Esther C
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill)
Expertise
Public Health, Epidemiology, Mixed methods (Quantitative and Qualitative)
Bio
Hello! I am a PhD Candidate in Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I study social epidemiology and public health, which examines how social factors affect population health outcomes. I conduct international and domestic health research using an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from sociology, economics, and public health, and utilize a lifecourse framework, focusing on how early life factors impact on later life health. My dissertation focuses on grandmother caregiving and child development in rural Pakistan. I also currently work on characterizing homelessness in North Carolina and its association with mortality and opioid-related mortality. I love being outdoors! Backpacking, climbing, and hiking are my go-to activities. Some of my favorite places include Pokhara, Nepal; Denali NP, Alaska; Sierra Mountains, California; Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina.Project ideas
"Your zip code matters more than your genetic code"
Place matters for your health. Where you grow up, live, work, and play are important predictors of long-term health. In this project, you'll explore how neighborhoods (e.g. economic resources, access to healthy food, green spaces, and education) impact risk for cardiovascular disease AND racial and ethnic disparities. You will learn about public health theories and frameworks, social determinants of health, and health disparities. Students can explore this topic using quantitative or qualitative methods, or both! Quantitative methods include utilizing publicly available, nationally representative surveys such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Qualitative methods include conducting go-along interviews in which students go on a walking tour in neighborhoods with individuals living in that neighborhood.
Social support and its impacts on mental health among adolescents
Social support is fundamental to mental health. For adolescents in particular, having a strong support system among friends and family is key to practicing good mental health. Using publicly available data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, you will examine the relationship between social support and mental health. You will also explore whether this relationship varies by social factors, such as gender, sexual orientation, and race and ethnicity.