Alicia and Yaya Fellowship Program

The Alicia and Yaya Fellowship Program is designed to promote research collaboration between UMB and UCR faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. Over the course of a year, Fellows will collaborate with researchers at the partner university on their proposed research project. Although some of this research may be undertaken at the applicant’s home institution, Fellows must travel to the partner institution as part of the Fellowship. If Fellows do not have an established research collaborator at the partner university, we can assist in finding an appropriate collaborator. 

Fellows can apply to go for periods ranging from two weeks to six months, however a preference will be given for applicants seeking to travel for two or more months to maximize the Fellowship experience. The initiative supports research in any field related to aging and gerontology. Examples include but are not limited to epidemiological, clinical, psychosocial, legal, policy, and bench science research.

Funding includes a stipend to cover salary and lodging, travel costs, registration in courses at the University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies (when applicable), and participation in scholarly conferences. You must be a current faculty, postdoctoral fellow, or graduate student at UMB or UCR to apply. NOTE: Each placement is curated based on the applicant’s research interests and goals.

Requirements:

  • Applicants must currently be a faculty member, postdoctoral fellow, or graduate student at either UMB or UCR.

  • Applicants must be willing to travel to the partner university for a period of two weeks to six months. Preference will be given to applicants wishing to travel for more than two months.

  • Proposed research must be related to aging/gerontology.

If you have any questions, email Michelle Sullivan.

Applications will comprise of the following elements:

  • Overview of past research experiences

  • Research areas of interest at the host institution

  • Personal statement describing your interests and motivations for participating in the Fellowship

  • CV/Resume

  • Unofficial transcripts (if a student)

Applications for the 2025 cycle are now closed.

Submitted applications will be reviewed through February 28. If needed, the selection committee will meet with candidates for questions/clarifications about application being during this time. All applicants will be made aware of their status no later than March 1, when logistics planning for selected Fellows begins.

2024 Fellows

2024 Fellows

Katie Dondero, MS

Headshot of a womanPhD Student
University of Maryland, Baltimore
School of Medicine

Katie Dondero is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Towson University in the Kinesiology department with more than 10 years of clinical experience working as an Exercise Physiologist in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and in a clinical research setting. Her current research investigates the structural and functional changes in muscle and fat tissue in the presence of chronic disease. Additionally, she is interested in the role exercise can play in mitigating these changes and improving physical function in older adults.

Julie Rekant, DPT, PhD

Headshot of a womanVisiting Post-Doctoral Fellow, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
University of Maryland, Baltimore
School of Medicine

Dr. Julie Rekant has been conducting translational research for 10 years at the National Institutes of Health, University of Pittsburgh, and most recently with the Baltimore VA and University of Maryland. Dr. Rekant has worked in acute care, inpatient rehab, and outpatient settings – her current clinical role is in the Balance and Mobility interdisciplinary care clinic at the Baltimore VA. Dr. Rekant’s research focuses on leveraging her engineering training to integrate wearable sensors into clinical assessments to promote more sensitive identification of changes in mobility. She has a special interest in the role of physical activity on mobility disability development and in early detection of aging adults vulnerable to accelerated functional decline.

Laura Vindas Meza

Headshot of a woman

Master's Student
Universidad de Costa Rica
School of Nutrition

Laura Vindas Meza is pursuing her Master's degree in Gerontology at the University of Costa Rica. She brings significant experience from her role as a co-founder of the Asociación Península de Nicoya Zona Azul, where she collaborates with Jorge Vindas on research and outreach focused on healthy aging in Blue Zone populations.

Fellowship Project: Laura conducted a summer research training program designed specifically for high school students to introduce them to aging-focused research concepts, in which they learn about the nutrition research that has been conducted on the Nicoya Peninsula for the past 20 years. She also wrote nutrition information for older adults participating in a health and wellness program for veterans and composed a review on changes in microbiota in long-lived individuals.

UMB Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Dennis, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Maryland School of Medicine

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2023 Fellows

Mónica Valeria Cortes Ortiz

Post-Masters Researcher and Former Research Trainee
University of Costa Rica
Health Research Institute

Fellowship Project: Mónica spent three-and-a-half months (March 2023-July 2023) at UMB investigating the interplay between dietary, genetic, and environmental factors in relation to aging and different complex diseases in older adults. 

UMB Mentors: Dr. Amanda Lehning, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work

Dr. Elizabeth Dennis, Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Maryland School of Medicine

 

Articles and Presentations Based on Fellowship:

Santamaría-Ulloa C, Lehning AJ, Cortés-Ortiz MV, Méndez-Chacón E. (2023) Frailty as a predictor of mortality: A comparative cohort study of older adults in Costa Rica and the United States.mBMC Public Health 23, 1960 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16900-4

Santamaría-Ulloa, C., Lehning, A., Cortés-Ortiz, MV. and Méndez-Chacón, E. Frailty as a predictor of mortality: a comparative cohort study in Costa Rica and the United States. Gerontological Society Association 2023 Annual Meeting. Tampa, Florida, US. November 2023.

Santamaría-Ulloa, C., Lehning, A., Cortés-Ortiz, MV. and Méndez-Chacón, E. La fragilidad como predictor de la mortalidad entre adultos mayores no institucionalizados: una comparación entre Costa Rica y Estados Unidos. VIII Congreso Internacional de Gerontología. La vejez y el envejecimiento en el contexto actual: desafíos presentes y estrategias futuras. San José, Costa Rica.

Ericka Méndez-Chacón, MSc.

A headshot of a womanFull Professor and Researcher
University of Costa Rica
Statistics Department

Fellowship Project: Dr. Méndez-Chacón spent three-and-a-half months (March 2023-June 2023) at UMB comparing determinants of health inequalities in elderly populations of Costa Rica and the United States.

UMB Partner: Dr. Amanda Lehning, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work

 

Articles and Presentations Based on Fellowship:

Ericka Méndez-Chacón and David Camacho. Factors associated with the incidence of cognitive impairment in older Costa Rican. Gerontological Society Association 2023 Annual Meeting. Tampa, Florida, US. November 2023.

Santamaría-Ulloa C, Lehning AJ, Cortés-Ortiz MV, Méndez-Chacón E. (2023) Frailty as a predictor of mortality: A comparative cohort study of older adults in Costa Rica and the United States. BMC Public Health 23, 1960 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16900-4

Santamaría-Ulloa, C., Lehning, A., Cortés-Ortiz, MV. and Méndez-Chacón, E. Frailty as a predictor of mortality: a comparative cohort study in Costa Rica and the United States. Gerontological Society Association 2023 Annual Meeting. Tampa, Florida, US. November 2023.

Santamaría-Ulloa, C., Lehning, A., Cortés-Ortiz, MV. and Méndez-Chacón, E. La fragilidad como predictor de la mortalidad entre adultos mayores no institucionalizados: una comparación entre Costa Rica y Estados Unidos. VIII Congreso Internacional de Gerontología. La vejez y el envejecimiento en el contexto actual: desafíos presentes y estrategias futuras. San José, Costa Rica July 20 and 21, 2023.

Santamaría-Ulloa, C., and Méndez-Chacón, E. Health outcomes in Costa Rican Older Adults: The role of obesity and stress. University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Social Work. May 23, 2023.

Méndez-Chacón, E. Construct validity of the self-report instrument of perceived stress in the general Costa Rican population of retirement age: CRELES study. Frontiers in Public Health, vol. 13. April 2025.

Carolina Santamaria-Ulloa, PhD

Full Professor and Researcher
Universidad de Costa Rica
Health Research Institute

Fellowship Project: Dr. Santamaria-Ulloa spent 6 months (February 2023-August 2023) at UMB comparing the determinants of health inequalities in the elderly populations of Costa Rica and the United States.

UMB Partner: Dr. Amanda Lehning, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work

Dr. Carolina Santamaría Ulloa is a full professor and researcher of the Health Research Institute and the Human Nutrition Department at the University of Costa Rica. She held an appointment at the Costa Rican Ministry of Health for 16 years and a postdoctoral position at the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (France).

Dr. Santamaría Ulloa is a demographer with an academic background in biology. She received her Ph.D. and master’s degree in sociology with a major in demography and a minor in population health from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received a master’s degree in statistics with a major in population health, and a Sc.B. in biology from the University of Costa Rica. The aim of her research is to inform policy-making to improve the population's health. She has published more than 40 papers in international scientific journals.

 

Articles and Presentations Based on Fellowship:

Santamaría-Ulloa C, Lehning AJ, Cortés-Ortiz MV, Méndez-Chacón E. (2023) Frailty as a predictor of mortality: A comparative cohort study of older adults in Costa Rica and the United States. BMC Public Health 23, 1960 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16900-4

Santamaría-Ulloa, C., Lehning, A., Cortés-Ortiz, MV. and Méndez-Chacón, E. Frailty as a predictor of mortality: a comparative cohort study in Costa Rica and the United States. Gerontological Society Association 2023 Annual Meeting. Tampa, Florida, US. November 2023.

Santamaría-Ulloa, C., Lehning, A., Cortés-Ortiz, MV. and Méndez-Chacón, E. La fragilidad como predictor de la mortalidad entre adultos mayores no institucionalizados: una comparación entre Costa Rica y Estados Unidos. VIII Congreso Internacional de Gerontología. La vejez y el envejecimiento en el contexto actual: desafíos presentes y estrategias futuras. San José, Costa Rica July 20 and 21, 2023.

Santamaría-Ulloa, C., and Méndez-Chacón, E. Health outcomes in Costa Rican Older Adults: The role of obesity and stress. University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Social Work. May 23, 2023.

Santamaría-Ulloa, C. La fragilidad en el adulto mayor puede predecir su muerte: Comparación entre Costa Rica y Estados Unidos. Charlas Científicas del Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud. August 24, 2023.

Camacho, D., Tella-Vega, P., Wagner, F. A., Santamaría-Ulloa, C., Lehninh, A., Gallo, J. J., & Garcia-Pena, C. Loneliness and cognitive function in older adults living in Latin America: A systematic review. Archives of Medical Research Vol. 56, Issue 4

University of Maryland School of Medicine Students

A group of UMB students pose with Costa Ricans inside a room.

Participants: Lillianna Pedersen, Alexis Vetack, Shania Bailey, Hima Konduru, Melissa Rallo, Christine Wan, Nicholas Leahy

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Carlos Faerron Guzman

Project Title: Healthy Aging in Costa Rica

 

 

Costa Rica is experiencing a rapid aging process due to increased life expectancy and declining birth rates. Coto Brus, a rural municipality in the country, is no exception. The medical students spent 4 weeks in the Coto Brus region of Costa Rica working with project leaders and indigenous community members at the InterAmerican Center for Global Health and Hands for Health to investigate the aging and demographic transition process in Coto Brus and identify opportunities for future interventions.

Articles and Presentations Based on Fellowship

Understanding Loneliness in an Aging Population of San Vito de Coto Brus, Costa Rica (submitted), Nicholas Leahy, Melissa Rallo, Lillianna Pedersen, Shania Bailey, Hima Konduru, Christine Wan, Alexis Vetack, Wendel Mora, Virginia Rowthorn, Dr. Shailvi Gupta, Dr. Carlos Faerron Guzman. 

Experience of Aging in Indigenous Communities: A Qualitative Study of the Ngäbe-Buglé Community in Coto Brus, Costa Rica (submitted), Melissa Rallo, Nicholas Leahy, Lillianna Pedersen, Shania Bailey, Hima Konduru, Christine Wan, Alexis Vetack, Wendel Mora, Virginia Rowthorn, Dr. Shailvi Gupta, Dr. Carlos Faerron Guzman.