Meet the students from the College of Public Health and Health Professions, a diverse group dedicated to improving health and well-being in communities around the world. These students come from various backgrounds, united by their passion for health and their commitment to making a positive impact. They bring unique perspectives and experiences to their studies, preparing to become the next generation of health professionals who will address pressing health challenges and advance their field.
Meet: Ishae Sriguha
Program: Environmental and Global Health
Educational Background: B.S. Microbiology and Cell Sciences Minor: Bioinformatics
Research Interests:
- Global health
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Infectious diseases and epidemiology
- Bacteriophage research
- Computational biology using deep learning and artificial intelligence
Why did you choose the University of Florida?
I was fortunate to attend the University of Florida for my undergraduate degree and gained research experience working with Dr. Nelson at the Emerging Pathogens Institute. I wanted to continue my work here, where I can combine my interests in microbiology and public health as they relate to infectious diseases.
What is your research experience?
I conducted undergraduate research in Dr. Nelson’s lab investigating the relationship between detecting Shigella spp. via qPCR and being symptomatic for diarrhea in a case-control study. Additionally, I worked on computational biology research creating a deep learning model to predict sites of ubiquitin-like modification in the Haloferax volcanii proteome. I also participated in bioinformatics research investigating the accuracy of 16S alpha diversity measurements in describing properties of the microbiome.
What philosophy guides you in your education?
I am grateful for the opportunity and privilege to continue learning and challenging myself.
If you could solve one environmental and/or global health problem, what would it be?
I would like to tackle the increase in antimicrobial resistance of infectious diseases, specifically the rise of antibiotic resistance in bacterial diseases.
What are your career goals?
My career goals are to combine my interest in microbiology and public health to pursue a career in academia. I am especially interested in investigating how mechanisms of infectious pathogens at the cellular level can inform public health policies. In the long term, I hope to work as a professor at an academic institution.
Want to learn more?
If you’d like to learn more about the Ph.D. in Public Health with a concentration in Environmental Health program,  click here.
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