Parris Washington is a PhD candidate at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is the class of 2024 and is working towards her PhD in Human Genetics. Currently, her research focuses on hypothalamic development and mechanisms of sleep at the Seth Blackshaw Lab at Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her research interest, she advocates for science communication and policy in underserved communities. She is also a mentor at the Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). In this episode, we discuss her research interests and how she intends to influence science communication and policy. She’s proud of her graduation from an HBCU- Spelman College.