Matthew Benczkowski came to the Yale School of Public Health seeking to learn more about infectious diseases and global health.
While he gained valuable knowledge in the classroom, it is his recent research in Colombia that he says he will remember most.
Benczkowski, a second year M.P.H. student in the Department of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases), was able to conduct research abroad as a recipient of both a Downs and Stolwijk fellowship offered by the Yale School of Public Health.
Named after renowned physician/scientist Dr. Wilbur G. Downs, the Downs Fellowship has provided opportunities for more than 500 students to live, learn, work and conduct research in low- and middle-income countries. The Stolwijk Fellowship, named after Dr. Jan A.J. Stolwijk, professor emeritus and former chair of epidemiology and public health, is annually awarded to any first year M.P.H. student granted a summer research project or internship related to the environmental health sciences.
With the support of the two fellowships, Benczkowski said he was able to work with “a great team of researchers both at Yale and in Colombia to design and develop novel parasitological and epidemiological research projects.”
“I am currently applying to microbiology Ph.D. programs, but honing my public health and epidemiological skills will allow me to be critically conscious while continuing to do research,” said Benczkowski. “My public health background has taught me to view everything, especially infectious diseases, through a totally different worldview and to keep in mind the unique aspects inherent to each individual person and how microbial threats may impact people differentially.”