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, as well as developing research training programs for scholars in the biomedical sciences. 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. 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 Development of Emerging Scholars (PROVIDES). PROVIDES supports early-career scientists in facilitating their transition into independent faculty positions. 

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 in the biomedical sciences.