Trailblazing in the Andes: Flavia Montano-Centellas Earns Maxwell-Hanrahan Award in Field Biology

Assistant Professor Flavia Montano-Centellas has been selected as one of the recipients of the Maxwell-Hanrahan Award in Field Biology, recognizing her tireless dedication to studying montane biodiversity and species interactions in Bolivia’s Andean mountains.

Montano-Centellas’ research explores ecosystems across different elevations in the Bolivian Andes, a region that has received little scientific attention due to its challenging topography, inaccessibility and limited infrastructure.

"The mountains are understudied, and logistics are not there yet," Montano-Centellas explained. "In Bolivia we don't have a well-developed Academia, we still don’t have a PhD in Biological Sciences in Bolivia, so working as a Bolivian with a Bolivian team in collecting this data is pretty unique." 

A first-generation scholar, Montano-Centellas is also a single mother. Despite these challenges, she continues to invest in her research while mentoring minority students and helping them overcome barriers to success.

"I'm privileged that I was born in a country that has immense biodiversity," she said. "I remember when I started my PhD, one person in my committee, an amazing mentor, said not to go to Bolivia because the logistics are impossible. I felt like, if I don't do it, who will do it? I'm a Bolivian. I want to produce knowledge for and from my country."

Montano-Centellas credits much of her success to the hard-working team around her, stressing the importance of uplifting her mentees in the scientific community.

"A lot of people will try to tell you that there's an easier path, but you can do it," she said. "As long as you're passionate about what you're doing, it's going to be okay. Just don't be afraid."