Sara is a Professor of Epidemiology and Global Public Health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She started her career as an environmental engineer with a bachelors degree from MIT. After becoming fascinated by environmental health, she earned a masters degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and then worked in environmental consulting as a risk assessor for 3 years. Afterwards, she returned to school, earning a doctorate degree in Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk from the Harvard School of Public Health. Her primary area of research is on the health effects of air pollution and noise in communities.
At work, she is often happiest when mentoring students, engaging in scientific discussions, and thinking about epidemiological methods. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two kids and husband, being in nature, and traveling. When not at SPH, you can sometimes find her in local coffee shops typing away on her laptop.
Meredith is conducting research on air pollution with the aim of informing environmental policy. Since completing her PhD in 2021, Meredith has focused her work on the investigation of the attendance and educational benefits of replacing diesel-powered school buses with cleaner alternatives. She has also been the lead research scientist on a project to understand the long-term consequences of air pollution on ALS progression. Before her PhD, Meredith was trained in public policy at the Ford School and was a full-time staffer at the EPA.
Meredith enjoys the outdoors and, when not at work, she spends time with her husband and daughter.
Adam received a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research previously focused on the cognitive effects of martial arts compared to resistance exercises. Before moving to the USA, he was a kickboxing/MMA and fitness instructor in West London where he also studied for his Master's degree.
In his spare time, Adam loves practicing martial arts, carpentry, and archery.
Katherine received master's degrees in chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology and environmental justice from the University of Michigan. Prior to moving to Ann Arbor, she was a chemistry instructor at a technical college outside of Atlanta, GA for five years.
Katherine's hobbies include going on long walks/hikes with her husband and their dog, singing show tunes at the top of her lungs, and curling up in a cozy chair with a good book.
Ekta received a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences from the Centre of Atmospheric Sciences, IIT Delhi, India. Her research previously focused on estimating the impact of air pollution exposure, particularly PM2.5 species, on maternal and child health in India. She has gained knowledge in assessing the health benefits of achieving clean air targets in India. She also has expertise in handling air quality monitors.
Outside of work, Ekta finds joy in traveling and exploring new destinations.
Tingfan has joined our team after completing his masters degree at the TH Chan Harvard School of Public Health. Tingfan is planning to study the impacts of climate on health.
Nia joined the group in the Fall of 2024 after completing her M.P.H. through Cornell's Population Medicine and Epidemiology program. She is interested in health disparities from environmental exposures.
Chris completed his MPH through the University of Michigan’s Population and Health Sciences program and is currently working towards a PhD with interests in the intersection of wealth, aging, and health outcomes.
Former Post-Doctoral Fellows
Jiaqi Gao (2024-2025) Now a Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Minnesota
Meredith Pedde (2021-2023) Now an Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan School of Public Health
Rachel Bergmans (2019-2021) Now a Research Assistant Professor, Michigan Medicine
Margaret Hicken (2011-2013) Now Research Associate Professor, University of Michigan Institute for Social Research
Kai Zhang (2010-2012) Now a Professor, University of North Texas
Graduated Doctoral Students (Committee Chair or Co-Chair)
Jiaqi Gao (2021-2024) Now a Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Minnesota
Alan Fossa (2019-2023) Now a Senior Research Analyst, Arbor Research
Boya Zhang (2019-2023) Now a Post-Doctoral Fellow, TH Chan Harvard School of Public Health
Meredith Pedde (2017-2021) Now an Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan School of Public Health
Paola Filigrana (2013-2019) Now a Research Assistant Professor, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Paul Christine (2014-2015) Now Assistant Professor, Colorado State University
Yeh-Hsin Chen (2010-2013) Now a Chronic Disease Epidemiologist, Pennsylvania Dept of Health
Graduated Doctoral Students (Committee Member)
Stephanie Grady (2022-2024) Now a Post-Doctoral Fellow, Boston University
Annie Doubleday (2022-2023) Now an Ambient Air Quality Epidemiologist, Washington State Dept of Health
Magali Blanco (2019-2021) Now a Research Scientist, University of Washington School of Public Health
Rachel Shaffer (2018-2020) Now an Epidemiologist, Environmental Protection Agency
John Kubale (2017-2020) Now a Research Assistant Professor, University of Michigan ISR
Yin-Hsiu Chen (2015-2017) Now a Data Scientist, Google
Paulina Kaiser (2014) Now Director of Health Outcomes Research & Evaluation, Samaritan Health Services
Jana Hirsch (2013-2014) Now an Associate Research Professor, Drexel School of Public Health
Jeffrey Wing (2012-2014) Now an Assistant Professor, Ohio State University
Graduated Masters Students
Layla Leandros (2023-2024)
Sahil Tolia (2022-2023)
Leigh Baker (2021-2022)
Hannah Gearhart (2021-2022)
Zijin Chu (2020-2021)
Jiaqi Gao (2019-2020)
Sandar Breggs (2019-2020)
Samar Ahmed (2019-2020)
Josie Gauthier (2018-2020)
Dylan Kilby (2018-2020)
Dian Zhang (2018-2019)
Jessica Yasser (2018-2019)
Rita Seith (2016-2017)
Stephanie McCracken (2016-2017)
Brad Petrowitz (2016-2017)
Zsuzsanna Szabo (2017)
Claire McMenamy (2015-2016)
Karin Dove (2015-2016)
Sissi Wang (2015-2016)
Christopher Barnett (2014-2015)
Douglas Strane (2014-2015)
Meredith Pedde (2014-2015)
Babak Khamsehi (2013-2015)
Kan Sun (2013-2014)
Richa Adhikari (2013-2014)
Meredith Nichols (2013-2014)
Wendy Qi (2013-2014)
Jordan Jahnke (2012-2013)
TaNisha Roby (2012-2013)
Haley Aja (2012-2013)
Darien Weatherspoon (2011-2012)
Kari Mendelson-Victor (2011-2012)
Laura Elkayam (2011-2012)
Yiting Li (2011-2012)
Claudia Slater (2011-2012)
Michael Thompson (2010-2011)
Huda Elasaad (2010-2011)
Phyllis Reed (2008-2009)
Graduated Undergraduates
Rio Mizuno (2017)
Haris Sohail (2015-2016)
Emily Chen (2015-2016)
Megan Bushlow (2013-2015)
Emily Schottenfels (2013)
Mobashira Farooqi (2013)
Nicolette Chao (2011-2012)
Visiting Scholars
Jianghua Zhang (2017, Shanghai CDC)
Joan Marc (2016, SUNY Medical School)
Xia Zhang (2016, Shanghai CDC)
Li Xudong (2014, Beijing CDC)
Hussein Mwanga (2012, Millennium Fellow)