SPHHS Announces 2026 Research Day Award Winners
Research Day is a showcase for the research and practice conducted by students in all of its departments.
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The School of Public Health and Health Sciences held its 29th annual Research Day on May 1, 2026, in conjunction with the school's Hub Opening Celebration. The event is an annual showcase for research and practice conducted by students working with faculty mentors in all SPHHS departments. Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral researchers, are invited to present their work to faculty, staff, peers, and the broader community.
This year’s Research Day included four separate sessions in which nearly 100 students presented their work. Participants spanned all departments and academic levels – including undergraduate, masters, doctoral, and postdoctoral presenters – and served to highlight the depth and breadth of SPHHS student research to UMass’ leadership, the school’s donors and community partners and alumni.
“This year’s Research Day was truly inspiring,” says Dean Anna Maria Siega-Riz. “The incredible turnout from our students and faculty surpassed all expectations, showcasing the extraordinary depth and diversity of research happening within our school. It’s clear that the dedication to mentorship and the pursuit of excellence is alive and thriving. This kind of passion doesn’t just fuel groundbreaking discoveries — it builds a vibrant community committed to shaping the future of public health and health sciences. It’s this shared commitment that makes our school such a powerful place to grow, innovate, and lead in the Commonwealth.”
“Congratulations to all the students who showcased their outstanding research at the event!" adds Susan Sturgeon, Associate Dean of Research. “A huge thank you to the Research Committee, faculty judges, and all the staff for making this year’s Research Day truly special in our new building.”
New this year, student presenters were invited to submit a pre-recorded video to be judged by a faculty jury for prize consideration, with the winning entries announced at the conclusion of Research Day. Presentations were limited to three minutes in length and a maximum of four slides.
The SPHHS awarded a total of eight prizes: travel awards for best presentation in health sciences and in public health; three graduate student research awards; and three undergraduate student research awards.
The 2026 SPHHS Research Day award winners are:
Travel Awards ($1500 prize):
1st place (Research Category - Health Sciences): Kaitlyn Kleeman, Kinesiology. The Impact of Pregnancy on Hip, Knee, and Ankle Strength. Faculty sponsor: Sarah Roelker.
1st place (Research Category - Public Health): Carissa Lange, Environmental Health Sciences. High-resolution modeling of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) constituents and their associations with birth outcomes in Accra, Ghana. Faculty sponsor: Raphael Arku.
Graduate Student Research Awards:
1st place: Shanelle Fakhri, Kinesiology. Thigh muscle torque output, size, and fat content respond differently in older females and males to power and resistance training. Faculty sponsor: Mark Miller.
2nd place: Maud Muosieyiri, Biostatistics & Epidemiology. Measuring Total PFAS Body Burden: Mixture-Based Analysis of Sociodemographic and Biological Predictors. Faculty sponsor: Katherine Reeves.
3rd place: Bushra Islam, Health Promotion and Policy. Effect of Cannabis Legalization Policy on Mental Illness: Analysis by Difference-in-difference and Synthetic Control Method. Faculty sponsor: Jennifer Whitehill.
Undergraduate Student Research Awards:
1st place: Willa Davis, Public Health Sciences. Caregiver Experiences with Pediatric Behavioral Health Care After Implementation of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations in Massachusetts. Faculty sponsor: Sarah Goff.
2nd place: Katarina Sasaki, Public Health Sciences. Beyond Media Literacy: A Developmentally Informed, Theory-Driven Intervention to Address Adolescent Nutrition and Body Image Behaviors. Faculty sponsor: Elizabeth Chen.
3rd place: Anika Maharaj, Public Health Sciences. Breasts matter: endocrine disrupting chemicals and altered timing of thelarche. Faculty sponsor: Laura Vandenberg.
