Maria X. Cardenas Alvarez, Ph.D., is a skilled researcher with extensive experience in the field of molecular pathogenesis and microbiology. Currently serving as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Maria has previously held roles as a Medical Writer and Consultant at FBL ClinWriters, LLC, and gained research experience as a Graduate Research Assistant and Graduate Teaching Assistant at North Dakota State University. Earlier experience includes a Graduate Research Internship at Sanford Health and a position as a Safety Data Specialist in Pharmacovigilance at Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD). Maria earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Pathogenesis from North Dakota State University and a Master's degree in Microbiology from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.