Stroka Outstanding Young Scientist

From the Capital-Gazette by Jerri Anne Hopkins

Davidsonville resident Dr. Kimberly Stroka, assistant professor in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at University of Maryland, recently received a prestigious Outstanding Young Scientist Award.

Stroka, who directs the Cell and Microenvironment Engineering Lab, was honored by the Maryland Academy of Sciences and the Maryland Science Center. Each year, the groups select winners of the Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) and Outstanding Young Engineer (OYE) awards.

By combining experimental techniques and theoretical modeling, Stroka discovered a new fundamental mechanism for tumor cell migration. Through her work, aquaporins (water channels that allow water flux across the cell membrane) could be explored as possible drugable targets for tumor cell metastasis.

Basically, she has been exploring how cancer cells travel through the body, whether through the blood vessels or through organs and tissues, how they get past or through healthy cells to reach new areas, and possible ways to prevent cancer cells from moving through the body.

“My end goal is to understand why the process occurs, how it occurs, and figure out ways to prevent it and stop it,” Stroka said.

Collectively, her work has led to publication of 21 peer-reviewed journal articles, two first-author book chapters, and 72 presentations at national and international conferences and seminars.

Stroka lives in Davidsonville with her husband and two children. She came to Maryland to be part of the relatively new Bioengineering Department.

The OYS and OYE awards recognize young Maryland residents who have distinguished themselves with accomplishments in science and engineering. The nominations are open to scientists and engineers 35 years old or younger working in academia and 40 or younger working in other sectors. The OYS award was established in 1959 with the OYE award inaugurated in 1988.

Award recipients are chosen by members of the Maryland Academy of Sciences’ Scientific Advisory Council.