Franklin genetics major named UGA's 10th Marshall Scholar

Finn Walsh will build on her studies in infectious disease post graduation as UGA’s newest Marshall Scholar. The senior from Atlanta will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in genetics and a minor in Spanish through the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. She has conducted undergraduate research through the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities, with the majority of her work in the Odum School of Ecology.

Up to 50 students are selected each year for the Marshall Scholarship, which is designed to strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions. Funded principally by the British government, the scholarship allows up to three years of fully funded graduate study at any university in the United Kingdom.

Walsh is interested in how the connections among humans, animals and ecosystems impact the health of all three. She is currently conducting research on parasite and pathogen movement between mammals on land and those in the water. As a Marshall Scholar, she plans to pursue two master’s degrees, the first in medical anthropology through the University of Edinburgh and the second in one health through a program jointly offered by the Royal Veterinary College and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

After her time in the U.K., Walsh will pursue an M.D.-Ph.D. in the U.S. She plans to work in infectious disease control, specializing in vector-borne diseases.

“Infectious diseases simultaneously fascinate and terrify me,” Walsh said. “They have shaped our health, our history and even our genome. I’ve grown to appreciate the interconnected nature of the health of different species and its relevance to emerging diseases. In pursuing a career as a physician-scientist, I hope to combine medical knowledge of infectious diseases and a broader understanding of prevention and control strategies.

Congratulations to this amazing student, confirming why so many top students choose UGA Franklin to pursue their highest aspirations.

Image: Finn Walsh, right, discusses her research on parasite and pathogen transmission with her faculty mentor, Andrew Park, professor in the Odum School of Ecology. (Photo by Stephanie Schupska)