A nationally sought-after speaker on diversity in the scientific workforce, Dr. Marcus Lambert is known for his expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and his commitment to mentorship.

In January of 2014, he was recruited to Weill Cornell Medicine to support and increase the number of students from underrepresented groups in the Graduate School. As Assistant Dean of Diversity and Student Life and Assistant Professor of Education Research in Medicine, Dr. Lambert led a $2.4 million NIH-funded Initiative to Maximize Student Development (IMSD) Program to increase the number and enhance the success of Ph.D. students from underrepresented backgrounds. Dr. Lambert established a new office devoted to student diversity and building community across the training continuum leading to an increase in the percentage of Ph.D. students from underrepresented backgrounds. He developed mentor training programs for both faculty and students, including a near-peer mentoring program to help first-year students from diverse backgrounds transition into their Ph.D. programs. Dr. Lambert is a member of such national advisory boards as Cell Press’ Rising Black Scientists Award Academic Advisory Board and a standing member of the NIH/NIGMS Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity (TWD-D) Study Section.

Dr. Lambert currently serves as Associate Vice President for Research Strategy and Operations at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Trained in both biomedical and social science research methodology, Dr. Lambert's research efforts focus on interventions that improve access, equity and diversity in science and medicine. Dr. Lambert is one of the Principal Investigators of the TRANSlational Program Of health disparities Research Training (TRANSPORT), a $10 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to form a translational health disparities research program, with a focus on recruiting and training underrepresented minority scientists. 

Dr. Lambert received his Ph.D. in biomedical science from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and his bachelor’s degree from Howard University. He also holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research from Weill Cornell Graduate School. Dr. Lambert resides in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and four children.