International Programs at the University of Iowa is pleased to announce that Aishani Kundu, a rising fourth-year double majoring in psychology and English and creative writing, has been named a recipient of the Peace, Charlie One World Scholarship.
For Kundu, the scholarship has eased financial pressures and opened space for her to pursue both research and writing.
“The University of Iowa allowed me to pursue an interdisciplinary education,” she said, “combining my passion for literature and creative writing with scientific research.”
During her second semester, Kundu joined a research lab studying the role of stress in cancer development and progression, particularly among ovarian cancer survivors. The team investigates how psychosocial interventions, such as stress-reduction strategies, may help prevent recurrence.
“Participating in cancer research led me to develop an interest in how psychological, biological, environmental, and socioeconomic factors are deeply intertwined in the onset of deadly diseases like cancer,” she explains.
This realization sparked a new goal: to pursue public health, specifically epidemiology, to better understand chronic diseases and how they affect marginalized communities around the world.
This summer, Kundu will work with a faculty member in the UI Department of Epidemiology on a project focused on neuroendocrine tumors. Her work will include data entry, coding, and analyzing patient treatment experiences to understand how these experiences shape quality of life.
“As an international student, I am deeply curious about how health care access and disease occurrence disproportionately present themselves in different regions of the world,” she said. “I want to understand the various risk factors underlying different communities across the world in order to help develop effective prevention and management tools.”
Kundu hopes other students, especially those striving to make a global impact, will embrace the unknown.
“Pursue something that is truly meaningful to you and seek out every opportunity that will make it possible for you to achieve your goals even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone,” Kundu said. “Become involved in something you have never done before and ask questions despite being afraid.”
The Peace, Charlie One World Scholarship was established by Dr. Charles W. Day, a retired clinical psychologist and consultant raised in Iowa. Dr. Day earned three degrees from the University of Iowa before spending years teaching psychotherapy and counseling in India and Thailand. His international experiences strengthened his belief that supporting global education can foster peace.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the donor of the Peace, Charlie One World Scholarship,” said Kundu, “for supporting my education by significantly reducing my financial burden so that I can engage myself in research, writing, and pushing myself to do the best I can.”
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International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.