IACH Welcomes Two Postdoctoral Fellows to the AMPLIFY Research Team

IACH is pleased to welcome two postdoctoral fellows to its A.M.P.L.I.F.Y. research team. These appointments reflect IACH’s continued commitment to advancing community-engaged research and strengthening the next generation of scholars trained to elevate community voice and translate research into meaningful health impact.

The AMPLIFY initiative responds to a growing need for researchers who are skilled in qualitative and community-engaged approaches, particularly those that center lived experience, uncover root causes of health inequities, and identify actionable solutions grounded in community priorities. Alongside its evaluation of community power across South Carolina, the AMPLIFY grant includes a structured training program designed to build early-career researchers’ capacity in community-based participatory research (CBPR).

Historically, much of community health research has relied heavily on quantitative data to guide interventions. While these approaches are valuable, they do not always capture how community members themselves understand health challenges or define meaningful solutions. CBPR addresses this gap by engaging community members and organizations as equal partners throughout the research process—from defining questions and collecting data to interpreting findings and sharing results. By incorporating qualitative methods and community expertise, CBPR ensures research reflects local context, strengthens trust, and promotes sustainable change.

Following a competitive national search, the AMPLIFY team selected two postdoctoral fellows eager to deepen their expertise in CBPR while contributing to ongoing research on community power in South Carolina.

Abass Babatunde, Ph.D. joined IACH as the inaugural AMPLIFY postdoctoral fellow in fall 2025. Dr. Babatunde earned his doctorate in Applied Health Research and Evaluation from Clemson University in 2025 and brings prior experience in community health evaluation and program management. His research interests focus on data-driven policy development, infectious disease prevention, and advancing equitable access to care. Reflecting on the fellowship, Dr. Babatunde shared that the opportunity allows him to integrate quantitative and qualitative methods, collaborate across disciplines, and work closely with community and health system partners while strengthening his identity as an independent, equity-focused researcher.

Kinsey Meggett, Ph.D. joined the AMPLIFY team in January 2026 after completing her doctoral studies at Clemson University. Her research examines the relationship between place-based residence and cancer diagnosis and survival in the United States. Dr. Meggett has also contributed to community-based research on food access, physical activity infrastructure in rural South Carolina, and the influence of the built environment on health from a city-planning and healthcare architecture perspective. She looks forward to bringing a creative and innovative research mindset to the AMPLIFY team while continuing to grow her skills through mentorship and collaboration.

Throughout their fellowships, both postdoctoral scholars will engage in experiential learning opportunities focused on partnership development, meeting facilitation, and effective communication with community stakeholders. Through a combination of guided learning and hands-on research, they will build the skills necessary to independently lead CBPR initiatives and cultivate networks across health equity research institutions, community organizations, and academic partners throughout the Upstate and beyond. Learning experiences intentionally include collaboration with faculty from Clemson University, the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, and Furman University.

This novel postdoctoral model offers mutual benefit. While the fellows gain valuable training and mentorship aligned with their long-term career goals, IACH benefits from their diverse expertise and perspectives. The AMPLIFY training team continues to refine the curriculum to ensure it is effective, replicable, and scalable, with a long-term vision of expanding this model to attract early-career researchers nationwide.

As Dr. Babatunde and Dr. Meggett begin their time with the AMPLIFY team, their work lays the foundation for lasting partnerships that extend beyond the fellowship period. Together with community partners and academic collaborators, IACH remains deeply committed to cultivating a generation of researchers dedicated to advancing health equity through authentic community engagement and meaningful collaboration.

Pictured above from left to right: Abass Babatunde, Ph.D., inaugural AMPLIFY Postdoctoral Fellow; Megan Richmond, Postdoctoral Training Coordinator; and Kinsey Meggett, Ph.D., AMPLIFY Postdoctoral Fellow.