2026 Women in STEM District 6 Award Recipient: Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf

September 24, 2026

District 6 congratulates Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf on being the district recipient of the Zonta 2026 Women in STEM award.

Dr. Vander Schaaf has a B.S. degree in Biology and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and is currently an Asst./Associate Professor of Biology at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL.


Her recent research has been in Papua, New Guinea where she was co-leader of the Shalom Project, to advance and obtain HPV testing for underserved women, researching test options that are more affordable so women can get tested and obtain treatment to increase their survival rates. The urgency of this work is clear as Papua has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world, and her research will provide a screening method that is affordable and practical for hospitals with limited resources.


Thank you, Dr. Vander Schaaf and your team, in making a difference for the women and girls in New Guinea and soon, around the world.

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