September 10, 2024 | Reposted from SACNAS Advancing Hispanics/Chicanos & Native Americans in Science FB
Dr. Naomi Lee is from the Seneca Nation of Indians and grew up on the Cattaraugus Reservation in western New York. Dr. Lee received a B.S. in biochemistry from Rochester Institute of Technology. She also completed an M.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Rochester. Currently, Dr. Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University located in Flagstaff, AZ. She is also an affiliated faculty member to the NIMHD-funded Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative (SHERC), the NCI-funded Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP) partnership, and NAU’s Center for Materials Interfaces in Research and Applications (¡MIRA!).
Her research focuses on vaccine design and addressing health disparities in Native American communities. Dr. Lee is the founder and co-director of the Cultural and Academic Research Experience (CARE) program that aims to encourage historically excluded high school students into STEM and health science careers. In addition, Dr. Lee is also a Major in the Army Reserves assigned as a Functional Specialist (FxSP/38G) to the 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade in Honolulu, Hawaii. Previously, she was a Military Police Officer, Senior Training, Advising, and Counseling (TAC) Officer, and Logistics Officer in the Army National Guard.
