Hello there! My name is Gwen Hummel and I am a Ph.D. student studying Genetics in Houston, Texas. I am originally from Colorado and love spending time outside, hiking, camping, and horseback riding. As a scientist, I study ways to make babies healthier. I started this research in animals at the University of Wyoming, where I discovered that mom's microbiome, the network of bacteria that live inside our bodies, is able to travel to a baby before they are even born!
Our world is full of bacteria, and we can use those bacteria to our benefit. This is what my research currently focuses on, and I was lucky enough to receive a U.S. Fulbright Research Grant to study mom's microbiome in Western Australia (WA). Researchers in Perth, WA, are the first in the world to test a medicine for mom's microbiome that might prevent babies from being born too early. Together, we can use this medicine to make healthier babies in Australia, the US, and the world.
I'm so happy you are joining me on this journey! While I'm excited to share my adventures in Perth with you, I'm even more excited to hear about your journeys throughout the school year. What a big year we have ahead of us!
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
