2024 Awardees

RESEARCH DESCRIPTION: The human immune system is a complex hierarchy of tissues, cells, and genetic programs that respond to diverse endogenous and environmental stimuli. While previously thought to be immature in utero, the fetal immune system is now known to be surprisingly active during the earliest stages of life, exhibiting signs of activation and immune memory as early as the second trimester of pregnancy. However, the basis of this activated fetal immune state remains unclear. In the Konnikova lab, we are interested in pursuing research that addresses numerous questions with wide-ranging implications for pregnant mothers, newborn babies, and far into adulthood, such as: Does fetal immune activation lead to adverse outcomes like preterm birth? Are fetal immune cells specifically reactive to bacterial or viral antigens? What maternal factors influence fetal immune development? What are the key metrics of immune health in utero and in early life? BIO: Tyler pursued scientific research from a young age. His academic training took him to Auburn University's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and Yale Department of Immunobiology. His research interests include mucosal immunology, host-microbe interactions, and fetal immune development. Tyler enjoys building community, mentoring young people, reading and writing poetry, and exploring natural spaces with his dog. He welcomes conversations of all kinds and is deeply curious about the callings that lead people into their life's work.

Dr. Tiffany N. Younger is a social medical scientist and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry. Her research explores intersections of race, gender, the economy, and health, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods within a critical community participatory action research framework. Known for her expertise in trauma-informed research, Dr. Younger emphasizes the importance of lived experience in research and prioritizes healing as a key outcome in collaborations with participants and co-researchers. She has conducted extensive research across the United States and internationally in South Africa, Brazil, and Ghana. Prior to pursuing her doctoral program, Dr. Younger served as a policy fellow for United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, focusing on issues of criminal justice, gender, and race equity. During her doctoral studies, she founded the Social Change Agents Institute (SCAI), fostering collaborations with local students and community activists in countries within the African Diaspora such as South Africa, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil. Additionally, Dr. Younger directed policy and advocacy efforts as the Director of Policy and Advocacy at Closing the Women's Wealth Gap, where she developed strategic agendas and launched the Community Leaders Fellowship to elevate the voices of Black and Latina women facing economic inequality. Dr. Younger brings extensive teaching experience, including senior lecturer positions at Columbia School of Social Work, where she teaches courses on Human Behavior and the Environment and Social Welfare Policy. She also instructs Practice Lab at Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work and Social Policy and Law at the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Younger earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare from the Graduate Center at CUNY and completed her Clinical Epidemiology degree at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. During her predoctoral training, she conducted research as part of a T32 clinical research science fellowship with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), focusing on health disparities and the impact of structural racism on cardiovascular disease, maternal health, and cancer disparities. She also holds a Master of Science in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Dr. Younger resides in Harlem, New York, with her daughter Grace.