Brian Mhando ’22 Awarded Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Brian Mhando ’22, a senior at Princeton University, has won a prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Mhando was one of 26 U.S. students selected for the scholarship this year.

At Princeton, Mhando is majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology, with minors in global health, African studies, and African American studies. Much of his research focuses on disease dynamics in low-income countries, using statistical modeling to better understand the most sustainable ways to address disease crises.

“The purpose behind my scientific research is: How do we best improve the livelihoods of the most vulnerable people?” said Mhando.

Mhando was also selected as one of the Princeton Center for Health and Wellbeing’s 2026 Health Scholars, which enabled him to travel to Uganda to research ways to reduce the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in sexually transmitted bacterial infections.

While studying at the University of Cambridge in the fall, he’ll be working towards a master's of philosophy in veterinary medicine, a department at the school that includes epidemiologists who conduct research into human diseases. Beyond that, he plans to pursue a Ph.D, focusing still on improving rural health in East Africa. He hopes to ultimately work at an NGO or governmental agency that allows him to focus on improving rural health systems in a sustainable way.

While at Regis, Mhando was active in the Hearn and the Black Student Union. He says that the social justice advocacy work he did at Regis helped inform his path.

“A lot of the work I did in BSU, specifically, really helped form the way I think and do the science work that I do at Princeton now,” said Mhando.

A graduate of the REACH Program, Mhando also helped develop a debate curriculum for REACH students with Tommy Barone ’21, who last year won a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford.

“I really owe it to Regis and REACH, especially, for where I am today,” said Mhando. “I think both REACH and Regis taught me to dream big and always pursue excellence. I'm really grateful for both communities for what they've given to me.”