CHAMPAIGN, Ill. Two graduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have won 2002-2003 Paul D. Doolen graduate scholarships for the study of aging. They will receive $4,000 each to continue their studies in gerontology.
Eric Deszo of Savoy, Ill., a doctoral student in animal biological and biomedical sciences, won the Doolen award in the biological and biomedical sciences. His research examines the impairment of an aged immune system to respond to antigen challenge. His research will study the impact of oxidative stress on macrophage dendritic dell differentiation. Deszo earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Loyola University in Chicago.
David Marquez of Urbana, Ill., a doctoral student in exercise psychology at Illinois, won the Doolen award in behavorial and social sciences. His research will examine the lower levels of physical activity for elderly Mexican-Americans than for other non-Latino whites across education, family income and occupation. He will focus his research toward understanding the pschological determinants and outcomes associated with physical activity in older Latino adults. Marquez earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola University in Chicago.
Doolen scholarships are awarded annually to graduate students in their second year of study or beyond whose principal scholarly interest lies in the field of aging. Established in 1986 by an endowment from the Retirement Research Foundation in Oak Park, Ill., the scholarships honor the late Paul D. Doolen, a longtime member of the foundation’s board of directors and a 1927 graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
