PhD Student Gargi Deshpande Wins GSA Award for Scientific Achievement at the 2025 GREAT Symposium

Gargi Deshpande, a PhD student in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the OU Hudson College of Public Health, has been honored with the Graduate Student Association (GSA) Award for Scientific Achievement at the 50th annual Graduate Research Education and Technology (GREAT) Symposium.

Deshpande received the award for her research presentation titled “Wastewater-Based Surveillance for Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Insights from a 21-Month Study in Oklahoma.” Her work explores the potential of wastewater surveillance as a powerful public health tool for monitoring respiratory viruses like influenza and RSV at the community level.

Through a comprehensive 21-month study conducted in Oklahoma, Deshpande and Dr. Katrin Kuhn's team demonstrated how wastewater can be used to detect and track the spread of these viruses in near real-time. The research holds significant implications for early warning systems and public health preparedness, particularly during respiratory virus seasons and emerging outbreaks.

The GSA Award for Scientific Achievement is presented each year at the GREAT Symposium to recognize exceptional research conducted by graduate students across the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences campus. This year’s event marked a milestone 50th anniversary of the symposium, bringing together students, faculty, and research leaders to celebrate academic excellence and innovation.

“We are incredibly proud of Gargi and this well-deserved recognition of her work,” said Dr. Jennifer Peck, interim chair of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology. “Her research conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Kuhn reflects the kind of cutting-edge science and dedication to public health impact that our college values deeply.”

Deshpande’s achievement adds to a growing list of accolades for Hudson College of Public Health students who are leading the way in research that addresses real-world health challenges across Oklahoma and beyond.