Welcome our Fall 2023 PhD Student

shaira kee
Shaira Kee

Shaira Kee

Mentor: Dr. Takis Benos

What do you look forward to most as a future epidemiologist and your career in epidemiology?

My academic interest is anchored in the evolving landscape of epidemiological tools that are pivotal for an enhanced comprehension of health dynamics. My enthusiasm lies in the application of these emergent, innovative methodologies to substantially inform and reformulate public health policies. I am particularly eager to engage in the analysis of multi-modal data, understanding how diverse data types intersect to provide more nuanced, evidence-based interventions. Ultimately, I look forward to using these skills to make sense of complex clinical data to advance precision medicine, aiming to address global health emergencies and contributing to the formulation of more informed health decisions.

What inspired you to study epidemiology?

My motivation stems from personal experiences with health conditions that were preventable or treatable, which highlighted the importance of timely and precise information in medical settings. Witnessing firsthand how early diagnosis and tailored care can significantly improve survival rates left a lasting impression on me. By undertaking graduate studies in epidemiology, I hope to develop the skills to systematically identify, communicate, and address critical health issues.


mengui liu
Menghui Liu

Menghui Liu

Mentor: Dr. Sai Zhang

What do you look forward to most as a future epidemiologist and your career in epidemiology? 
Become an independent researcher to serve the quality improvement of healthcare

What inspired you to study epidemiology? 
I hope my research can help improve healthcare quality for patients.


CHidinma Oli
Chidinma Oli

Chidinma Oli

Mentor: Dr. Kelly Gurka

What do you look forward to most as a future epidemiologist and your career in epidemiology? 

I look forward to investigating and understanding complex health problems affecting maternal and child health, infectious diseases, chronic conditions, and substance use. I hope to conduct cutting-edge studies, develop new methodologies, and discover novel insights that will inform health policies and interventions.
What inspired you to study epidemiology? 

I was inspired to study epidemiology because of my curiosity about disease patterns and a desire to solve real-world public health challenges.


kendall robinson
Kendall Robinson

Kendall Robinson

Mentor: Dr. Yan Wang

What do you look forward to most as a future epidemiologist and your career in epidemiology? 
I most look forward to conducting research that can hopefully help people receive higher quality healthcare and have a wider variety of treatment options for treating chronic pain.
What inspired you to study epidemiology? 
My work on the Study on Medical Marijuana and Its Long-term Effects (SMILE) with Dr. Wang inspired me to pursue a PhD in Epidemiology. There is so much to learn about medical marijuana as a treatment for chronic pain and listening to the experiences of our participants drives me to work towards filling the gaps in existing research.


michael sy
Michael Aaron Sy

Michael Aaron Sy

Mentors: Dr. Simone Marini & Dr. Panayiotis (Takis) Benos

What do you look forward to most as a future epidemiologist and your career in epidemiology? 
I look forward to applying AI/Machine Learning to epidemiological approaches.
What inspired you to study epidemiology? 
The potential utilization of AI/Machine Learning in disease prognosis, particularly through epidemiological approaches, appears promising.


lina
Lina Velilla Jimenez

Lina Velilla Jimenez

Mentor: Dr. Catalina López-Quintero

What do you look forward to most as a future epidemiologist and your career in epidemiology? 
Promoting healthy lifestyles and behavioral changes to improve brain health outcomes.
What inspired you to study epidemiology? 
That epidemiology is the discipline that serves as a way to answer research questions that translate into the resolution of major problems of humanity.