Abstract:
This webinar will highlight sleep and circadian rhythm research at UCLA. It will also highlight programs at UCLA that expand access to research training and mentorship, advancing inclusive excellence and preparing the next generation of scholars in neuroscience and related disciplines.
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2025 Speaker Bio:
Ketema Paul, PhD
 
Dr. Paul is committed to expanding opportunities in science and academic research. He serves as Co-Director of the Bunche Fellows Program at the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA, where he mentors students pursuing research careers in a variety of academic disciplines. He also directs the UCLA–HBCU Neuroscience Pathways Program, which provides meaningful research experiences and long-term mentorship for students from HBCUs.
 
Dr. Paul is the founding Director of the Integrative Center for Sleep and Performance at UCLA, a cross-disciplinary initiative focused on understanding how sleep and circadian rhythms influence health and performance across a range of human activities. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Howard University and earned his doctorate in neurobiology with a focus on circadian biology at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Paul completed a postdoctoral fellowship in 2006 at Northwestern University’s Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology in Evanston, Illinois. He then spent a decade as a faculty member at the Neuroscience Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine before joining the UCLA Division of Life Sciences in 2016.
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In all of his roles, Dr. Paul prioritizes mentorship, community engagement, and expanding access to scientific training and discovery.

Moderator:
Diana Rigueur, PhD