Elizabeth Kelsch Wins National Research Award

2016 May 2

University of Dayton junior Elizabeth Kelsch of Northport, NY, won a national award for her research from the American Physiological Society.

Kelsch, an exercise physiology major, was selected among more than 100 students for the David S. Bruce Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award.

"Her achievement is really a testament to her hard work and the significant support for undergraduate research here at the University, including the University Honors Program," said Anne Crecelius, assistant professor of health and sports sciences and Kelsch's advisor.

Kelsch presented her research to two panels of physiologists at the 2016 Experimental Biology meeting in San Diego.

Her project was on "The Impact of Acute Isocapnic Hypoxia on Reactive Hyperemia in Young, Healthy Humans," which she said evaluated the effect of low oxygen exposure, similar to what someone experiences in high altitudes, on blood flow in the forearm.

Kelsch, a 2015 Berry Summer Thesis Institute scholar, said she never saw herself doing research before taking a class taught by Crecelius.

"It's been really cool because research is such a big part of the University," she said. "And because I'd never seen myself in this role, I didn't really understand the prevalence of research and the opportunities there. Now I have this new door open to me of doing research and getting my master's in physiology potentially."