Community Spotlight

Zixuan (Eleanor) Zhang, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics whose work focuses on statistical and computational methods in statistical genetics. In this Q&A, she shares what inspired her research and what she values about the DBEI community.

Kyle Busse, PhD, MPH, is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics whose work focuses on how lifestyle factors influence reproductive and perinatal health. In this Q&A, he discusses the experiences that shaped his research interests and what he values about being part of the DBEI community.

Kenneth M. Lee, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics whose work centers on palliative care and statistical methods for cluster-randomized trials. In this Q&A, he reflects on the motivations behind his research and his experience within the DBEI community.

Kwangmoon Park, PhD, is a researcher in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics whose work focuses on gene regulation using large-scale single-cell data. In this Q&A, he shares insights into his research and his experience in the DBEI community.

Natalia Irvine, MPH, is a Research Project Manager for the Center for Health Innovations in Reproductive and Perinatal Population Research (CHIRP). Her work supports studies focused on advancing reproductive and perinatal health. In this Q&A, she shares her experience joining the DBEI community.

Jagadeesh Puvvula, PharmD, PhD, MPH, is a trainee in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, whose work explores how early-life environmental exposures impact human health. In this Q&A, he shares insights into his research, the real-world relevance of environmental health studies, and the value he finds in mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration.

LauraEllen Ashcraft, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology whose research focuses on implementation science, equity, and translating evidence into sustainable practices in real-world health care settings.

Julia DiTosto, MS, is a PhD student in Epidemiology whose research explores how gynecologic conditions like fibroids and PCOS may impact long-term heart health. Using real-world data and causal inference methods, she aims to generate insights that improve care for reproductive-age populations.

Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH, is the George A. Weiss University Professor with joint appointments in Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine and School of Nursing. Her work focuses on translating theory into practice to address critical public health issues like physical activity, obesity, and health equity.

Jordana B. Cohen, MD, MSCE is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, a Senior Scholar in the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), and a Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics.

Joseph Romano, PhD, MPhil, MA is an Assistant Professor of Informatics in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Senior Fellow in the Institute for Biomedical Informatics (IBI) and an investigator in the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (CEET).

Alisa Stephens Shields, PhD serves as an Associate Professor in the Biostatistics division of the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, and is recognized for her collaboration and impactful leadership in the realms of health, statistical education, and inclusion in the field.

For almost three years, Kacie Bogar, MS has served as a Research Project Manager for the Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics (CREST) and the Epidemiology division in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics.