Four Ph.D. students at the University of Notre Dame have joined the Eck Institute for Global Health as graduate research fellows. The Institute will support the students as they pursue topics in global health, including infectious disease and maternal health research.

The Eck Institute’s graduate fellowship program provides training, mentorship, and opportunities for collaboration with Notre Dame’s internationally recognized global health experts. Graduate fellows also have access to interdisciplinary opportunities, including the Notre Dame Global Health Case Competition.

Dr. Bernard Nahlen, director of the Eck Institute for Global Health, said “We are excited to have our 2023-2024 cohort of graduate fellows join the Eck Institute this year as they are all exceptional scholars.” Nahlen added that, “they have an extraordinary opportunity to contribute their research expertise toward understanding existing and emerging global health challenges.”

The Institute’s 2023-2024 graduate fellows are:

• Alyssa La Bella: La Bella’s research project is titled “Dissecting the Efg1 Virulence Network of Candida albicans in the Catheterized Bladder.”

• Elizabeth Lau: Lau’s project is titled “Validation of a Clinical Screening Tool for Postpartum Depression in Rural United States.”

• Bradley Jones: Jones’ research project is titled “Defining the Roles of Lysine Acetyltransferases MMAR_3740 and MMAR_3692 in Mycobacterial Pathogenesis.”

• Alexis Waldschmidt: Waldschmidt’s research project is titled “The Multiple Disease-Vectoring Roles of NORPA β-Class Phospholipase C Signaling in Aedes Mosquitoes.”

The Eck Institute supports multidisciplinary research from graduate students across the University of Notre Dame who have a specific interest in global health. Graduates of the program have gone on to lead federal and academic research programs.

The Global Health Fellowship program for doctoral students will not accept new applications for the upcoming academic year.

Please visit the Eck Institute for Global Health website for information regarding the fellowship program, and updates on program availability.

Contact:
Christine Grashorn, Communications Specialist
Notre Dame Research / University of Notre Dame
cgrashor@nd.edu / 574.631.4856
research.nd.edu / @UNDResearch

About the Eck Institute for Global Health
The Eck Institute for Global Health (EIGH), an integral part of Notre Dame Research, builds on the University’s historical strength in infectious disease research, including vector-borne diseases, while broadening the interdisciplinary expertise into other key global health areas including maternal, newborn, & child health (MNCH), community health, mental health, nutrition and non-communicable diseases, the environment and health, health analytics and technologies, and health systems and organizations. Our team of interdisciplinary researchers and their students holistically address health disparities around the world. EIGH faculty affiliates recognize health as a fundamental human right and promote research, training, and service to advance health standards for all people, especially those in resource-poor countries who are disproportionately impacted by preventable diseases. The EIGH is training the next generation of global health researchers and leaders through undergraduate, Master of Science in Global Health, doctoral, and postdoctoral programs.

Originally published by Christine Grashorn at globalhealth.nd.edu on November 08, 2023.