West campus news Releases Archive
ASU graduating student wins research fellowship to study diabetes
Apr. 26, 2005
Vicki Sein, a graduating senior in
The NIDDK conducts biomedical research and training related to diabetes mellitus; endocrine, bone, and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, including liver diseases and nutritional disorders; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases.
According to Sein, the Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch where she will be working is a hub for all diabetes research in the country. The branch’s mission is to determine the causes and origins of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications—particularly among the Pima Indians of Arizona.
Sein anticipates spending about half her time in the lab and the other half working with Native Americans. She begins her new job June 6.
“This is a great opportunity to broaden the biomedical lab skills I learned at ASU by working with people,” Sein said. “There are times I spent whole days in the lab with little human interaction. I didn’t even take time for lunch. So this job will give me a chance to get out into the field, taking blood samples, performing bone density scans and doing other physical tests.”
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse reports that 18.2 million people in the U.S.—6.3 percent of the population—have diabetes. At the regional level, diabetes is most common among American Indians in the Southeastern United States and southern Arizona.
Sein will graduate from ASU’s Barrett Honors College in May with bachelor of science degrees in both life sciences and psychology. She plans to follow in her parents’ footsteps (both are physicians) by applying to medical school after her fellowship year. She hopes to pursue studies leading to either a medical degree or a medical research degree.
Sein credits Douglas Dennis, chairman of the Integrated Natural Sciences Department with instilling an appreciation for biomedical research.
“I love research, in large part because of Dr. Dennis’ lab,” Sein said. “I really enjoy the technical aspects of working with my hands, getting results.”
But as Dennis points out, with a black belt in martial arts and training as a classical pianist, Sein manages to maintain a healthy balance of extracurricular interests with her academic life.
PHOTO — Vicki Sein is pictured above. A 300-dpi version is available.
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