Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award in STEM
Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award in STEM
Hafsah Ahmad
The Impact of Contemporary Emerging Resistant Fungal Infections in Vulnerable Populations and Methods for Treatment
View Hafsah’s project online
My project delves into the rise of antifungal resistance due to antifungal overuse and how this disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, particularly the immunocompromised. I analyzed current classes of treatments, the challenges in developing novel antifungal therapeutics, and examined epidemiological patterns aiding this growing threat.
What is your major and expected year of graduation?
I am a bioengineering major in the College of Engineering with a minor in biology. I will be graduating in May 2025.
What inspired you to pursue your project?
I have always been passionate about antimicrobial resistance and wanted to shed light on the new growing threat of antifungal resistance, as the lack of awareness can be deadly. I wanted to take an interdisciplinary approach in analyzing this issue to allow for a multifaceted exploration of this emerging public health issue. I was also motivated by the fact that antifungal research is largely underfunded and understudied despite the high mortality rates in immunocompromised populations. As someone passionate about health equity, I believe this is the next public health issue we need to tackle for better health outcomes for all.
How did the Libraries support your research?
The Temple University Libraries provided a solid foundation for locating credible scientific sources for my research. I utilized tools curated for me like the bioengineering research guide from librarian Sarah Jones to find credible sources and databases. I also utilized tools like PubMed’s MeSH terms and advanced filtering to further refine my searches. This paper would not have been possible without help from the Temple University Libraries and all their wonderful staff.
Hafsah is an intelligent, self-motivated, and dedicated bioengineering student. She is meticulous in her work, both in the classroom and in the laboratory. She is able to explain complex issues and concepts well to others. I have enjoyed working with her in a number of class and laboratory settings. I expect to hear great things about her path to the medical field.
— Yah-el Har-el, Associate Professor of Instruction, Bioengineering, College of Engineering
This category covers research methods used in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. For the sciences, submissions will include a review of the relevant literature and a description of experimental results obtained through the scientific method. Technology and engineering submissions may take the form of a technical report or design document.
This award is generously sponsored by John H. Livingstone, SBM ’49.