Ph.D. student awarded international scholarship

Lydia Roos, a doctoral student in health psychology, recently received the P.E.O. International Scholarship, a competitive merit-based $15,000 award.

Given by the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an organization focused on helping women around the world participate in graduate study in the United States and Canada, the international scholarship is intended to recognize and encourage academic excellence and achievement by women in doctoral-level programs.

Roos’ research focuses on the effects of interpersonal stress on stress reactivity, immune system functioning and downstream effects on psychological and physical health. She explores factors that impact responses to stress, such as the goals people have in social contexts and strategies they use to manage their emotions.

The doctoral student plans to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship to continue her research; ultimately, her goal is to lead a research team investigating interpersonal stress and health through a psychoneuroendocrinological and immunological lens.

Roos, who was nominated for the award by the local P.E.O. chapter, is an “outstanding student and citizen of the Health Psychology Program,” said Virginia Gil-Rivas, a professor in the Department of Psychological Science and director of the Health Psychology Doctoral Program. Roos also is a past recipient of the Hershel and Cornelia Everett Foundation Fellowship offered through UNC Charlotte’s Graduate School.