This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony on Nov. 14 for UNMC’s Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.
New Investigator
The New Investigator Award is given to outstanding UNMC scientists who in the past two years have secured their first funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense or other national sources. New investigators also had to demonstrate scholarly activity, such as publishing their research and/or presenting their findings at national conventions.
- Name: Sujata Chaudhari, PhD
- Title: Assistant professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, UNMC College of Medicine
- Joined UNMC: June 2020
- Hometown: Pune, India
Describe your research focus in three words or less: Arthropod vector biology
Why is research important in the world today? Arthropods, such as mosquitoes and ticks, can carry pathogens that cause life-threatening diseases. Understanding their biology is key to learning how they acquire and transmit pathogens to humans and animals. Uncovering the mechanisms and pathways used by these disease-carrying arthropods could help reduce both the health care and economic burden they impose.
My research will make a difference because: My research aims to understand how physiological adaptations in arthropods enhance their role as vectors for transmitting diseases to humans and animals. We use advanced molecular biology and microscopy techniques to explore key aspects of arthropod biology, with the goal of identifying new targets for controlling these disease-carrying vectors.
The best advice I’ve ever received is: Never give up.
Three things you may not know about me are:
- I love nature and enjoy traveling to scenic destinations with my family.
- When I am not doing research, I love spending time with my 10-year-old son.
- I also enjoy painting as a hobby.
Congratulations Dr. Sujata
Congratulations on the New Investigator Award. Well deserved.