This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony on Oct. 29 for UNMC’s 2026 Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator recipients.
Brittney Dickey, PhD, will receive a New Investigator Award. New Investigator Awards go to outstanding UNMC scientists who in the past year have secured their first independent funding from a national source. New investigators also must demonstrate scholarly activity such as publishing their research and/or presenting their findings at national conventions.
- Name: Brittney Dickey, PhD
- Title: Assistant professor, UNMC Department of Epidemiology, UNMC College of Public Health
- Joined UNMC: 2023 as assistant professor, but I have actually worked at UNMC since 2008 in various roles.
- Hometown: Blair, Nebraska
Please describe your research focus in three words or less:
- Cancer
- Viruses
- Prevention
Why is research important in the world today?
We live in a fast-paced, ever-evolving world with so much still unknown. Research not only uncovers the unknown but transforms new discoveries into life-changing practices, policies and solutions. It challenges what we think we know, drives innovation and provides the evidence needed to improve our lives. In a world that is constantly changing, research helps us understand where we are, where we need to go and how to get there.
My research will make a difference because:
I work in a unique space where we have the opportunity to prevent cancer before it ever occurs. By understanding how oncogenic infections, such as HPV, develop and progress, and identifying opportunities to intervene before cancer develops or at the earliest onset of cancer, my research aims to translate scientific discoveries into strategies that can reduce the burden of cancer. Ultimately, I hope to generate evidence that informs clinical practice and public health policy, improves cancer prevention and helps more people live longer, healthier lives.
The best advice I’ve ever received is:
Let your passion lead your career, not each individual task. Not every project will feel transformative, but the collection of your work should move you toward the bigger goal.
Three things you may not know about me are:
- I had six wisdom teeth. Yes, six. Apparently four wasn’t enough.
- I lived alone in Marrakech, Morrocco, by myself for my MPH capstone. An incredible experience and one of the most memorable parts of my graduate training.
- I have an oddly good memory for license plates. “No, that’s not so-and-so. Their license plate is…” is a surprisingly common conversation in our house.