UF graduate student receives national fellowship

Maria T. Baquero, a University of Florida public health student, has been awarded a fellowship by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to support her studies in health policy and epidemiology.

Baquero, who will begin her doctoral studies in fall 2004, was among 50 graduate students nationally who received the award out of a pool of 2,400 applicants. The fellowship offers support for three years and includes a monthly stipend of $2,300 for 12 months, full payment of tuition and fees, and placement in a summer 2004 internship. She is pursuing a master’s degree in public health with concentrations in epidemiology and community health. The public health program is a collaborative endeavor between the UF colleges of Health Professions, Health and Human Performance, and Medicine.

In her research, Baquero is interested in developing biomarkers for the detection of hazardous chemical agents, especially airborne agents, when their release is suspected. She also is interested in the development of standardized kits for hospitals and clinics that would contain a set of tests and remedies to quickly and effectively test patients for exposure to a variety of hazardous biological agents. Nabih Asal, Ph.D., a professor of health policy and epidemiology, serves as her research mentor.