Alumna awarded Phi Kappa Phi fellowship

University of North Georgia (UNG) alumna Leah Pennell, '22, has earned an $8,500 Phi Kappa Phi fellowship and will use it to fund research at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she is pursuing a doctoral degree in molecular and cellular biology. Pennell earned her bachelor's degree in biology from UNG in May.

Pennell, who worked as an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Dr. Alexandra Garrett while at UNG, presented her work at the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC) in fall 2021 and National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in spring 2022 Her leadership roles as an undergraduate also included being a Supplemental Instruction facilitator and a mentor to other Nighthawks and co-manager of the lab of Dr. Abby Meyer.

Meyer described Pennell as "a model student."

I had such great professors and role models. I'd love to be that for someone in the future. And so I would love to combine both if possible.

Leah Pennell

UNG alumna and Phi Kappa Phi fellowship awardee

"I was so excited and just really, really grateful, because it's humbling," Pennell said. "This is a nationally competitive scholarship. It was a boost to my confidence too, because being a first-year graduate student can be a little overwhelming."

Phi Kappa Phi awards nationally competitive fellowships for first-year graduate students. Pennell's is a nonspecific fellowship that will be used in biological fields in addition to a stipend from Georgia Tech, where she will be working under the supervision of Dr. Matt Torres in the biological sciences department starting in August.

The two have met, with Pennell recently visiting the lab she will share with other grad students.

"It was so exciting and just very surreal because it was something I had dreamed of doing and then it was like, 'Wow, I'm here, it's happening' and it's just really special," Pennell said.

Pennell said she always loved biology, so it was natural to step into the field. Cellular and molecular biology classes were her favorites among those in her biology major catalog, and she credits her professors with encouraging her to pursue her love of biology.

Garrett was her first genetics professor, and Pennell said that she probably wouldn't have pursued her Ph.D. without the encouragement of Meyer, Garrett and Dr. Megan Foley. Both, she said, "were great role models of what I would love to be someday."  

The inspiration from her former professors goes beyond the lab. Pennell said she's considering research and teaching in her future.

"I'd love to give back in that way," she said. "I had such great professors and role models. I'd love to be that for someone in the future. And so I would love to combine both if possible."