Science and Medicine Graduate Research Scholars (SciMed GRS)
- Welcome
- Program Overview
- Community
- Student Profiles
- Donate
- Contact Us
Welcome to SciMed GRS
The Science and Medicine Graduate Research Scholars (SciMed GRS) Program is a new program on the UW-Madison campus that strives to enhance the experiences of underrepresented graduate students in the College of Agricultural Sciences and the School of Medicine and Public
Health. SciMed GRS coordinates professional development opportunities and community gatherings of graduate scholars.
Upcoming Events
SciMed GRS at the Terrace
Thursday, August 20th 6:00 pm
Location: Memorial Union Terrace
SciMed GRS New Student Orientation
Tuesday, August 25th 2:00 - 5:30 pm
Location: 2511 Microbial Sciences
SciMed GRS Mentor Hosted Cookout for New Students
Sunday, August 30th 4:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Rennebohm Park
SciMed GRS Welcome Dinner
Tuesday, September 8th 6:30 pm
Location: Sara Patterson's House
SciMed GRS Coffee Hour
Friday, October 9th 9:00 - 10:30 am
Location: 3rd Floor Atrium, Microbial Sciences
SciMed GRS Fall Meetings
Tuesday, September 22nd 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Stress Management Strategies
Speaker: Rob Sepich, University Health Services
Location: 1510 Microbial Sciences
Tuesday, October 6th 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Speaking to a Professional Audience
Speaker: Al Guyant, Guyant & Associates LLC
Location: 6201 Microbial Sciences
Tuesday, October 20th 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Networking
Location: 1510 Microbial Sciences
Tuesday, November 10th 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Dinner with Dr. Ahna Skop
Location: 1510 Microbial Sciences
Tuesday, December 1st 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Financial Workshop
Location: 1510 Microbial Sciences
Overview
The Science and Medicine Graduate Research Scholars Program has been established to enhance the experiences and opportunities of our underrepresented graduate students at the University of Wisconsin in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the School of Medicine and Public Health. There are 32 Departments and Graduate Programs that are included in the SciMed GRS Program that offer a range of opportunities.
Program Benefits
- Graduate tuition and stipend available for eligible students (2 years for PhD, 1 year Masters)
- Comprehensive health insurance plan for individual or family
- Welcome check for incoming students
- Professional development & social activities for new and continuing students
- Opportunities to connect with graduate students from similar disciplines and backgrounds
Participating Graduate Programs
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
See the program descriptions on this website for more information about CALS graduate programs, all of which take part in SciMed GRS.
School of Medicine and Public Health
School of Medicine and Public Health also has programs (listed below) involved with SciMed GRS. Click on the program topic for more information.
Our Community
SciMed GRS is unique fellowship program offering professional development and community programs in addition to funding opportunity. Through SciMed GRS, students are members of a supportive community of UW-Madison graduate students, faculty, and staff from biological science disciplines. The SciMed GRS community strives to provide students with opportunities and support to achieve their goals. The SciMed GRS Faculty Advisory Committee (pdf) is comprised of 16 faculty members from CALS and SMPH.
SciMed GRS is a part of a larger community of GRS programs at UW-Madison that include students in the Graduate Engineering Research Scholars, Community of Graduate Research Scholars, and Education Graduate Research Scholars, providing a vast network of graduate scholars. In addition to the GRS communities, a variety of student groups and associations are present on UW-Madison’s campus including:
Multicultural Graduate Network (MGN)
Graduate Student Collaborative (GSC)
Delta Program: Integrating Research, Teaching, and Learning
List of Registered Student Organizations
Student Profiles
Gary Baisa
PhD Student
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology
BS Northern Illinois University
I work in Dr. Rodney Welch's lab and we study a bacterial strain of Escherichia coli that infects the urinary tract. We are currently studying a set of genes (dsdCXA) that are responsible for degrading a special form (D-form) of the amino acid serine and what role serine and these genes play in the infection process.
Samantha Bromfield
Masters Student
Population Health
BS Oakwood University
Research: I work with the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW), which is a statewide survey modeled after the CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) that will thoroughly examine the health of Wisconsin. My role is to assist in developing protocols for the survey, putting together the questionnaires, and any other duties that may arise as the project continues, such as analysis and/or manipulation
of the data.
Kaylee DeGrace
Masters Student
Life Sciences Communication
BA Journalism, Ithaca College
Hometown: Cape Cod, MA
Research Description: Incorporating media literacy into science education curriculum
Hobbies: Ice skating, salsa dancing, traveling, leading after school science club at a local elementary school
Things I like best about Madison: Madisons has a fun, intellectual, and laid-back vibe.
Vanity Gee
Masters Student
Agricultural & Applied Economics
BS Economics, Truman State University
Hometown: Belleville, IL
Research Description: Evaluating the relationship between maternal mental health and low birth weight in Peruvian households
Hobbies: Reading, playing clarinet and saxophone, listening to music, watching horror movies and documentaries, knitting, crocheting
Things I like best about Madison: Madison has a wonderful variety of cultural events and
opportunities for outdoor activities.
Valerie Grant
PhD Candidate
Neuroscience Training Program
BS Biochemistry, University of Michigan
Hometown: Okemos, MI
Research Description: Structure/function relationship of ligand gated ion channels
Hobbies: Riding my bike named Bike!, walking my dog, internet tv, languages and shoes.
Things I like best about Madison: Definitely cheese
Patric Hernandez
PhD Candidate
Neuroscience Training Program &
LaFollette School Public Affairs
BS University of Texas at San Antonio
Research: Functional MRI as a diagnostic tool for acute comatose state patients as a result of traumatic brain injury or cardiac arrest.
Abiola Keller
PhD Candidate
Population Health
BS Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University
Hometown: Stevens Point, WI
Research Description: Impact of stress on health, health disparities
Hobbies: Shopping, watching college basketball
Things I like best about Madison: Madison has great restaurants!
Sarah Jadin
Masters Student
Nutritional Sciences
BS University of Wisconsin--Green Bay
My research involves two studies: one is to determine if CF infants can achieve normal growth with breastfeeding and the other involves looking at vitamin D status and supplementation in CF children. I have received the Advanced Opportunity Fellowship.
Omar Jobe
PhD Candidate
Endocrinology & Reproductive Physiology
BS Eastern Washington Univeristy
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Research Description: Estrogen metabolism, pregnancy and the pathophysiology of preclampsia
Hobbies: Basketball, watching sports, music
Things I like best about Madison: Madison is home to great people, great lakes, and an exceptional institution.
Kathy Napaaqtuq Milligan-Myhre
PhD Student
Microbiology Doctoral Training Program
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology
BS University of Wisconsin - Madison
I have identified 2 genes possibly responsible for the ability of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii to establish a chronic infection in mammals. I am currently characterizing those genes, including localization of the gene products and identifying roles those proteins may have in the parasite. I have received the Advanced Opportunity
Fellowship and am
a
Molecular Biosciences
Training Grant Fellow.
Samira Musah
PhD Candidate
Chemistry, Chemical Biology Training Program
BS with Honors, State University of New York at Binghamton
Research: Designing defined synthetic matrices for controlling the self-renewal and differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. I have received the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Advanced Opportunity Fellowship, and Merck Opportunity Award.
Miguel Santiago Medina
PhD Candidate
Neuroscience Training Program
BS Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez
My field of research study is developmental neurobiology. I study the motility, outgrowth and guidance of the tip of a growing axon, the growth cone, in Xenopus embryonic neurons. Currently, I am studying the changes that arise in the actin cytoskeleton of growth cones in the presence of certain Rho GTPases.
Soraya Silva
Masters Candidate
Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology
BS Cell Molecular Biology, San Diego State University
Hometown: Ukiah, CA
Research Description: Prolactin as an adipokine.
Hobbies: Dancing, running, yoga.
Things I like best about Madison: I like warm days by the lake and spending time on State Street. I like the cozy times at home on snowy days.
Bharti Solanki
PhD Student
Genetics
BS Genetics, University of California Davis
MS Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
I am mapping and characterizing a maternal effect mutation called aura in zebrafish (Danio rerio). This mutant has defects in cortical granule exocytosis, germ plasm segregation and late cytokinesis. I have received the Advanced Opportunity Fellowship and NIH Ruth L Kirschstein Minority Fellowship.
Norbert Tavares
PhD Candidate
Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, Bacteriology
BS Biology, Southern Connecticut State University
I study bacterial metabolism and physiology, with a specific interest in the late steps of vitamin B12 biosynthesis in Salmonella enterica and Rhodobacter sphaeroides. I have received the Advanced Opportunity Fellowship.
Melba Marie Tejera
PhD Candidate
Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology
BS Biology, University of South Florida
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Research Description: Investigating the molecular and cellular basis of T Cell Memory and CD8+ T Cell Responses in chronic viral infections.
Hobbies: Biking, Reading, Enjoying the outdoors
Things I like best about Madison: Madison is a smaller community with lots of culture and
a safe environment. I like the seasonality in Madison.
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Contact Us
Director: Dr. Sara Patterson, spatters@wisc.edu
Coordinator: Abbey Thompson, akthomp1@wisc.edu
Address & Telephone:
212A Agricultural Hall
1450 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
608-890-2308
Interest Form
For more information please complete the interest form below.
(Note: All fields except Middle Initial are required.)