Assistant Professor of Biology Meg Younger has been named a 2024 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences, and Florencia Fernandez Chiappe, a postdoctoral researcher in Younger’s lab, has been named a 2024 Pew Latin American Fellow in the Biomedical Sciences. The awards are given by The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-profit organization that uses data to address the challenges of our changing world.

The Pew Scholars in the Biomedical Sciences program provides four years of funding to 22 early-career scientists to explore some of the most pressing questions in human health and medicine. Younger studies mosquitoes’ sense of smell and how mosquito-borne diseases impact young children.

The 2024 scholars, chosen from 198 applicants nominated by leading academic institutions across the United States, join a community of more than 1,000 scientists who have received awards from Pew since 1985. Scholars have opportunities to meet annually with fellow Pew-funded scientists to build connections and exchange ideas across a wide variety of disciplines.

The Pew Latin American Fellows in the Biomedical Sciences program provides two years of funding to 10 young scientists from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, and/or Peru to conduct research in laboratories across the United States. Fernandez-Chiappew, who joined the Younger lab as a postdoctoral researcher in 2023, studies how the unusual structure of a mosquito’s olfactory system allows it to detect a human’s signature scent. Florencia was named a Boston University Center for Systems Neuroscience Distinguished Fellow in 2023.

Arts × Sciences spoke with Younger and Fernandez-Chiappe after the awards were announced.

Arts × Sciences: Why is it significant to be selected as a Pew Biomedical Scholar? What does it mean to you?

Younger: It’s a huge honor! The current and former Pew Biomedical Scholars are an amazing group of scientists. They set a high bar. It’s inspiring and motivating to strive to do work of that quality and impact.

As a new investigator it means a lot to be selected as a Pew Biomedical Scholar. In addition to the funding they provide, which will have a big impact on my research, it’s also extremely encouraging to be selected. As a new investigator it means so much to get this sort of positive feedback about your ideas, and to know that this fantastic group of scientists believes that you can do high-risk-high-reward research.

Arts × Sciences: Does being selected as a scholar have any impact on future research you may conduct?

Younger: The work that they support is a new direction for my lab that I am very excited about. Mosquito-borne diseases have the greatest impact on very young children. My lab is moving into a new area of research that is aimed at developing interventions to specifically protect young children from mosquitoes that spread disease. This proposal was my first time presenting my ideas for how to do this to a funder and it means a lot to know that they have confidence in my approach.

Arts × Sciences: How did you find out that you were selected and what was your reaction when you found out?

Younger: I found out by email that I was selected. I had to read the email twice because I was so shocked and excited, and honestly worried that I had misread the email.

Arts × Sciences: What research do you conduct in the Younger lab?

Fernandez Chiappe: I am focusing on studying the olfactory system of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which plays a crucial role in their search for humans to bite. This mosquito is a vector of diseases like Dengue, Zika, and Yellow Fever, which have a significant impact on my country and region.

Arts × Sciences: Why is it significant to be selected as a Pew Latin American Fellow?

Fernandez-Chiappe: Being selected as a Pew Latin American Fellow is a great honor for several reasons. Firstly, this fellowship is a very prestigious award that recognizes the excellence and potential of emerging scientists from Latin America, validating the quality and impact of their research.

Additionally, as a fellow, you gain access to a distinguished and supportive community of outstanding colleagues from your region. This network provides invaluable opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and professional growth, cultivating a sense of belonging and mutual support among the fellows.

Arts × Sciences: Who does the fellowship support?

Fernandez-Chiappe: The fellowship supports young scientists to work in prestigious laboratories in the United States, where they can learn and acquire cutting-edge techniques and insights. This opportunity allows them to collaborate with world-class scientists and enhances their professional development, providing them with advanced skills that they can bring back to their home countries.

As I mentioned before, the program supports their return to their home countries, encouraging them to establish their own laboratories and contribute to the development of local scientific communities. By fostering the advancement of biomedical sciences in Latin America, the fellowship helps build a stronger scientific community in the region.

Arts × Sciences: How did you learn that you were selected and what was your reaction when you found out?

Fernandez-Chiappe: I learned that I was selected as a Pew Latin American Fellow after a rigorous application process that involved writing detailed statements and a project proposal, securing recommendation letters, and participating in an interview. During the interview, I presented my project proposal and answered questions about my research as a postdoc, as well as questions about my future plans regarding my career. The notification came via email. When I read the email, I felt very happy and proud—not just for myself, but for our lab as well. The recognition validated all the hard work and dedication we put into our research.

Arts × Sciences: What does being selected as a fellow mean to you?

Fernandez-Chiappe: Being chosen as a Pew Latin American Fellow means a lot to me. It’s not just a career milestone; it’s a deeply personal triumph. This recognition is validation of years of hard work and dedication, not just from me, but from my family who stood by me along the way.

As a first-generation scholar, with parents who worked tirelessly to support me and my career, I am really proud to represent my country in this way.

Growing up in Argentina, I had the privilege of receiving my entire education through our exemplary public education system, which is not just free but also of exceptional quality. This award isn’t just about me; it’s also a nod to the excellence of Argentina’s public education. It’s a testament to all the teachers and mentors who believed in me and shaped my journey.

I also conducted my Ph.D. studies in Argentina within a government-funded scientific system that prioritizes accessibility to education and research. I was fortunate to receive a government-funded fellowship for five years, allowing me to pursue my research and contribute to the scientific community. This award also recognizes the invaluable support of all the colleagues and mentors who guided me and helped me through my Ph.D. journey in many ways.

Arts × Sciences: Does being selected as a fellow have any impact on future research you may conduct? Why?

Fernandez-Chiappe: Absolutely. Being selected as a fellow has a significant impact on the future research I will conduct. As mentioned earlier, this fellowship provides substantial funding support for establishing laboratories in our home countries after completing our postdocs, if we opt for that option. This support is invaluable as it allows us to acquire essential equipment and supplies for our new labs in that case.

With all the resources and expertise gained during my postdoc supported by the Pew Latin American fellowship, I aim to contribute meaningfully to scientific advancements in my field while addressing concerning issues that directly affect my community. Ultimately, I aspire to give back to my country for the opportunities it has provided me and to support the development of the next generation of scientists in my region.

My long-term goal is to conduct high-quality research in my home country, with a particular focus on addressing regional health challenges that affect the lives of thousands of people every year.

— Abigale Van Selous (CAS`24, COM`24)