College of Graduate Studies

Kritika Kedarinath

Bangalore, India

College:

College of Medicine

Degree Programs:

Biomedical Sciences PhD
Biotechnology MS

Research Focus:

Mechanisms that promote and restrict Zika virus growth.

"If you can manage your time efficiently, it can increase your productivity greatly. It is also very important to try and keep a healthy balance between school and your hobbies (or doing whatever makes you happy).”

Doctoral student Kritika Kedarinath earned her Bachelor of Technology Degree in Biotechnology from Vellore Institute of Technology in India, and her master’s degree in biotechnology from the University of Central Florida. During her time as a master’s student, she enjoyed the research that she was involved in, which drove her to pursue a doctorate in the same field. Her research is in viral pathogenesis and immunology, specifically the mechanisms that promote and restrict Zika virus growth. Currently, Kedarinath is pursuing her PhD in Biomedical Sciences at UCF.

In addition, to wanting to study at UCF because of her interest in the research in her field, Kedarinath was also drawn to UCF because of the opportunity to be a teaching assistant, which enabled her to teach a laboratory section of human physiology. She also appreciates the supportive atmosphere at UCF, saying, “Everyone from the students to faculty, to the administrators, are all here to advise and help any way they can.”

Kedarinath’s advice to her fellow students comes from her advisor and is advice that she says has learned to incorporate into her own graduate career – the importance of time management. “If you can manage your time efficiently, it can increase your productivity greatly. It is also very important to try and keep a healthy balance between school and your hobbies or doing whatever makes you happy.” Kedarinath takes her own advice by being involved in running, saying that being part of the UCF Half Marathon Training Program at the Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) inspired her to get into the sport. She now runs multiple races a year and finds it to be a great way to destress and stay healthy.

While at UCF, Kedarinath has been the recipient of multiple awards: the Solomon Klotz Excellence in Immunology and Allergy Research Award (2018), the ORC Doctoral Fellowship (2017), and was Secretary of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Association (BSGSA) (2016). After graduation, she would like to pursue research as a post-doctorate fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).