Arnaldo Diaz Vazquez, Ph.D.

Dr. Arnaldo Diaz Vazquez is an Associate Dean at the UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology. Dr. Diaz Vazquez received a BS in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University. After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Diaz Vazquez completed postdoctoral training in cancer pharmacology in the Blair Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. 

Dr. Diaz Vazquez has over a decade of experience developing and implementing outreach, recruitment, retention initiatives, and research training programs. These initiatives aim at increasing the number and enhancing the success of Ph.D. and postdoctoral trainees from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the biomedical sciences. Dr. Diaz Vazquez is a Leadership Alliance Doctoral Scholar and an alumnus of the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute. Dr. Diaz Vazquez has participated in training offered by the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) and the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER). Dr. Diaz Vazquez also received the 2022 SACNAS Distinguished Mentor Award. 

At UT Southwestern, Dr. Diaz Vazquez oversees several research and education training programs, including the UTSW's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, the Amgen Scholars Program, and the UTSW Postbaccalaureate to Ph.D. (PB2PHD) program. In addition, Dr. Diaz Vazquez co-directs the UTSW Provost's Initiative for Diverse Emerging Scholars (PROVIDES). PROVIDES contributes resources and support to early-career scientists to facilitate their transition into independent faculty positions. Dr. Diaz Vazquez also serves as the faculty advisor for several student-led organizations, such as Differently Abled Science Heroes in STEM (DASH in STEM), the Association of African American Scientists (TAAAS), the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), and Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM). 

Before joining UTSW, Dr. Diaz Vazquez was the Assistant Dean for Research Training Programs at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, where he spearheaded numerous initiatives, including overseeing recruitment, retention, and training efforts for students from underrepresented backgrounds in the biomedical sciences.