At the Intersection of Science and Society: AnneLeigh Twer, ’26, Earns SBS Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award

AnneLeigh Twer — an Honors student graduating with a 4.0 GPA, majoring in global studies with an emphasis in global health and development and minoring in French, biochemistry, pre-medicine, and molecular biology — is the recipient of the SBS Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award for spring 2026. This award recognizes a graduating senior in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences who has demonstrated academic achievement, originality, and creativity in an independent, undergraduate research project.

AnneLeigh has a long-standing interest in global health and displaced populations and chose to major in global studies as a complement to her pre-med training. She plans to pursue a career in medicine, with interests in neurosurgery or OB/GYN and women’s health, while continuing to center global health in her work.

“As a future physician, I believe it is important to be as culturally competent as possible, understand the community I am working with, and have the scientific background to be excellent in my profession,” AnneLeigh wrote. “Through the intersection of people, science, and the social sciences, I believe that my undergraduate research interests and my education through the College of SBS have prepared me for this, and I feel confident to face the challenges of my future career head-on.”

For her Honors thesis, she researched the impact of early childhood trauma in refugee children and produced a report she plans to share with refugee organizations. Through a rigorous literature review, she examined the commonalities and differences in experiences across confinement settings ranging from refugee camps to immigrant detention. 

“AnneLeigh has a remarkable ability to carry out consequential research across a wide range of biomedical and social science contexts,” wrote Elizabeth Oglesby, professor of Latin American Studies in the School of Global Studies and in the School of Geography, Development and Environment and AnneLeigh’s thesis advisor. “What is truly outstanding about her record is how she integrates her biomedical training with her interdisciplinary social science training around key themes.”

AnneLeigh’s interest in trauma and displaced populations extends beyond the classroom. Through the Fronteridades student research program, she worked with Casa Alitas, Tucson’s largest migrant shelter, where she assisted asylum-seeking families and helped document experiences of migrant reception and humanitarian care. She also conducted qualitative interviews with staff, volunteers, and fellow interns as part of a public archive project that will be housed in the U of A Main Library. 

During a semester abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, AnneLeigh independently arranged a volunteer placement with a migrant assistance organization serving refugees from Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan, and across Africa. Drawing on her interest in trauma and healing, she organized weekly circus outings for refugee families to foster comfort and community. 

Alongside her social science research, AnneLeigh built an extensive biomedical research portfolio spanning optical sciences, neurosurgery, molecular biology, and gastrointestinal surgery. Her work contributed to studies on chronic pain management, cancer diagnosis, and optical imaging, earning her co-authorship on multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations. 

Faculty mentors consistently pointed to AnneLeigh’s independence and adaptability in the lab. 

“She quickly mastered new techniques after initial instruction and was able to execute them reliably on her own,” wrote Julie G. Pilitsis, professor and chair of the Department of Neurosurgery. “Her level of independence is notably beyond that of her peers at a similar stage.”

After intense academic and research work, AnneLeigh plans to take a gap year to slow down and reset while remaining rooted in service, traveling through Southeast Asia to surf, earn her yoga teacher certification, and volunteer in women’s health.

She plans to apply to medical schools during that time, with hopes of returning to the East Coast—ideally North Carolina, where she’s from—for the next step in her journey.

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