Sophia A
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Texas A&M University
Expertise
data science, health data, infectious disease epidemiology, public health, international health, community assessments, survey research, science communication, servant leadership, technical writing, econometrics
Bio
I am a data scientist as well as freelance research scientist that has experience working with a variety of health organizations in the U.S. and collaborating with global teams. In high school, I had the opportunity to gain experience conducting research with engineering graduate students. This gave me my first introduction to research, which helped fuel my desire to eventually become a PhD-level research scientist. I received a Bachelor's degree in Biology and conducted research in a microbiology lab focused on developing new antibiotics before going on to get my Master's degree in order to become an epidemiologist- A decision I made so that I would be able to apply my interest in infectious diseases and population health on a broader scale. This also gave me an opportunity to learn about how to conduct public health studies in order to identify outbreaks as well as gather data on possible preventive measures for various conditions and illnesses. During my PhD program in Health Services Research/Health Economics, I used large health datasets to contribute to the current literature on topics such as frequent emergency department use, social determinants of health, and informal caregiving. I am always excited about using different avenues to explain scientific terms in simple ways to community members of all ages. I have written newsletters, research abstracts, surveillance studies, technical reports, blog posts, and have also given different kinds of presentations in order to communicate to diverse audiences. I am passionate about leadership and service and always look forward to working with youth that are curious and excited about this as well. Mentoring individuals that share any of my interests is a great way for me to help young people open the doors of their creativity and professional interests in a safe space.Project ideas
Diving into Data Science using Health Data
My background is in health sciences, public health, and data science. This project applies basic data management, cleaning, and analysis techniques to public health and organizational data. The student will be able to develop a data management plan, data dictionary, and slide deck to report on what they learned about data science as well as answer specific research questions related to health care, public health, or the health sciences.
Developing and applying conceptual models in health
My background is in health sciences, public health, and data science. This project applies intermediate data management, cleaning, and analysis techniques to public health and organizational data. Students will apply various statistical techniques to answer specific research questions related to a healthcare topic of interest. They will also learn how to structure research questions around specific conceptual models. The final project will be a research brief and scientific abstract.
Creating data science products for action using health data
My background is in health sciences, public health, and data science. This project applies high-level data management, cleaning, and analysis techniques to public health and organizational data. Students will apply various statistical techniques to answer specific research questions related to a healthcare topic of interest. They will also learn how to structure research questions around specific conceptual models. The student will be able to develop a data management plan, data dictionary, slide deck, research brief, and abstract to report on what they learned about data science as well as answer specific research questions related to health care, public health, or the health sciences.