Department of Biostatistics doctoral students Keyla Pagan-Rivera and Michael Seedorff are the inaugural recipients of the Kathryn M. Chaloner Memorial Scholarship and the Leon F. Burmeister Memorial Scholarship, respectively. The awards were presented Nov. 11 at a ceremony and reception held in the College of Public Health Building.

The scholarships honor Chaloner, who served as professor and head of the Department of Biostatistics for 12 years, and Burmeister, professor of biostatistics, whose career at the University of Iowa spanned 42 years.

Chaloner and Burmeister were “colleagues who had a profound influence on the College of Public Health and Department of Biostatistics,” said Joe Cavanaugh, professor and interim head of biostatistics, in introducing the awards. “They were accomplished researchers, passionate mentors, and outstanding educators. These scholarships allow us to recognize, honor, and support exceptional graduate students.”

Chaloner was internationally known for her research contributions to several fields, including Bayesian design of experiments, clinical trials, and the study of HIV/AIDS. She was also dedicated to creating and sustaining an inclusive department that values diversity. She actively encouraged women and underrepresented minority students to join the field of biostatistics and provided mentorship, support, and encouragement to facilitate their success. The memorial scholarship in her name recognizes an outstanding underrepresented minority student.

“It is a great honor to be awarded the Kathryn Chaloner Memorial Scholarship,” says Pagan-Rivera, who is from Villalba, Puerto Rico, and is focusing her research on Bayesian statistics and risk exposure. “She understood the struggles that minorities encounter, and she constantly worked at making everyone feel at home in Iowa. From helping me solidify the English language, to understanding complex statistics, to reaching out to me during unfortunate times, she was there for me. She was a great role model and will be greatly missed.”

The scholarship in Chaloner’s honor is a UI Foundation Fund supported by contributions from friends, colleagues, current and former students, and the Chaloner family.

The Leon F. Burmeister Memorial Scholarship supports an exceptional student with a preference for a student from Iowa. Burmeister, a native Iowan, began his career at the UI in 1969 and was instrumental in establishing the graduate program in biostatistics. He was a highly respected biostatistician and professor who dedicated his expertise to a wide range of studies. The scholarship is provided through an endowment from the Burmeister family.

“I am deeply honored to have been selected to receive this scholarship,” says Seedorf, who is from Hiawatha, Iowa. His research interests include Bayesian and computational statistics and machine learning. “Dr. Burmeister was a leader in the biostatistics and Iowa communities and I hope to follow in the example that he set.”