Ortiz, M. & Belenky, P., (2024, June). I’ve Gut a Feeling: Effects of sex and gastrointestinal location on microbiome-induced anxiety in an early-life stress model. Oral presentation at the International Human Microbiome Congress 2024 in Rome, Italy
Ortiz, M. & Belenky, P., (2024, June). I’ve Gut a Feeling: Effects of sex and gastrointestinal location on microbiome-induced anxiety in an early-life stress model. Poster presentation at the Stress Neurobiology Workshop 2024, Boston, MA
Ortiz, M. & Belenky, P., (2024, March). I’ve Gut a Feeling: Effects of sex and gastrointestinal location on microbiome-induced anxiety in an early-life stress model. Poster presentation at the Mind-Brain Research Day at Brown University, Providence, RI
Ortiz, M., (2023, October). Ciencia Pa Todes: Advancing Science Inclusion in the Caribbean Oral and Panel Presentation at the Inclusive SciComm Symposium at the Metcalf Institute in Kingston, RI
Ortiz, M., (2023, July). Ciencia Pa Todes: Advancing Science Inclusion in the Caribbean Poster Presentation at the ComSciCon 2023 Flagship Conference in Boston, MA
Ortiz, M., Curtis-Joseph, N., Belenky, P. (2023, June). Sex and Age-related Microbiome Differences Differ Between Upper and Lower GI. Poster Presentation at Cell Symposia: Infection in the age of the microbiome in Paris, FR
Ortiz, M., Bayman, P., (2022, June). Genetic Diversity and Prevalence of Coleosporium plumeriae, an Invasive Fungus in Puerto Rico. Oral Presentation at the SACNAS New England Regional Conference in Providence, RI
Ortiz, M., Bayman, P., (2021, April). Genetic Diversity and Prevalence of Coleosporium plumeriae, an Invasive Fungus in Puerto Rico. Oral Presentation at the 6to Encuentro Subgraduado de Criias in San Juan, PR.
Ortiz, M., Caldwell, M., Bayman, P., (2020, November). Incidence and Severity of Coleosporium plumeriae, an Invasive Fungus in Puerto Rico. E-Poster Presentation at the Virtual Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS 2020).
Ortiz, M., Stelzer, T., Lopez, V., (2019, November). A Minimalistic Method for Solubility Determination: A Step Towards Continuous Process Development. Poster Presentation at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS 2019) in Anaheim, California.
Ortiz, M., Stelzer, T., Lopez, V., (2019, May). A Minimalistic Method for Solubility Determination: A Step Towards Continuous Process Development. Oral Presentation at the 53rd Junior Technical Meeting at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus.
Ortiz, M., (2019, April) The First Time Forensic Entomology Helped Solve a Murder. Poster session at the 9th Annual Conference for Climate and Society: Forensic Science at the Service of the Community at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus.
Ortiz, M., (2019, April) The Women That Led Me To STEM. Oral Presentation at the XII Colloquium for Women at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus.
Ortiz, M., Wurster, J. & Belenky, P. (2019, April). Impact of the Host Metabolism on Bacterial Antibiotic Responses. Poster session at the XII Colloquium for Women at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus.
Ortiz, M., Wurster, J. & Belenky, P. (2018, December). Impact of the Host Metabolism on Bacterial Antibiotic Responses. Oral Presentation presented at the 5th ASBMB Annual Research Symposium at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus.
Ortiz, M., Wurster, J. & Belenky, P. (2018, August). Impact of the Host Metabolism on Bacterial Antibiotic Responses. Poster session at the Brown University Research Symposium in Providence, RI
Ortiz, M., Wurster, J. & Belenky, P. (2018, August). Impact of the Host Metabolism on Bacterial Antibiotic Responses. Oral Presentation presented at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium in Hartford, CT
Academic & Community Service
Pathobiology Peer Mentor Program at Brown University (Committee Chair)
SEP 2023-PRESENT: I coordinate peer mentor matches, plan and host community events and serve as the main point of contact for mentors and mentees during the academic year.
SACNAS at Brown University (Undergraduate Research Chair)
SEP 2023-PRESENT: Led and developed the research mentor matching program that helps place undergraduate students from minority backgrounds into research labs. I was in charge of recruiting mentors and mentees and planning related workshops (such as the NSF GRFP Best Practices webinar, which had an attendance of nearly 100 students.) I also have office hours every week, where I personally coach and advise undergraduates on how to find a lab and interview with professors.
Samuel Nabrit Conference for Early Career Scholars (Conference Planning Committee)
MAY-JUNE 2024: Coordinated and planned all the logistics for the Local Cuisine Showcase, which was the evening reception on the first day of the conference. This involved calling vendors, managing the budget and leading team meetings. As a planning committee member, I also helped with disseminating and editing promotional materials for the conference.
Graduate Student Council at Brown University (Chair of Technology)
JUNE 2022-JAN 2023: Managed all of the GSC’s emails, websites and social media pages. Administrated the Brown Graduate Student Wiki and emailing lists. Worked to plan and host events for the wider graduate student community. Specifically began efforts to include disabled graduate students in more events by increasing meeting accessibility