Samskrathi Sharma Named 2024 Quad Fellow

Samskrathi Sharma, a doctoral student in Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Biological Sciences, was selected as a Quad Fellow.

"The Quad Fellowship will give me an opportunity to connect with other scientists and experts in different scientific domains, which will help provide valuable input to my research," Sharma said.

As part of the Kuang lab, Sharma investigates how the gut microbiota, the ecosystem of bacteria that exists in the intestines, plays a role in sex-specific differences related to disease. The gut microbiota has range of functions, from metabolizing food to combatting diseases, and it influences the circadian rhythm. Understanding its functions and how those functions change could lead to future treatments.

"Males and females differ in their predisposition to diseases like diabetes and obesity. The gut microbiota has known roles in metabolism and immunity. However, we still do not understand its contribution to sex-specific manifestations of health and disease. My research aims to understand how the gut microbiota can drive sex differences in metabolic processes using epigenetic circuits. Understanding this will help us design more sex-specific treatment regimens for metabolic diseases," Sharma said.

In its second year, the Quad Fellowship supports 50 exceptional master's and doctoral students annually pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the United States. Initially supporting students from the four Quad countries — Australia, India, Japan and the United States — the program has expanded this year to include students from various countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The Quad Fellowship aims to build connections among the next generation of scientists and technologists. The program is designed to support academic excellence and promote cross-cultural understanding and collaboration among participating countries. By bringing together students from different parts of the world, the fellowship creates a network of innovators who can address global challenges and drive technological advancements. The fellowship is administered by the Institute of International Education, a global not-for-profit organization that manages many scholarship and fellowship programs.

Sharma said she plans to use the fellowship to further fund her research and connect with other researchers. She said that the fellowship would also help her translate her findings to the general public.