Dr. Ariangela J. Kozik is a microbiologist, science communicator, and an advocate for minoritized groups in STEMM. She holds a PhD in Comparative Pathobiology and is currently a research investigator at the University of Michigan in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. Her research focus is the role of the respiratory microbiome and host-microbiome interactions in asthma pathogenesis and treatment response. Dr. Kozik’s broad interests include translational systems biology of inflammatory disease, the human microbiome, and biopsychosocial frameworks to address health disparities. She is passionate about transforming systems to sustain future generations of research scientists. Her advocacy work in academic medicine has centered on racial justice and the needs of trainees with dependents. She is the co-founder and Vice President of the Black Microbiologists Association (also known as Black In Microbiology), and a member of the Microbes and Social Equity working group.