What would make the world a better place? "The technology I'm working on!" Is probably what every programmer, or inventor, or entrepreneur would say. However, what would be better than impacting the spread of disease? The world changed after the pandemic, and the price of eggs in the United States skyrocketed after avian flu wreaked havoc upon bird populations. Viruses cost us time, money, and, of course, most painfully, the ones we hold dear. My group is studying how to prevent viruses, the ones that turn into pandemics, before they turn into pandemics. We ask how we can use everyone's favorite new tool, AI, to help us in this task? Machine learning in a powerful tool. This summer I worked to build AI models that read viral metadata and identify how the virus was passaged (propagated) before sequencing. This matters because passaging can introduce mutations that don’t actually appear in nature misleading researchers, throwing off vaccine design, and obscuring our ability to predict how viruses evolve. With better annotations powered by AI, we can clean up the data and forecast mutations with greater accuracy, potentially informing vaccine targets and public health decisions. Imagine a world where researchers can understand how viruses are propagated. That would lead us to not have mishaps like back in 2012-2013 season and subsequent years. A specific H3N2 vaccine strain (IVR-165) was associated with reduced vaccine effectiveness due to mutations that occurred during egg adaptation. These mutations altered the virus's ability to elicit a protective immune response. Consequently, the vaccine effectiveness (VE) against A(H3N2) was significantly lower than expected, as demonstrated in studies from Canada and the United States, reporting only VE estimates of 41% and 39% respectively. That has real human consequences. Low vaccine effectiveness means more people get sick, hospitals fill up, and lives are lost. Vaccine production takes months, and if we base our decision on flawed or mislabeled data, the result is a vaccine that doesn’t match the virus circulating. That’s why vaccine forecasting is so important. By identifying spurious mutations introduced during lab processing and modeling the evolutionary dynamics of viruses, AI provides a clearer view of what’s coming. The better our predictions, the better we can protect the elderly, the immunocompromised, and young children, who are most at risk.

When I think of the values that Brian Tahair embodied, one word comes to mind: kindness. Throughout my life, I've tried to live by the mantra that small acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone's day. From volunteering to offering a listening ear to a friend in need, I've always sought out opportunities to spread love and positivity. One particular experience stands out to me. My experiences interning at Rush University Medical Center, and volunteering at Porter Medical Center gave me more connection with patients and more insight into the empathetic part of medicine. At first, my role as an intern seemed trivial; I checked patients’ charts to make sure their details matched the nurse’s whiteboard in the room and offered cups of water with a smile and light conversation. Even as my duties’ breadth increased with working more closely with the nurses as I got more experience, I did not see my impact. But eventually, the names on the door became more than just words. They turned into actual people who greeted me by name and who I greeted in turn. I met entire families, parents who would stay overnight with their children, spouses, and people who were delighted to see that I learned a few simple phrases in their native language. I had conversations and learned about family stories and cultures from both older adults and teenagers, one cup of water at a time. I have also seen the power of kindness, creativity and self-expression in my involvement with the arts, in volunteering for the Goodman Theatre. I enjoyed planning and carrying out the homecoming event for servicemen and women and their families, or Youth Matter, an annual event where we invited teenagers and young adults to showcase music, poetry, and short films. At my first opportunity to conduct my own event, I jumped at the chance to fundraise for a food and clothing drive for the homeless. The next year, we raised $1200, which we donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, finally making an impact on food insecurity in my city. I also reached out to the Santa Fe Young Playwrights project and mentored 20 young students. Encouraging students day by day, building confidence through conversations, getting to know the students, and having fun through creativity were immensely valuable for me, and the students as well. I believe that this is what Brian Tahair meant when he talked about doing small things with great love. It's not always about grand gestures or heroic acts, but rather the daily decisions we make to prioritize empathy, compassion, and selflessness. Going to college here in Vermont, I've been fortunate to see and be in a community where kindness is valued and celebrated and, I've witnessed firsthand the impact that small acts of kindness can have on our community. Receiving the Brian Tahair Life of Gratitude Memorial Scholarship would not only provide financial support for my educational goals, but it would also serve as a reminder to continue living my life with kindness and compassion. I am honored to have the opportunity to apply for this scholarship and to carry on Brian Tahair's legacy of love and gratitude.

Growing up in an urban environment, I witnessed firsthand the effects of poverty on my community. I knew from a young age that I wanted to make a difference, so I sought out opportunities to give back. Through my involvement with community organizations, and internships I quickly discovered that my true passion lies in healthcare and medicine. As a pre-med student, I have spent countless hours volunteering in hospitals, shadowing doctors, and working in cancer and neuroscience research labs. These experiences have taught me the importance of empathy, compassion, and dedication in the field of medicine. I have seen firsthand the impact that a caring and knowledgeable healthcare provider can have on a patient's life, and it has inspired me to pursue a career as a physician. In addition to my academic and research pursuits, I have also been heavily involved in the arts. As a volunteer at the Goodman Theatre, I have witnessed the transformative power of creativity and self-expression. I enjoyed planning and carrying out the homecoming event for servicemen and women and their families, or Youth Matter, an annual event where we invited teenagers and young adults to showcase music, poetry, and short films. At my first opportunity to conduct my own event, I jumped at the chance to fundraise a food and clothing drive for the homeless. The next year, we raised $1200, which we donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, finally making an impact on food insecurity in my city. I also reached out to the Santa Fe Young Playwrights project and mentored 20 young students. Through my fundraising efforts for communities in Chicago, I have learned the importance of community engagement and leadership. In all of this, my mother has been my biggest supporter throughout all of my endeavors, and her unwavering love and encouragement have been instrumental in my success. I am deeply grateful for her guidance and mentorship, and I hope to continue making her proud as I pursue my dreams of becoming a physician. Growing up, my mother always emphasized the importance of giving back to the community. She taught me that volunteering is not only a way to help others, but it is also a way to grow as an individual. I have taken this lesson to heart and I’ve even started volunteering here in Vermont so far for 50 hours at the local hospital. Through these experiences, I have gained a greater appreciation for the struggles that others face and have developed a deep sense of empathy. My mother's faith has also had a profound impact on my life. She has taught me to trust in God and to find strength in Him during difficult times. Her example of love and compassion has shown me the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, regardless of their background or circumstances. I am deeply grateful for my mother's influence on my life, and I know that I would not be the person I am today without her. I believe that her example of selflessness and dedication to others is exactly the type of legacy that Ginny Biada would have admired. As a recipient of this scholarship, I would be honored to carry on her legacy by continuing to volunteer and serve others in my community. Overall, I believe that my experiences and passions align with the values of the Ginny Biada Scholarship. I am committed to making a positive impact on the world around me, and I am confident that my unique perspective and skill set will enable me to do so.