BSA Student Spotlight

Meet Candee Barris, a sixth-year PhD student in the Vascular Biology Center. Candee grew up in Virginia and earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Augusta University. She now studies sex differences in obesity-associated hypertension. Her work is driven by a strong commitment to research that can meaningfully improve human health. 

Candee is an exemplary PhD candidate—NIH-funded, widely published, and very passionate about advocacy. Prior to graduate school, she served for 13 years in the U.S. Army, an experience that continues to shape her discipline, leadership, and sense of purpose. Graduate school has been both transformative and deeply meaningful for Candee. Along the way, she has grown tremendously as a scientist and as a person- forming lifelong friendships, traveling nationally and internationally to present her work at scientific conferences, and advocating directly for health research funding during Capitol Hill Day in Washington, D.C. These experiences helped her steadily overcome imposter syndrome and reconnect with what drives her most: conducting research that makes a real difference. She credits the supportive culture of the Graduate School and the Vascular Biology Center for fostering this growth. 

Beyond the lab, Candee is committed to service and leadership within her community. She has led Augusta University Days of Service events, served as a science fair judge for local elementary schools, represented students on the Graduate Student Council, and currently serves on the American Heart Association Council on Hypertension Trainee Advocacy Committee. 

Outside of science, Candee enjoys spending time with family, following Formula 1 (Scuderia Ferrari), and getting lost in detective mysteries and fantasy novels.