Kathryn Malin, PhD, RN, APNP, NNP-BC

Associate Professor

Education

PhD, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Courses Taught

NURS 3201: Evidence Based Practice and Nursing Research

NURS 6010: Research and Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing 

Research Interests

Dr. Malin is a nurse scientist dedicated to patient-oriented research focused on preterm infants and their families. Drawing on her clinical expertise as a neonatal nurse practitioner, she recognizes that while NICU interventions are life-saving, they are often accompanied by significant stress for both infants and parents. She also acknowledges the profound influence of social determinants of health (SDoH) on outcomes for at-risk infants and their families, contributing to a “double jeopardy” in which preterm infants are particularly vulnerable to social and environmental adversity. Her work emphasizes a holistic, family-centered approach to improving health outcomes.

With the support of colleagues at Marquette University, Dr. Malin has advanced a research program examining epigenetic markers as indicators of stress, with a focus on elucidating the complex relationships among maternal stress, preterm infant stress, and epigenetic alterations. Her research and clinical practice are driven by a commitment to improving outcomes for preterm and medically fragile infants and their families during and after NICU hospitalization.

Professional Affiliations

American Nurses Association/Wisconsin Nurses Association

Midwest Nursing Research Society

National Association of Neonatal Nursing

National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners

Sigma-Theta Tau International

State of Wisconsin Association of Neonatal Nursing

Certifications

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified

Publications

Link to Marquette University E-Publications -- Kathryn Malin

Honors and Awards

2025      Daisy Award for Nursing Education, Marquette University

2024      Institute for Women’s Leadership Research Fellow, Marquette University  

2024      Julie Lathrop Nursing Research Award, Children’s Wisconsin

2024      Evidence-Based Practice Award, Children’s Wisconsin

2021      Julie Lathrop Nursing Research Award, Children's Wisconsin 

2020     Graduate Student Recognition Award, The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

2020      1^st Place Student Poster Award from Sigma Theta Tau: Eta Nu Chapter

2019      Student Poster Award from Sigma Theta Tau: Eta Nu Chapter

2017      March of Dimes Dr. Margaret C. Freda Graduate Nursing Scholarship Award

2016–2017    Provost Scholarship Award, The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

Funding

2024-2027 PI. “Premature Infants, Moms, and the Social determinants of health – an Epigenetic Investigation (PRIMS-EI Study),” National Institutes of Health: National Institute of Nursing Research K23 mechanism (award number 1K23NR021043-01A01A1)

2024-2025 Co-PI.  “Addressing the Nursing Faculty Shortage: Exploring Effort-Reward Imbalance Among Full-Time Nursing Faculty,” National League for Nursing

2023-2024 Co-PI. “Closing the Gap: Investigating Feasibility and Acceptability of Studying Full-Time Nurse Faculty Salaries,” Wallace Grant, Marquette University

2022-2024 PI. “Exploration of epigenetic changes in the premature infant their mothers secondary to stress from NICU hospitalization,” Gift from Peter Ruud to the Children’s Wisconsin         

2022-2024 PI. “Exploration of epigenetic changes in the premature infant their mothers secondary to stress from NICU hospitalization,” Building Bridges to Research Based Practice

2021 PI. "Family stress during and after NICU hospitalization: A feasibility study," Marquette University Regner Research Award 

2021 PI. "Family stress during and after NICU hospitalization: A feasibility study," The National Association of Neonatal Nurses Small Grant 

2020-2022 PI. "Family stress during and after NICU hospitalization: A feasibility study," Marquette University Regular Research Grant and Summer Faculty Fellowship