UH Hilo doctoral student receives second fellowship for her research on medicinal use of plant
Sasha Nealand, a doctoral student at UH Hilo’s pharmacy college, is the recipient of a $20K national fellowship from the American Association of University Women aimed to tackle barriers women face in education.
Sasha Nealand, a doctoral student at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, is the recipient of a national fellowship aimed to tackle barriers women face in education. Nealand was awarded $20,000 to pursue academic work and lead innovative community projects to empower women and girls from the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Nealand is a doctor of philosophy in pharmaceutical sciences candidate, based at UH Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy pursuing dissertation research focused on the medicinal compounds of a medicinal plant called coastal gumweed (Grindelia stricta platyphylla) found in her hometown at Half Moon Bay, CA.
The fellowship is the second Nealand has received in support of her doctoral research; she was awarded the 2020 Garden Club of America’s Anne S. Chatham Fellowship in Medicinal Botany.
“I was extremely pleased and proud that AAUW chose to support my dissertation research,” Nealand says. “The chance for full-time graduate study and research has been a lifelong dream. I had been struggling to fund my studies for several years, through various part-time jobs and scholarships. This very generous fellowship has given me the opportunity to fully concentrate on research and finally complete my dissertation.”
The gumweed has traditionally been used to reduce inflammations and treat respiratory ailments. It produces a resinous gum that is rich in terpenes that are compounds responsible for the way most plants smell, the medicinal compounds that Nealand is investigating.
Learn more about Nealand’s research:
Doctoral student receives fellowship for her research on medicinal use of plant
Nealand is expected to complete her dissertation research and graduate in June 2023.
Read about the other two fellowship recipients at UH System News.
By Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories.
