Graphic announcing a 2025 Scholarship Recipient. It features a circular photo of a young woman smiling outdoors. Beside the photo is text that reads: ‘Rithika Senthilkumar, University of California, Davis.’ Below, the logo for the BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute’s D.O.O.R.S. program appears with the tagline ‘Development of Our Research Scientists,’ along with the Promega logo.
Rithika Senthilkumar, UC Davis VGL Undergraduate Research Scholar and recipient of the 2025 Promega DOORS Scholarship.

Spotlight: Rithika Senthilkumar Awarded 2025 Promega DOORS Scholarship

  • by Christine Coleman

We are pleased to announce that Rithika Senthilkumar, an Undergraduate Research Scholar in the UC Davis Vector Genetics Laboratory (VGL), has been awarded a 2025 Promega DOORS Scholarship. 

Rithika is conducting research under the mentorship of Dr. Hester Weaving, postdoctoral scholar in the VGL, on a study utilizing invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) recovered from the gut contents of species that prey on malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in Africa. Identifying predator species is essential for understanding the ecological role of these mosquitoes in local food webs and for assessing the potential environmental impacts of malaria control programs involving the release of genetically engineered mosquitoes.

Rithika is a second-year student pursuing a B.S. in Genetics and Genomics. Her recognition through this scholarship highlights both her dedication to research and the strength of undergraduate contributions to the VGL’s mission.

We extend our sincere congratulations to Rithika on this achievement.

 

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