The Diabetes Research Center is proud to announce that Kelly Vazquez, PhD was selected as the 2022 ACORN Post-Doctoral Fellow.

This award is funded through the Childhood Diabetes Foundation and is a $75K award; it will be used to cover stipend and benefits at the NIH level consistent with fellow’s year post graduation. Remaining funds will be used to support professional development, computer and/or lab supplies and reagents.

In her own words, here is a summary about Dr. Vazquez

"I received my PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where my research focused on cell mechanics. During my PhD, I received an NIH TL1 training grant which allowed me to complete a certificate in Clinical Investigation alongside my engineering degree and led to my passion for interdisciplinary research. Additionally, it is my greatest aspiration to see more first generation, minority, and women scientists, such as myself, pursue a career in STEM. Thus, my enthusiasm for teaching and mentorship, coupled with my passion for science, has motivated me to pursue a career in research. 

 My future research interests are to improve treatments for autoimmune diseases. After my sister was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), I became intrinsically motivated to dedicate my research career to the study of T1D, as T1D will be a part of my family for the next generations.

Ultimately, I want to utilize my engineering expertise in studying the physics and mechanics of cells and apply it to insulin-producing (beta) cells. As a passionate scientist and engineer, I believe we can find innovative treatments to help fight this disease and ultimately generate a cure for diabetes.