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 brings over fifteen years of experience creating and executing outreach, recruitment, and retention strategies and developing research training programs to cultivate diverse talent. Dr. Diaz Vazquez has been the program director for numerous grants from the government, private corporations, and foundations. 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's mentoring record, dedication, and expertise have received nationwide recognition. In 2022, he was named the 2022 SACNAS Distinguished Mentor Award, and in 2024, he received the oSTEM Advisor of the Year. Dr. Diaz Vazquez has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed articles on first-generation college students, graduate school admission, mentoring, and other topics.

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 supports early-career scientists in facilitating their transition into independent faculty positions. Dr. Diaz Vazquez also serves as the faculty advisor for several student-led organizations, including the 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 and postdoctoral fellows, including those from underrepresented backgrounds in the biomedical sciences.