Youngseo Cheon
Mentor: Dr. Krishna Vaddiparti
What do you look forward to most as a future epidemiologist and your career in epidemiology?
As a future epidemiologist, I aspire to conduct independent, innovative research, while also interacting with key stakeholders, like local community members and students. My future research will be driven by my desire to reduce inequalities. By earning a doctorate, my aim is to translate my research into meaningful social outputs and disseminate these outputs in an accessible and equitable way to relevant stakeholders.
What inspired you to study epidemiology?
I think that the health problem is not just a matter of having personal disadvantages, but if the community itself is underfunded or understaffed, it can have a negative impact on the happiness and health of its individual residents. In other words, if community has limited resources, the community goes unstudied and is unknowingly exposed to many unhealthy factors. To address these issues, I hope to become a researcher who can identify relatively low-cost data sources that can be collected, processed into scientifically rigorous evidence, and made available to community members. I also hope to conduct research that seeks to uncover the health effects of social and geographical factors that surround a person, to use my energy to integrate into communities and advocate for underrepresented populations.
Jennifer Jean Jacques
Mentor: Dr. Yan Wang
What do you look forward to most as a future epidemiologist and your career in epidemiology?
Using data to provide evidence-based guidance for clinicians and hopefully impact policy in order to produce better health outcomes in the US.
What inspired you to study epidemiology?
My work during my time with my team at UF and USF inspired me to continue my education in epidemiology. I believe that this concentration is the backbone for disease prevention and management. Epidemiology helps us understand how diseases are spread, and reveal risk factors and protective factors which in turn allows us to come up with recommendations to mitigate the impact the disease has on population health.
Maisey Ratcliffe
Mentor: Dr. Lusine Yaghjyan
What do you look forward to most as a future epidemiologist and your career in epidemiology?
As a future epidemiologist, I am most excited about the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the field of cancer epidemiology. The dynamic and ever-evolving nature of oncology fascinates me, and I look forward to advancing our understanding of cancer patterns, causes, and prevention. By conducting impactful research, I aim to address critical issues in cancer epidemiology and ultimately improve public health outcomes.
What inspired you to study epidemiology?
My inspiration to study epidemiology stemmed from my experiences working as a clinical research coordinator throughout my education. I was involved in numerous clinical studies related to Type 1 Diabetes, metabolic genetics, and cancer. However, my time at Emory University, where I worked directly with stage IV breast cancer patients, profoundly impacted me. This experience not only changed my perspective on my career but also on life itself. Witnessing the resilience of these patients and the critical need for better understanding and prevention of such diseases motivated me to pursue a career in epidemiology. I am driven by the desire to make a meaningful difference in public health through research and to contribute to the fight against devastating diseases like cancer.
Lisbeth Rubio
Mentor: Dr. Natalie Chichetto
What do you look forward to most as a future epidemiologist and your career in epidemiology?
As a future epidemiologist, I am excited about helping people and improving healthcare, especially for those with mental health conditions. My passion lies in understanding the connections between physical and mental health. Specifically, I am excited about the potential of studying the gut microbiome and its impact on mental health.
What inspired you to study epidemiology?
I was inspired to study epidemiology by a desire to understand and address health challenges on a large scale. My fascination with the gut microbiome and its impact on mental health further fueled my passion for this field.
Yuchen Zhang
Mentor: Dr. Jinling Liu
What do you look forward to most as a future epidemiologist and your career in epidemiology?
I look forward to studying how genetics and environment contribute to diseases like alcohol use disorder. Using tools like GWAS and multi-omics analysis, I aim to uncover patterns and develop methods for early diagnosis and prevention. Helping improve public health through data-driven insights motivates me.
What inspired you to study epidemiology?
The inspiration to study epidemiology came from a deep interest in understanding how diseases affect populations and the desire to make a meaningful impact on public health. My focus on genetics and hypertension research showed me how data can reveal patterns and improve health outcomes. This combination of science, problem-solving, and helping people drives my passion for epidemiology.