Newly Minted DAS Ph.D. Receives New Investigator Award: Recognition from the American Society for Reproductive Immunology

Karen Racicot, who recently completed her doctoral degree in Penn State's Department of Dairy and Animal Science, was the recipient of the Gusdon Memorial New Investigator Award at the 29th meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Immunology (ASRI) held in Orlando, FL in June. Racicot, a native of northern Canada, successfully defended her dissertation and is headed for a position in a local biosciences company.

Racicot's abstract was selected as one of five finalists and then was judged as both a poster and a platform talk at the meeting. It was the first time the award was given to a "large animal" scientist in a society that is comprised primarily of human biomedical scientists using rodent, human and primate models.

Dr. Terry Etherton, Head of the Department of Dairy and Animal Science, said, "To be recognized at this level and among such accomplished young scientists is a tremendous honor for Karen, and I offer her sincere congratulations. This recognition is an important acknowledgement of her outstanding research, and affirms the quality of our DAS research programs."

Racicot's adviser is Dr. Troy Ott, Associate Professor of Reproductive Physiology. The title of her abstract was: "Characterization of an MX1-positive population of exosomes secreted by uterine glandular epithelial cells." Ott said, "I am delighted for Karen. She continues to distinguish herself among her peers." Karen's research also received recognition in the College by winning the 2008 Gamma Sigma Delta top award in the Biomedical Sciences division. Dr. Anthony Schmitt, Assistant Professor of Molecular Immunology and Infectious Diseases in the Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department, played a key role in the research project and was co-author on the abstract.

Racicot received her B.S. in animal biology at the University of Florida. Her focus has been studying animal systems at the molecular/cellular level, an important part of agricultural/animal science. About the award, she said, "I am very honored to have received this award, and I am indebted to Dr. Ott for his guidance and mentorship."

The award is presented each year to a new investigator with trainee status who has made a significant contribution by presenting an outstanding research paper during the annual meeting of the ASRI. This award is given in memory of Dr. John Gusdon, a founding member of the ASRI, and an advocate of student participation in ASRI meetings. Racicot prevailed with the judges over scientists from Yale, Brown, Berlin and other well-known universities from around the world.