Celine Cortes

Doctoral Student
Oklahoma State University - Center for Health Sciences

Celine Cortes received her B.S. in biology from UCLA. There she discovered her love of teaching and outreach through a mentorship program that provides social support and educational activities to underprivileged K-12 youth. Following graduation, she was an Assistant Language Teacher of English at middle and elementary schools in rural Japan for two years. Celine is a fourth year Ph.D. student completing the anatomy and vertebrate paleontology track of the Biomedical Sciences program at Oklahoma State University-Center for Health Sciences (OSU-CHS). She has taught human anatomy to medical and graduate students and is currently working on research. Her research utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to investigate ecological consequences of historical sympatry among canids in the Southern Great Plains of the United States, focusing on wolves, coyotes, and dogs. Celine is the current Vice President of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Association (BSGSA) at OSU-CHS and regularly participates in STEM outreach events for underserved students. She is currently developing a summer program for Hispanic college-age students to experience paleontological field work and learn about the relationship between cultural practices and science. She aspires to hold a faculty position to teach human anatomy, conduct paleontological research, and continue STEM outreach and mentorship.