Joshua Sanchez is a Health Program Specialist. He received his PhD from the University of New Mexico in neuroscience where he studied the effects of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder on immune mechanisms which render one susceptible to developing neuropathic pain. He then did his postdoc at the University of California San Diego where he researched the role of glia in neuronal regeneration following spinal cord injury. Following his time at UCSD, Joshua joined the National Science Foundation as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy fellow with the NSF INCLUDES initiative. This initiative funds projects that are focused on increasing representation within STEM. After his fellowship, he then became a science and health research project manager with a federal contractor called Ripple Effect. Here, he managed projects related to broadening participation within grant and training programs. Joshua hopes to apply the skillsets gained in academia, government, and project management to his new role as program specialist in the NINDS OPEN.