As we wrap up this academic year, here’s a look back at everything that made this one to remember.

Welcome to the Lab

We’re thrilled to have welcomed Gicelle Garcia as a new PhD student, along with undergraduate research assistants Adeline, Reigan, Deeksha, and Katherine.

Congratulations, Graduates!

Jasmine (Phuong) Bui earned her BS in UX Design, and María Isabel (Isa) Viteri Suárez completed her MS in Public Health. We wish them all the best in their upcoming journeys.

Life after HTQL:

Each person is making their mark and we’re here for it.

Isa will soon be joining Eli Lilly and Company as a Sr. Associate in Global Scientific Communications, and Jasmine is returning to ServiceNow as Associate Product Designer.

Rebecca Martinez, HTQL affiliate, is heading to Cornell Duffield Engineering as a PostDoc in the Office of Inclusive Excellence.

HTQL alumni, Layla Claure, started a PostDoc at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami, and Luke Brennan matched at Johns Hopkins for residency.

Research and Community Impact

It was a productive year on the research front, including some selected publications from HTQL:

• Natalia Rodriguez et al. examined stakeholder perspectives on the acceptability and implementation of a rapid test for acute HIV infection in Indiana — published in PLOS Global Public Health.
• Mrithula Suresh Babu et al. explored patient attitudes toward HPV self-sampling and CHW-delivered cervical cancer screening in an underserved community — published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science.
• Luke Brennan et al. reported on the development of an HPV 16 rapid test built through user-centered design with primary care clinicians — published in Analytical Methods.
• Rebecca Ziolkowski et al. shared lessons from COVID-19 rapid testing in a homeless shelter, with implications for equitable and sustainable pandemic response — published in SSM-Qualitative Research in Health.

The lab had a strong conference year, presenting across nine national and international venues — from EUROGIN in Vienna and IPVS in Bangkok to the NIH High-Risk, High-Reward Research Symposium in Bethesda, APHA in Washington, D.C., and Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) in Milwaukee.

The work spanned HPV self-sampling for unhoused women, community-academic partnerships for cervical cancer screening access, and barriers to breast and cervical cancer screening among Hispanic women in Indiana.

Undergraduate researchers also represented — Jessica Nwokeji, Reigan Nies, Deeksha Badugu, and Katherine Schallwig each presented at the Purdue Fall or Spring Undergraduate Research Conferences on CHW-led cervical cancer education and HPV self-sampling interventions.

On the community side, the lab attended the LTHC Homeless Services Gala, hosted a table at the Women’s Health Fair, and participated in the Community Impact Summit alongside other members of HAWC, a community-academic partnership that brings together local organizations and researchers to address the health needs of people experiencing homelessness. And in a significant policy win, HPV self-sampling was added to the HRSA Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines — a meaningful step forward for the work so many in this space have been advocating for.

Academic Milestones

Becca Ziolkowski and Tracy (Xue) Case both passed their PhD preliminary exams, and Becca also successfully presented her dissertation proposal. Isa passed her MS defense and is now a Master of Science in Public Health. Gicelle earned her pharmacy technician certification. A lot of hard work paying off all at once.

Awards and Recognition

The lab was well-recognized this year. HTQL Director Dr. Natalia Rodriguez received the Ayman El-Mohandes Young Professional Public Health Innovation Award from APHA and the IPVS Early Career Recognition Award at the 37th Annual International Papillomavirus Society Conference in Bangkok, recognizing her work on cancer disparities and papillomavirus research in underserved communities. Other shoutouts:

• Sam Mata Robles took 1st place in a pitch competition
• Becca earned a gold research poster award, Tracy took silver, and Isa received a community-friendly poster award
• HTQL claimed 3rd place in the Department of Public Health holiday door competition (we’re coming for first next year)

Looking Forward

The lab continues to evolve — from new faces to new endeavors. Stay tuned.