Dr. Karen Peralta Martinez is a Bioinformatics Scientist at Nestlé Health Science, where she supports pharmaceutical research and development for VOWST, an FDA-approved microbiome therapeutic. In her role, she applies bioinformatics, multi-omics, and computational biology approaches to advance microbiome research, biomarker discovery, and translational development.
Karen earned her Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Pittsburgh. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bucknell University after beginning her academic journey at Lehigh Carbon Community College. Karen came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 2010 with minimal English-speaking skills and began college as an English as a Second Language student. After studying education at LCCC for two years, she transferred to Bucknell through the Bucknell Community College Scholars Program, an initiative supported at the time by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. This pathway provided the academic foundation and support that ultimately enabled her to pursue doctoral training and a career in science.
Mentoring women throughout her scientific career has been a central part of Karen’s personal and professional mission. She is committed to helping others advance their careers through mentorship, professional development, and meaningful networking opportunities. At Lehigh Carbon Community College, she founded the International Student Association to create a welcoming space where international students could embrace their identities, build community, and establish academic and professional connections. At Bucknell University, Karen served as an after-school tutor coordinator through the Office of Civic Engagement. In this role, she supported programs that introduced young girls and boys to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics and encouraged them to develop confidence and curiosity as they explored their STEAM journeys. At the University of Pittsburgh, Karen continued this work by organizing and leading STEM career panels that increased awareness of the wide variety of professional opportunities available across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Growing up in the Dominican Republic, she did not have access to many of these opportunities as a young girl. After coming to the United States, she was inspired to see how early science exposure could open doors for children, while also recognizing that many communities here still have limited access to those same experiences. This realization strengthened her commitment to helping create welcoming, inclusive spaces where young people can discover science, build confidence, and imagine themselves pursuing STEAM careers. She hopes to inspire others to pursue ambitious goals, cultivate strong professional networks, and create opportunities for those who follow them.
Every future scientist deserves someone who believes in them as they navigate their personal and educational journey. I strive to be that bridge, creating space for and fostering opportunities for others to discover their passion and joy for science and the confidence to pursue it.
