Royster Graduation Celebration 2023

Adams Bailey, Ph.D.

Public Policy, May 2023

The Distributional Impacts of Economic Development Incentives: Three Essays

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Jeremy Moulton

“I am so grateful for the Royster Fellowship. Beyond funding, the community of scholars has led to friendships and collaborations. Thank you to all the staff, and to Dr. Banu Gökarıksel's guidance for the First Year Seminar program.”

Kristin Bedell, Ph.D.

Education, May 2023

Looking for Answers or Engaging in Practices? Exploring Middle School Students' Epistemic Choices with Citizen Science Data

Chancellor's Fellowship

Advisor: Kihyun Ryoo

“As an older student with children, I would never have been able to go to graduate school without the support of the Royster Society of Fellows.”

Jessica Beers, Ph.D.

Pharmaceutical Sciences, May 2023

An In Vitro Investigation of Cannabidiol Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics, and Hepatotoxicity

Susan T. Lord Fellowship

Advisor: Klarissa Jackson

“The Royster Society has provided me with a welcoming community of peers and faculty that supported my success. I loved learning from fellow students across all disciplines. In addition, funds provided by the Royster Society provided me with opportunities to pursue my education and travel to academic meetings throughout my PhD journey.”

Allie Bukowski, Ph.D.

Epidemiology, May 2023

An Investigation of Methylation Biomarkers for Abnormal Cervical Cancer Screening Tests in the United States

William R. Kenan Jr. Fellowship

Advisor: Jennifer Smith

“The Royster Society gave me so many opportunities that I wouldn’t have otherwise had. I was able to attend numerous conferences and workshops with their support, and I even got to take Spanish classes in another country to improve my medical/health-related Spanish. Thanks Royster!!!”

Danielle Chappell, Ph.D.

Pharmacology, May 2023

KSHV Viral Protein Kinase (VPK) Interacts with USP9X and Modulates the Viral Lifecycle

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Blossom Damania

“Being part of the RSOF has given me a community. I would never have had the opportunity to meet these fascinating individuals if I had not been a member of RSOF. I am forever grateful for my time as a fellow and the lifelong friends I've gained along the way to my PhD.”

Jeliyah Clark, Ph.D.

Environmental Sciences and Engineering, December 2022

Nutritional Modulation of Fetal Susceptibility to Prenatal Inorganic Arsenic Exposure

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Rebecca Fry

“I'm so grateful for the support I've received from the program and staff. I would not have been able to pursue my internships abroad this summer without the support I received from the fellowship. And I don’t know that I’d have the courage to move to another country without the friendships, expertise, sense of autonomy, and grit I gained through those training experiences. Thank you!”

Isaura Cruz, Ph.D.

Anthropology, August 2022

International Migration and Health: P’urépecha in the U.S. and México

William Neal Reynolds Fellowship

Advisor: Amanda Thompson

Robert Drake, Ph.D.

Religious Studies, December 2022

Heirs of the Covenant: Textual Transformations of Jews and Jewishness in Late Ancient Christian Manuscripts

Chancellor's Fellowship

Advisor: Bart Ehrman

“I will always be grateful for the Royster Society of Fellows. The stipend offered by the Society made my studies in Chapel Hill possible. The first- and fifth-year relief from teaching allowed me to study both Syriac and Coptic—two ancient languages that are crucial for reconstructing ancient Christian history, and which have been foundational to my first academic publications. I am also deeply grateful for the fellowship and camaraderie that I derived from the events sponsored by the Society. Thank you!”

Annie Francis, Ph.D.

Social Work, August 2022

Maintaining Family and Cultural Connections for Children in the Child Welfare System: Evidence Regarding The Indian Child Welfare Act

Sequoyah Dissertation Fellowship

Advisor: Will Hall

Sarah Frank, Ph.D.

Nutrition, May 2023

The Planetary Health Diet Index: A novel dietary assessment tool and its associations with environmental and health measures in the United States

John Motley Morehead Fellowship

Advisor: Lindsey Smith Taillie

“Funding from Royster made my PhD possible! The Society itself provided a great community of scholars with whom to share the highs and lows of grad school life. A huge shoutout to the Royster administrative team for always having clear and quick responses to my questions. I also appreciate Laura's organization, enthusiasm, and ability to always absolutely nail the catering!”

Sandra Garcia Gutierrez, Ph.D.

Romance Studies, May 2023

La heroína gótica ante el miedo: de la victimización a la sororidad (1831-2019)

Paul Hardin Dissertation Fellowship

Advisor: Irene Gómez-Castellano

“The Royster Society of Fellows has helped me to devote my time to finish the dissertation. Also, it has given me the chance to be part of a big network of colleagues and researchers, and to prepare myself to the job market.”

Odessa Goudy, Ph.D.

Biochemistry and Biophysics, May 2023

Computational Design of Autoinhibitory Domains for a Protease-Activated PD-L1 Inhibitor

Carol and Edward Smithwick Dissertation Fellowship

Advisor: Brian Kuhlman

“I am so grateful to The Royster Society of Fellows Dissertation Completion Fellowship. The professional development travel funds allowed me to visit my future company to discuss my future project. The ability to attend their Holiday Party, especially, was a fantastic opportunity to introduce myself to the team, build rapport, and be part of their Holiday traditions! Additionally, in the final week prior to my defense, the DCF [Dissertation Completion Fellowship] allowed me to step away from my research to devote my time to writing my thesis.”

Jana Haddad, Ph.D.

Marine Sciences, December 2022

Wave Transformation Across Coastal Marshes

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Rick Luettich

“Royster helped me gain my footing at UNC when I started the program and was a great resource for meeting interesting folks doing incredible work in fields outside my own — I likely never would have been exposed to that research otherwise! I especially appreciated the chance to present my work in an informal friendly setting during the research seminar. The admin/faculty running Royster (past and current) are superb folks who really care about students — that simple fact has an ENORMOUS impact and I could not be more grateful.”

Kira Heikes, Ph.D.

Genetics and Molecular Biology, May 2023

Uncovering Molecular Blueprints of the Unique Tardigrade Body

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Bob Goldstein

“The Royster Society provided me with a community at UNC, an escape from my life in the lab, amazing people with fresh perspectives and integrated views of the world that I had never considered! With Royster Global, that community expanded to include wonderful humans beyond this continent, and through the conference planning process, I discovered my love for facilitating interactions between said wonderful humans.”

Diamond Ebanks Holloman, Ph.D.

Environment and Ecology, May 2023

“I Didn't Want to be a Victim:” Grassroots Community-led Recovery in Post-Disaster Robeson County, North Carolina

Henry Dearman and Martha Stucker Dissertation Fellowship

Advisor: Gabriela Valdivia

“The Royster Society of Fellows has provided me support when I needed it, and allowed me the opportunity to showcase my work and engage with the work of other talented scholars.”

Emma Howell, Ph.D.

Romance Studies, December 2022

Total Encounter: Theorizing Image-Text Collaborations from the Francophone Caribbean

Lovick P. Corn Dissertation Fellowship

Advisor: Dominique Fisher and Jessica Tanner

“Being a part of the Royster community has provided me with a number of opportunities to work across disciplines and get a broader view of the types of innovative research taking place on campus, not to mention the network of support necessary to finish my degree! The research seminars were particularly helpful in showing me how to frame my dissertation project to reach a wider audience.”

Xiangxiang Hu, Ph.D.

Dentistry, August 2022

Optineurin Regulates NRF2-Mediated Antioxidant Response In Bone

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Ching-Chang Ko

“It’s really been an honor to be a member of the Royster fellows. I was able to know so many excellent researchers, to get an idea what the cutting-edge science we are doing now through multiple activities, and to get support when things are not going smoothly. The Royster fellowship gives me a unique experience as a PhD student.”

Michele Kelley, Ph.D.

Physics and Astronomy, May 2023

Resolving the Discrepancy Between Theoretically Predicted and Experimentally Measured 129Xe Nuclear Spin Polarization

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Rosa Tamara Branca

“Royster Society of Fellows has been an incredible support system and significantly increased my sense of belonging on campus. The generous funding I received allowed me to focus on my studies and research which allowed me to get to the point I am today.”

Seh-Joo Kwon, Ph.D.

Psychology, May 2023

Neurodevelopmental Changes in Social and Adaptive Risk Taking in Adolescence

Jessie Ball duPont Dissertation Fellowship

Advisor: Eva Telzer

“Royster allowed me to focus on my dissertation research and writing during my final grad school year without having to worry about service such as TA/RA-ships. Royster also provided me the platform to practice my dissertation / job talk and receive helpful, constructive feedback from other Royster members.”

Sharon Levine, Ph.D.

Education, August 2022

Attitudes Toward Trauma-Informed Care Among Specialized Instructional Support Personnel

Jessie Ball duPont Dissertation Fellowship

Advisor: Alex Tabori

“Royster has been beneficial particularly for the peace of mind it has given me throughout my final year, when I was out-of-state for internship and funding options were harder to come by. In addition, it has been one of the most supportive, encouraging communities I have been a part of at UNC, which has given me a strong sense of pride and gratitude.”

Lara Lookabaugh, Ph.D.

Geography, May 2023

Curating the Past, Weaving the Future: Decolonial Feminist Politics of Time and Memory

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Sara Smith

“The Royster Society of Fellows was a huge help for my time at Carolina. The years without a service requirement, additional funding, opportunities for collaboration, and support for research, teaching, and professional development were all vital to my success as a graduate student. Additionally, the people who make all of that happen are just incredible—easy to reach out to, communicative, and creative with everyone's unique situations. Thank you!”

Kaitlyn Morrell, Ph.D.

Physics and Astronomy, May 2023

Toward the Quantum Thermodynamics Computational Engine

Linda Dykstra Dissertation Fellowship

Advisor: Joaquín Drut

“I am grateful for the support, both financially and through community, that the Royster Society of Fellows provided at a critical time of my graduate career.”

Khristopher Nicholas, Ph.D.

Nutrition, August 2022

Spatial and Social Dimensions of Galapagos Food Environments: A Mixed Methods Study of Diet Quality

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Amanda Thompson

Kyle Onda, Ph.D.

City and Regional Planning, December 2022

Essays on Measuring Urbanization and Infrastructure Service Levels

Joseph E. Pogue Fellowship

Advisor: Meenu Tewari

“The Royster Society provided a wonderful community of other graduate students from diverse fields to exchange ideas, support, and motivation with.”

Jonathan Phillips, Ph.D.

Social Work, August 2022

The Impact of Community-Level Factors on Healthcare Access and Utilization Among Individuals with Mental Illness

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Amy Blank Wilson

Gabrielle Purcell, Ph.D.

Anthropology, August 2022

An Analysis of Cherokee Foodways during European Colonization

Sequoyah Dissertation Fellowship

Advisor: C. Margaret Scarry

“I've really enjoyed being a member of the Royster Society of Fellows. It was a pleasure to get to know fellow Roysters and to be a part of such a great interdisciplinary community. The meetings we had during 2020 were especially important to me because they helped me connect to other scholars at a time when we were all isolated at home.”

Rachael Ross, Ph.D.

Epidemiology, May 2023

Missing Data and Measurement Error: Analytic Approaches for Observational Studies With Examples From Pregnancy Outcomes Research

Lovick P. Corn Dissertation Fellowship

Advisor: Steve Cole

“My funding from RSOF allowed me to focus on finishing up my dissertation this year without distraction of another job or teaching. Presenting my research to the other fellows was my first time trying to explain my research to others outside of my field and this was an incredibly valuable exercise.”

Joshua Shelly, Ph.D.

Germanic & Slavic Languages and Literatures, May 2023

Writing a Future State: Spatial Imaginaries of German Jewish Literature, 1885–1932

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Kata Gellen

“The RSOF provided me with the financial support to help me finish writing my dissertation without additional teaching obligations; it provided me with travel funding to attend my first academic conference before I qualified for any other travel funding; and it provided me with social support, especially during 'Motivation Mondays' and 'Focused Fridays', that helped motivate me during the deep, tough days of the pandemic.”

Vaia Sigounas, Ph.D.

Anthropology, May 2023

Prosthetic Entanglements: Living with Transnational Prosthetic Limb Design in Uganda and the United States

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Peter Redfield and Jocelyn Chua

“Funding was helpful during the Covid pandemic when my additional external funding could not be distributed due to UNC shutdowns and my international research was on hold for two years because of travel bans in Uganda.”

Quinton Smith, Ph.D.

Social Work, May 2023

Black Cultural Wealth: Exploring the Application and Measurement of a New Construct

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Paul Lanier

“Simply wouldn't have been able to make school work without it. I'm a father, a husband, have a mortgage and bills, and I've worked full time throughout the program, but it still wasn't enough Royster support helped my family and kept me from going deeper into student loan debt.”

Kelli Smith-Biwer, Ph.D.

Musicology, May 2023

The Hi-Fi Man: Masculinity, Modularity, and Home Audio Technology in the U.S. Midcentury

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Mark Katz

“The generous funding from the Royster Society of Fellows gave me the time and peace of mind to focus on writing, research, and networking in my field. I have also appreciated the chance to improve my communication and presentation skills with an enthusiastic group of interdisciplinary scholars.”

Kelsey Thompson, Ph.D.

Speech and Hearing Sciences, May 2023

Introducing Complementary Foods to Preterm Infants: Integrating Parent Perspectives and Evidence-Based Practices

William R. Kenan Jr. Fellowship

Advisor: Karen Erickson

“The Royster Fellowship has been instrumental in my doctoral journey. The funding has provided peace of mind, which allowed me to fully focus on my degree. But more importantly, I have had the opportunity to meet the most incredible people and participate in talks, seminars, and events that have broadened my perspective, expanded my skill set, and made me feel like part of a community. I’m so grateful!”

Rhyan Vereen, Ph.D.

Media and Communication, May 2023

Development and Assessment of Culturally-Informed Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Reduction Messages for Black Women

William Neal Reynolds Fellowship

Advisor: Allison Lazard

“The Royster Society of Fellows allowed me the opportunity to meet an interdisciplinary group of students who inspired me, taught me, laughed with me, and motivated me throughout this one-of-a-kind experience.”

Zhenlin Xu, Ph.D.

Computer Science, December 2022

Towards Deep Visual Learning in the Wild: Data-Efficiency, Robustness and Generalization

Lyle V. Jones Dissertation Fellowship

Advisor: Marc Niethammer and Colin Raffel

“Royster Society of Fellows supports my dissertation research through the dissertation fellowship and facilitates opportunities to connect with and learn from other fellows. It greatly enhanced and enriched your graduate school experience which is especially important for me during the COVID pandemic.”

Jeff Yang, Ph.D.

Epidemiology, May 2023

Treat-to-Target Monitoring Colonoscopy in Patients Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Utilization and Assessment of Methods for Evaluating Effectiveness Among Patients Treated for IBD in the United States

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Jennifer Lund

“The Royster Society has been a centerpiece and highlight of my UNC graduate experience. Thank you all so much for providing such a wonderful source of support and community over the years!”

Deanna Zhu, Ph.D.

Epidemiology, May 2023

Dengue Type 2 Envelope-Domain Antibody Responses After Primary Infection in Younger and Older Children After Primary Infection

Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Fellowship

Advisor: Ralph Baric

“Provided a positive, engaged, excited atmosphere of learners and educators during challenging or isolating times. Encouraged me to always share my work outside my field!”