Jacquelyn A
- Research Program Mentor

MPH at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

Expertise

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Public Health

Bio

Hi, I'm Jackie! My passion lies at the intersection of human and animal sciences. I grew up in an ecological haven and have always been drawn to various life sciences and the interaction of humans with their environments. At UCLA, I earned a bachelor of science degree in biology, where a majority of my coursework was in ecology and evolutionary biology. I have finished my graduate degree in epidemiology and will focus on the spread of zoonotic infectious diseases while working as an epidemiologist in San Diego. In my free time, I enjoy swimming and always have an itch to travel. Every time I travel, I seek out the area's best museums, restaurants, and natural wonders. My family is from Thailand and Germany, so I plan to explore more in Europe and Asia!

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Literature Review of Conservation Biology Topics

Conduct a literature review and analysis of current research on a species or ecosystem of choice. Brings awareness to the most pressing issues facing the ecosystem and the potential downstream consequences.

Retrospective Zoonoses Case Studies

Discuss past public health crises that have zoonotic origins. Zoonoses are diseases that spread from animals to humans. This project would examine disease events from the past and how the disease originated.

Improving Awareness of Public Health Issues

Review past and present research on a public health issue and identify communities that are at the highest risk of worsened health outcomes from this issues (ex: low-income residents and heat related illness, black mothers and infant mortality). Prepare a plan for expanding awareness on this topic and potentially implement an intervention to address this public health issue.

Coding skills

SAS, R

Teaching experience

I have experience teaching from elementary level to college-level students across a variety of subjects. I am currently a teaching assistant at the University of California, Los Angeles where I lead students through life science concepts such as genetics, evolution, and ecology. I serve as a teacher and mentor to these 1st and 2nd-year undergraduates as they prepare for their upper-division life science courses.

Credentials

Work experience

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021 - 2021)

Project Imhotep Intern

University of California, Los Angeles (2021 - Current)

Teaching Assistant

University of California, Los Angeles (2021 - 2021)

Graduate Student Researcher

San Diego Health and Human Services (2023 - Current)

California Epidemiology Investigation Service (Cal-EIS) Officer

Education

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

BS Bachelor of Science (2019)

Biology