UW–Madison announced 2016 Bouchet Scholars

Catasha Davis

Catasha holds an MA in Journalism and Mass Communication and Afro-American Studies. Her research interests are in the areas of media effects, race, health communication, health disparities and social marketing. Catasha uses her background in critical/cultural studies to inform quantitative research on the relationship between race, stereotypes and health disparities. Her dissertation research examines the way media can be used to mitigate health disparities associated with stigma experienced by Black gay men. Throughout graduate school, Catasha has worked in service to the Madison community and her department.

Charee Peters

Charee Peters achieved a PhD in astronomy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her research focuses on energetic phenomena in the universe that change in brightness over time, known as transient and variable events. Charee’s thesis work includes answering questions concerning the variability of transient events in radio wavelengths using a new survey called CHILES. As a Yankton Sioux tribal member, Charee was brought up to be proud of her heritage. She strives to create and support inclusive environments for underrepresented people in the fields of physics and astronomy.

Jalissa Wynder

Jalissa Wynder is a doctoral candidate in the Molecular and Environmental Toxicology (METC) graduate program. Her research focuses on the role of environmental estrogens in prostate disease. She is a member of Dr. William Ricke’s laboratory where she investigates the role of environmental estrogens in benign prostate hyperplasia. While at UW–Madison Jalissa has been involved in the METC’s student led committee (SLC) where she serves as Personal and Professional Development Officer and she participates in the Science and Medicine Graduate Research Scholars program for underrepresented graduate students.

Maichou Lor

Maichou Lor is a PhD candidate in the School of Nursing at University of Wisconsin–Madison. She has distinguished herself as one of a very small group in the Early Entry PhD program. Her research focuses on reducing health disparities of non-English (NES) speaking older adults. Specifically, Maichou’s work focuses on the development and implementation of innovative, culturally and linguistically appropriate care practices aimed at improving quality of care and quality of life for NES immigrant older adults, beginning with Hmong older adults. Maichou is a co-founder of the Multicultural Student Nursing Organization, dedicated to improving the experiences of students and care of culturally diverse populations across care settings at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing.

Sarah Franco

Sarah Franco achieved a PhD from the Cellular and Molecular Pathology (CMP) program at UW–Madison. Her research examines the molecular mechanisms of vascular disease with the goal of identifying new therapeutic targets to prevent restenosis. As a first-generation college student and Hispanic scientist, Sarah was dedicated to improving the inclusion of underrepresented students in science. She served as the graduate co-president of the SACNAS UW–Madison Chapter, whose goal is to help foster opportunities in STEM for underrepresented students.

Yashdeep Phanse

Dr. Yashdeep Phanse is a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at UW–Madison. His interdisciplinary research work in immunology and nanobiotechnology in the lab of Dr. Lyric Bartholomay at UW–Madison focuses on novel nanoparticle approaches to design therapeutics for protecting shrimp, a major food source in developing countries, against pathogens. Another area of his research focus is developing next-generation tools to control mosquito-borne diseases through vector control. While pursuing his PhD in the labs of Drs. Michael Wannemuehler, Bryan Bellaire and Balaji Narasimhan, he worked on developing single dose nanovaccines for human and veterinary applications.