Epigenetics

Ainash Childebayeva

Drilling for DNA: The Unexpected Adventures of a Public Health Anthropologist

Ainash Childebayeva, PhD ’19

Could that researcher in goggles sitting in a lab really be an anthropologist? And how much adventure will they actually have? From the top of the Himalayas and the Andes to the insides of cells, Ainash Childebayeva has combined anthropology, genetics, and public health to uncover secrets of human history and keep today’s vulnerable populations healthy.

Kelly M. Bakulski

Frogs, Brains, and Team Science

Kelly M. Bakulski

Taking a broad interest in biology, Kelly Bakulski found herself studying the subject on both the micro and macro scales. As a professor and researcher in epidemiology, she explores the impact the environment and genetics have on neurological disorders throughout a lifespan. Now, her focus on engaged learning and collaboration in the classroom has led her to be named the 2019 Excellence in Teaching award winner.

Lauren Beesley

Math and Other Risky Things

Lauren Beesley

“To be honest, biostatistics was a huge risk. I was intrigued by the idea of using my math skills to serve what one might call a greater purpose. But planning a career in a field I was just beginning to understand was definitely a risk,” says Beesley.