For students at the UW Department of Global Health, being a Research Assistant (RA) offers an enriching experience for both personal and professional growth. In 2017 more than 13 PhD and MPH students - who are Endowed Fellowship for Global Health Excellence, Equity and Impact recipients and Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI) Top Scholar Award recipients - are undertaking Research Assistantships. Meet the current UW Department of Global Health batch of RAs, learn about their backgrounds and get their first-hand perspective of life as an RA.

 

Ceejay Boyce, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Ceejay Boyce, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Ceejay Boyce
1st year PhD student, Pathobiology, Department of Global Health 
Department of Global Health Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI) Top Scholar Award

Ceejay's research focuses on viral evolution, virus genetic diversity, and antiviral drug resistance - particularly on Zika virus. As an RA, she's had opportunities to learn from a wide variety of experts and mentors in different fields. Read more

Alyssa Brokaw, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Alyssa Brokaw, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Alyssa Brokaw
1st year PhD student, Pathobiology, Department of Global Health
Department of Global Health Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI) Top Scholar Award

Alyssa's research aims to understand molecular mechanisms that define how bacterial pathogens make us sick. As an RA she is part of a collaborative team, learning cool new techniques ranging from mouse cardiac blood collection to using an anaerobic chamber. Read more

 

Claire Gwayi-Chore, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Claire Gwayi-Chore, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Claire Gwayi-Chore
1st year PhD student, Implementation Science, Department of Global Health
Endowed Fellowship for Global Health Excellence, Equity and Impact recipient

Claire seeks ways to help drive successful community-based health interventions. Her research is developing innovative ways to combat intestinal worms transmitted through soil. As an RA, Claire is learning how implementation science can complement "traditional" trials. Read more

Sofia De Anda, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Sofia De Anda, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Sofia De Anda
1st year MPH student, Department of Global Health
Endowed Fellowship for Global Health Excellence, Equity and Impact recipient

Sofia is interested in health systems strengthening, implementation science, and HIV prevention. Being an RA has allowed her to gain invaluable experience as part of a collaborative process through which she is learning how teams work together on different areas of the same project. Read more

Jacyln Escudero, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Jacyln Escudero, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Jaclyn Escudero
1st year MPH student, Department of Global Health
Department of Global Health Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI) Top Scholar Award

Jaclyn is investigating ways to prevent HIV infection through improving PrEP counseling for adolescent girls and young women in Kenya. Her RA has allowed her to be a part of a study as it unfolds and learn from researchers from diverse backgrounds. Read more

 

Mark Fernandez, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Mark Fernandez, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Mark Fernandez
1st year PhD student, Pathobiology, Department of Global Health
Department of Global Health Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI) Top Scholar Award

Mark is interested in bacterial pathogenesis and the rising tide of antibiotic resistance. As an RA, he is getting to know world-class faculty and students and is reminded of the "bigger picture" by the incredible work done by the Department of Global Health. Read more

Courtney Jackson, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Courtney Jackson, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Courtney Jackson
1st year MPH student, Department of Global Health
Endowed Fellowship for Global Health Excellence, Equity and Impact recipient

Courtney is working on a project in Mozambique that aims to integrate treatment for depression and suicidal thoughts into primary care. Being an RA has provided me with a phenomenal mentor, whose perspective and advice and has had a large role in shaping her graduate experience. Read more

Meredith Kimball, UW Global Health Research Assistant
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Meredith Kimball, UW Global Health Research Assistant
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Meredith Kimball
1st year PhD student, Implementation Science, Department of Global Health
Department of Global Health Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI) Top Scholar Award

Meredith is interested in the intersection of health systems, quality, and measurement. As an RA she can immediately apply and build on the skills she is learning through her coursework. Read more

Sarah Lawrence, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Sarah Lawrence, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Sarah Lawrence
1st year MPH student, Department of Global Health
Department of Global Health Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI) Top Scholar Award

Sarah's focus is on adolescent and women’s sexual and reproductive health. Through her RA, she is learning about the process of setting up a new study and gaining a better understanding of the critical components that must be accomplished before on the ground research can occur. Read more

Amy Lu, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Amy Lu, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Amy Lu
1st year PhD student, Pathobiology, Department of Global Health
Department of Global Health Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI) Top Scholar Award

Amy is interested in infectious diseases, specifically host-pathogen interactions. As an RA, she is rotating in an HIV lab where she is looking at the integration sites of HIV in the human genome. Read more

Megan Malone, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Megan Malone, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Megan Malone
1st year MPH student, Department of Global Health
Endowed Fellowship for Global Health Excellence, Equity and Impact recipient

Megan's interest is in community-based participatory research in low resource settings and implementing intervention strategies. While her primary focus is on infectious diseases like malaria and HIV, as an RA she has taken a new interest in the importance of cervical cancer screenings and contraceptive use. Read mor

Sarah Masyuko, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Sarah Masyuko, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Sarah Masyuko
1st year PhD student, Implementation Science, Department of Global Health
Department of Global Health Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI) Top Scholar Award

Sarah’s academic focus is on implementation science and the translation of research results into practice in addressing HIV in Kenya. Her RA has allowed her to apply concepts learnt in research. Read more

Rabi Yunusu, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Rabi Yunusu, Research Assistant, University of Washington Department of Global Health
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Rabi Yunusa
1st year MPH student, Department of Global Health
Endowed Fellowship for Global Health Excellence, Equity and Impact recipient

As a doctor and former columnist for a Nigerian newspaper, Rabi is now using her skills to research cognitive impairment and disabilities in children living with HIV. She is learning new ways of thinking as an RA, and finds much satisfaction when research data comes together. Read more