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Global One Health Academy

Announcing Spring 2024 Graduate Travel Awardees

November 22, 2023

Congratulations to the recipients of our Spring 2024 Graduate Travel Award! These five outstanding students will be traveling for conferences and field work across the United States and internationally to advance their One Health research.

Cole Butler, College of Sciences

Cole Butler grew up in Auburn, Maine, where he cultivated an early fascination with mathematics and mosquitoes. He earned his B.S. in Mathematics at the University of Maine and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biomathematics at NC State. His research is at the interface of mathematics, genetics, and entomology, and hopes to use this expertise to fight vector-borne disease in the future. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors and nature writing, especially the work of Henry David Thoreau.

Hyunjun Choi, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

Hyunjun Choi is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Animal Science at North Carolina State University, working under the guidance of Dr. Sung Woo Kim. He holds BS and MS degree in Animal Science and Technology from Konkuk University in Seoul, Republic of Korea. His previous research during the BS and MS degree focused on investigating the effects of dietary fiber on nutrient utilization and to predicting available protein and energy values in feed ingredients fed to pigs. Currently, Hyunjun’s research have been dedicated to dietary interventions to enhance the intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs. He has published 10 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, 7 of which were as the first author, and has presented 12 abstracts.

Benjamin Clark, College of Engineering

Benjamin Clark is a 3rd year PhD student studying civil engineering under the direction of Dr. Angela Harris. In 2019, Clark graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Water: Resources, Policy & Management from Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment. Since his arrival at NC State, Clark has been involved in many projects including wastewater surveillance for an array of pathogens in Wake County, NC, fecal contamination source tracking to support recreational and cultural development in the Great Coharie River watershed, and antimicrobial resistance source tracking in Metro, Indonesia. Clark is an active member of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, International Water Association, and the American Water Works Association. Beyond the workplace, Clark is likely to be found in the outdoors either hiking, fly fishing, or playing soccer.

Kaylin Lewandowski, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

Kaylin S. Lewandowski is a master’s student studying entomology in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University. She received her bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry from Western Carolina University, where she was first exposed to the world of mosquitoes and public health. She worked on several projects focused on La Crosse virus and mosquito ecology in the mosquito and vector-borne infectious disease facility at WCU. Since her arrival at NCSU, she has explored the system of dog heartworm, specifically connecting the environment to the vector and transmission of this filarial worm. Kaylin hopes to explore more about vector-borne diseases, human and animal health, and vector ecology as she plans to continue her education.

Sumaiya Tazin, College of Natural Resources

Sumaiya Tazin is a second year master’s student at the department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. Tazin’s current research on environmental epidemiology focuses on the effects of different household flooring materials on enteric infection. She is part of a randomized controlled trial in Bangladesh where she focuses on environmental measurements to assess disease transmission through soil floors and effects of extreme weather events on these measurements. Recently, she was awarded the Laarman International Gift Fund from her department to travel to Bangladesh for a month in Summer 2023 to conduct a pilot for this project to refine the environmental testing protocols. This upcoming field visit in the Summer 2024 with the support of Global One Health Academy will give her the opportunity to learn methods for the collection and analysis of environmental samples, understand field and lab protocols in depth, and learn about  quality control and data management in the context of a large randomized trial.