Field of Study:
Aquaculture
Home Institution in the U.S.:
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Host Institution in Nepal:
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchok
Start Month/Year in Nepal:
July 2023
Duration of Grant:
Ten months
Margaret Chi
Margaret Chi received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and religious studies from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Thereafter, her interest in the relatively neglected field of tropical diseases, as well as her extensive laboratory experience in molecular biology, inspired her to apply for a Fulbright grant to study the dengue virus in Nepal. After her Fulbright stint, Margaret hopes to complete a PhD in molecular biology. Other than viruses, her interests include global health, Buddhism, hiking, and rock climbing.
Margaret’s Fulbright project is investigating the serotypes and genotypes of the dengue virus in Nepal’s Kavre district. Dengue is an emerging disease in Nepal and was first identified in the country in 2004. Dengue outbreaks, which occur annually during the rainy season, have been steadily increasing in severity, with over 54,000 cases reported in 2022. Margaret’s project is using genetic analysis to develop an understanding about the disease burden and genetics of the dengue virus in Kavre.
