Our Scholars

RTI University Scholars represent our region's exceptional talent with rich expertise across various domains and disciplines. We invite you to learn more about them.

Meet Our Scholars

Alice Ammerman, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RTI University Scholar 2018-19 | Project focus: Nutrition and Obesity

Faculty Webpage about Alice Ammerman, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jason Amsden, Duke University

RTI University Scholar 2014-15 | Project focus: Bio-integrated Electronics

Faculty Webpage about Jason Amsden, Duke University

Mohd Anwar, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

RTI University Scholar 2018-19 | Project focus: Data Science and Opioid Crisis

Faculty Webpage about Mohd Anwar, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

Sheresa Boone Blanchard, East Carolina University

RTI University Scholar 2021-22 | Project focus: BIPOC Engagement in Early Check

Faculty Webpage about Sheresa Boone Blanchard, East Carolina University

Miriam Braunstein, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RTI University Scholar 2015-16 | Project focus: Drug Discovery

Faculty Webpage about Miriam Braunstein, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Zachary Brown, North Carolina State University

RTI University Scholar 2024-25 | Project focus: Transgenic crops, pesticides and public health

Faculty Webpage about Zachary Brown, North Carolina State University

Edwin Castellanos, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala

Global RTI University Scholar 2017-18 | Project focus: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Faculty Webpage about Edwin Castellanos, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala

Crystal Cené, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill*

RTI University Scholar 2016-17 | Project focus: Social Networks and Health *Affiliation at time of appointment; recently appointed to University of California at San Diego Health System and School of Medicine

Faculty Webpage about Crystal Cené, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill*

Shauna Cooper, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RTI University Scholar 2020-21 | Project focus: Fathering, Health, and Wellbeing

Faculty Webpage about Shauna Cooper, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jigna M. Dharod, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

RTI University Scholar 2023-24 | Project focus: food insecurity and infant feeding practices and its impact on early childhood growth and development

Faculty Webpage about Jigna M. Dharod, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Owen Duckworth, North Carolina State University

RTI University Scholar 2016-17 | Project focus: Environmental Biogeochemistry

Faculty Webpage about Owen Duckworth, North Carolina State University

Naomi N. Duke, Duke University

RTI University Scholar 2022-23 | Project focus: Youth future orientation as an equity issue

Faculty Webpage about Naomi N. Duke, Duke University

Kelly Evenson, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RTI University Scholar 2014-15 | Project focus: Activity Tracking

Faculty Webpage about Kelly Evenson, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Liping Feng, Duke University

RTI University Scholar 2023-24 | Project focus: effect of perinatal exposure to PFAS on neurodevelopmental behavioral and intellectual disorders in children

Faculty Webpage about Liping Feng, Duke University

David Gotz, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RTI University Scholar 2019-20 | Project focus: Data Science

Faculty Webpage about David Gotz, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Emily Gower, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RTI University Scholar 2020-21 | Project focus: Trachomatous Trichiasis Detection

Faculty Webpage about Emily Gower, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Claudia Gunsch, Duke University

RTI University Scholar 2015-16 | Project focus: Bioremediation and Metabolomics

Faculty Webpage about Claudia Gunsch, Duke University

Kathleen Mullan Harris, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RTI University Scholar 2020-21 | Project focus: Add Health and Multi-Omics

Faculty Webpage about Kathleen Mullan Harris, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Heileen Hsu-Kim, Duke University

RTI University Scholar 2015-16 | Project focus: Environmental Health Impacts

Faculty Webpage about Heileen Hsu-Kim, Duke University

Kendra Jason, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

RTI University Scholar 2022-23 | Project focus: Effect of COVID-19 on Older Black and Hispanic Workers

Faculty Webpage about Kendra Jason, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Archana Lamichhane, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RTI University Scholar 2015-16 | Project focus: Aflatoxins

Faculty Webpage about Archana Lamichhane, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Hollylynne Lee, North Carolina State University

RTI University Scholar 2018-19 | Project focus: Data Science Literacy

Faculty Webpage about Hollylynne Lee, North Carolina State University

James Levis, North Carolina State University

RTI University Scholar 2017-18 | Project focus: Life Cycle Assessment, Smart Cities

Faculty Webpage about James Levis, North Carolina State University

Jessica Lin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RTI University Scholar 2023-24 | Project focus: human mobility and its impact on the elimination of malaria in Zanzibar

Faculty Webpage about Jessica Lin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Nichola Lowe, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RTI University Scholar 2022-23 | Project focus: Manufacturing Workforce Equity

Faculty Webpage about Nichola Lowe, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill*

RTI University Scholar 2017-18 | Project focus: NC Private Drinking Water *Affiliation at time of appointment; currently at Indiana University

Faculty Webpage about Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill*

Rakesh Malhotra, Fayetteville State University*

RTI University Scholar 2016-17 | Project focus: Remote Sensing *Affiliation at time of appointment; currently at North Carolina Central University

Faculty Webpage about Rakesh Malhotra, Fayetteville State University*

Carmen Monico, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

RTI University Scholar 2021-22 | Project focus: Guatemalan Immigrant Reintegration

Faculty Webpage about Carmen Monico, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

Clara Muschkin, Duke University

RTI University Scholar 2017-18 | Project focus: Early Child Assessment

Faculty Webpage about Clara Muschkin, Duke University

Roger Narayan, North Carolina State University

RTI University Scholar 2019-20 | Project focus: Wearable Sensors for Health Information

Faculty Webpage about Roger Narayan, North Carolina State University

Sylvia Nassar, North Carolina State University

RTI University Scholar 2016-17 | Project focus: Global Counseling

Faculty Webpage about Sylvia Nassar, North Carolina State University

Shu Wen Ng, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RTI University Scholar 2019-20 | Project focus: Nutrition

Faculty Webpage about Shu Wen Ng, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Toyosi Onwuemene, Duke University

RTI University Scholar 2023-24 | Project focus: development of early identification methods in patients with pre-acute immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)

Faculty Webpage about Toyosi Onwuemene, Duke University