Kendall Cranor

Kendall Cranor is a 2026-2027 Self Memorial Scholar pursuing a Ph.D. in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (IGPBS) at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Kendall earned her B.S. in Microbiology and B.A. in Chemistry, graduating with highest distinction and departmental honors. During her undergraduate studies, Kendall was a research assistant in Dr. Anthony Fehr’s lab for over three years, where she investigated the host-pathogen interactions of coronaviruses. She was a Kansas Idea Network for Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) Star Trainee, where she presented at five conferences and won poster presentation awards at two. Kendall was also a part of the American Society of Microbiology Chapter at KU and served as the president of Out in STEM, a student organization that built community and provided mutual aid for queer students pursuing STEM degrees. For five years, Kendall was a part of the National Psoriasis Foundation as a youth ambassador and mentor. In the future, Kendall plans to work for a national laboratory or nonprofit studying autoimmune or infectious diseases.