Brayan earned a B.S. in microbiology from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. At the Hewson lab, he focuses on studying the pathogenic ciliate responsible for the mass mortality of sea urchins who belong to the Diadematidae family. He is a 2nd-year graduate student, NSF-GRFP, and CALS Stadtman Fellow in the Microbiology PhD program at Cornell University. He is passionate about making science, especially microbiology, more accessible and inclusive through organizing events, workshops, and seminars that foster a welcoming environment for all aspiring scientists.