STAT News named Dr. Courtney Woolsey a 2021 STAT Wunderkind.

Woolsey, a Texas Gulf Coast native who completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch, now works as a research scientist with the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Biosafety Level 4 laboratory.

Woolsey’s research focuses on emerging and re-emerging viruses that must be studied in labs with the highest level of biocontainment, such as the BSL-4 lab at UTMB.

STAT Wunderkind celebrates the heroes of science and medicine who are on the cusp of launching their careers, but not yet fully independent.

 “I’m honored to have been selected as a STAT Wunderkind and to share this achievement with many brilliant early-career scientists that aim to enrich lives through their research,” Woolsey said. “I owe much to my mentors that have provided guidance over the years, particularly Dr. Thomas W. Geisbert. Dr. Geisbert has always championed my pursuit to understand the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic fever viruses such as Ebola virus and to develop vaccines and therapeutics against these deadly pathogens. I also wish to thank the former director of the Galveston National Laboratory, Dr. James LeDuc, for his nomination for this prestigious award.”