Ximena Leon

Ximena Leon is a doctoral student in Nicole Creanza’s Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt where she studies the evolution of syntax and rhythm in birdsong. She is a recipient of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship, and she spends much of her time participating in STEM outreach and education programs and serving as a mentor for both high school and undergraduate students. She graduated from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with Honors in Biology and a Chemistry minor. Outside of her studies, Ximena enjoys art, watching true crime documentaries, volunteering in her hometown, and spending time with her dog, Asher.