Dr. Sarah Yeo, a Scientific Analyst at University of Arizona’s Zuckerman College of Public Health, recently visited the University of Technology Sydney in Australia as part of a fellowship program to share research and build the ongoing collaborative research partnership between the two universities.
Sarah Yeo, PhD, MPP, a Scientific Analyst at University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) and an NIH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC), recently visited the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in Australia through the funded UTS Key Technology Partnerships (KTP) Visiting Fellow Program. While in Australia Dr. Yeo shared her research on refugee health and explored collaborative opportunities for multi-site studies between the US and Australia with Dr. Angela Dawson at UTS. Dr. Yeo earned her PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion from MEZCOPH in 2023.
The UTS KTP Visiting Fellow Program offers up to $10,000 to bring scholars from partner institutions to Sydney, fostering collaboration across a range of research projects. The Zuckerman College of Public Health has an ongoing partnership with UTS to enhance public health education, research, and programs in both countries.
Research Presentations at Key Venues
During her time in Sydney, Dr. Yeo shared her research on refugee health at several venues, including the Daffodil Centre, a partnership between the University of Sydney and the Cancer Council New South Wales (NSW), NSW Refugee Health Services, and the UTS Research Institute for Innovative Solutions for Well-being and Health (INSIGHT).
She delivered two key research presentations: “Navigating Health Care: The Impact of Meso/Macro-Level Factors on Refugee Access and Utilization in the United States and South Korea – A Comparative Case Study” and “Addressing Cancer Disparities among Refugee Women from Muslim-majority Countries through Faith-based Interventions.”
Exploring Collaboration Opportunities
Dr. Angela Dawson and Dr. Sarah Yeo
Dr. Sarah Yeo and Dr. Angela Dawson explored several potential avenues for collaboration, including co-authoring a review paper on cancer screening guidelines in high-income countries and conducting a systematic review of cancer screening uptake among refugees in high-income and middle-income nations. This work would be in collaboration with faculty and students including Fantu Mamo Aragaw, a PhD candidate at UTS’s Faculty of Health.
They also explored future funding opportunities, including internal options at their institutions and external sources such as the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Australian Research Council (ARC), and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia. These discussions aimed to secure funding for multi-site studies in the coming years, with guidance and support from Dr. Yeo’s mentors including Dr. Scott Carvajal and Dr. Gloria Coronado.
"This Visiting Fellow Program offered an incredible opportunity to network with key Australian researchers in my field, “said Dr. Yeo, “The visit initiated relationships and collaborations that I’m hopeful will lead to impactful multi-site global health studies."
For more information about the UTS KTP Visiting Fellow Program, please see the details below.
The University of Technology Sydney’s KTP program is a unique opportunity for researchers at the University of Arizona
Attention University of Arizona (UA) academics!
Did you know that UA is a Key Technology Partner (KTP) with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS)?
As a KTP, UA researchers and staff are eligible to apply for a range of programs designed to enhance your research and academic network on a global scale. Key opportunities include:
UTS KTP Visiting Fellow Program - this program provides funding for UA counterparts to travel to Sydney (two to four-week visits) and collaborate on projects of mutual interest. Up to A$10,000 available to cover travel, accommodation, and living expenses. More info here.
UTS KTP Seed Funding Scheme – this program supports collaborative projects between UTS staff and their counterparts from eligible Key Technology Partner institutions, in categories other than travel. Up to A$10,000 available. More info here.
Both programs support collaboration in the following areas:
- Research and research training
- Teaching and learning
- Enterprise and innovation
Key outcomes include co-authoring academic papers, developing joint degree programs, attracting external funding, and creating revenue-generating opportunities.
Applications open in early 2025. This is your chance to build long-term, sustainable relationships and make significant strides in your field.
Need help finding a UTS collaborator? Check out UTS Researcher Profiles here. For those interested in collaborating in areas related to health, please reach out to UTS Faculty of Health Associate Dean Research Prof Angela Dawson, angela.dawson@uts.edu.au.
For more details and to stay updated, visit the UTS Key Technology Partnerships website or contact globalpartnerships@uts.edu.au. Start planning your international collaboration today!
