Tropical Medicine PhD Student Kaitlin Driesse Keegan Selected as 2021 ARCS Foundation Scholar

Tropical Medicine PhD Student Kaitlin Driesse Keegan has been selected to receive a 2021 ARCS Foundation Scholar Award by ARCS Honolulu Chapter.  The Honolulu Chapter awarded 19 scholar awards in May 2021 to doctoral students in STEM fields at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. The $5,000 unrestricted grants provide resources for professional travel, computer and research equipment and materials, and educational and personal expenses.  ARCS Scholars will be recognized in a virtual ARCS Honolulu Meet the Scholars Event on May 19, 2021.

Kaitlin received the Ellen M. Koenig ARCS Award. The following information about Kaitlin is excerpted from the ARCS Scholars Award Website:

Research focus: Examining antibody response to dengue and Zika viruses in pregnant women to understand the antibody profiles associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with Zika virus.

Goal: Conduct global health research to improve the health of those in regions affected by neglected tropical diseases.

Education: BA in biology with a minor in Spanish, MS in epidemiology, graduate certificates in global health studies and public health surveillance and preparedness, State of New York University at Albany

Honors: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Young Investigator Award, first-tier mention; Tropical Medicine Achievement and Minority Health Research Training awards; PhD poster 3rd prize, American Society of Microbiology Hawai‘i Branch.

Interests: Trying new recipes from other cultures, hiking, spending time with husband Jeff and cat Blossom.

The non-profit volunteer ARCS Foundation Inc. organization works to keep the US competitive in science and technology by supporting outstanding graduate students in STEM and health fields. The Honolulu Chapter has provided more than $2 million to UH graduate students since their founding in 1974.