Research & Writing

Most of my professional life has involved some kind of research. As a journalist I read and synthesized research articles and interviewed scientists to answer questions that mattered to the public, and I investigated government use of science or resistance to it. As an academic researcher I've conducted my own studies, and I've helped lead large research teams tackling pressing scientific issues: how to assess trends in public health and attitudes during an ongoing pandemic, and how to better analyze forensic evidence and train forensic practitioners in statistical methods.

Research Publications, Books, and Talks

Papers and Products

Meg Ellingwood+, Phoung Do, Alex Reinhart, and Robin Mejia*. 2026. “Health concerns and government distrust: Unraveling types of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the US before and at universal vaccine eligibility,” accepted at PLOS Global Public Health.

Reinhart, Alex, Mejia, Robin, and Tibshirani, Ryan J. COVID-19 Trends and Impact Survey (CTIS), United States, 2020-2022. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2025-02-28. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR39207.v1
*This is a public use dataset: As of July 2026, 78 academic publications using the data have been documented. CTIS won the 2022 Policy Impact Award and the Warren J Mitosfsky Innovators Award from the American Association for Public Opiinion Research (AAPOR).

Gardner, Brett O., Maddisen Neuman, Sharon Kelley, Anni Hong, and Robin Mejia*. “Does Image Editing Improve the Quality of Latent Prints? An Analysis of Image-Editing Techniques in One Crime Laboratory.” Science & Justice, vol. 63, no. 1, Jan. 2023, pp. 109–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2022.11.006.

King, Wendy C., Max Rubinstein, Alex Reinhart, and Robin Mejia*. “Time Trends, Factors Associated with, and Reasons for COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Massive Online Survey of US Adults from January-May 2021.” PLOS ONE, vol. 16, no. 12, Dec. 2021, p. e0260731. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260731.

King, Wendy C., Max Rubinstein, Alex Reinhart, and Robin Mejia*. “COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy January-May 2021 among 18–64 Year Old US Adults by Employment and Occupation.” Preventive Medicine Reports, vol. 24, Dec. 2021, p. 101569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101569

Mejia, Robin, Maria Cuellar, and Jeff Salyards. “Implementing Blind Proficiency Testing in Forensic Laboratories: Motivation, Obstacles, and Recommendations.” Forensic Science International. Synergy, vol. 2, 2020, pp. 293–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.09.002.

Mejia, Robin, Maria Cuellar, Dana Delger, and Bill Eddy. “What Does a Match Mean? A Framework for Understanding Forensic Comparisons.” Significance, vol. 16, no. 2, Apr. 2019, pp. 25–28.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-9713.2019.01251.x.

*Senior Author

+Supervised student first author

Books, Chapters, and Reports

Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture and The Science Writers Handbook have been taught in undergraduate and graduate courses at multiple universities. The Science Writers Handbook was also used with the AAAS Mass Media Fellowship.

Stephen Smith Cody, Alexa Koenig, Eric Stover, and Robin Mejia. Bearing Witness at the International Criminal Court: An Interview Survey, UC Berkeley Human Rights Center, 2014

Robin Mejia, “Paid to Grow,” Science Writers Handbook*+, Editors: Thomas Hayden and Michelle Nijhuis, Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2013

Robin Mejia, “These Satellite Images Document an Atrocity,” Best of Technology Writing 2008, University of Michigan Digital Culture Books, 2008. Originally published in the Washington Post, June 9, 2007

Deepak L. Bhatt and Derk W. Krieger, consulting editor: Robin Mejia. Stroke: Advances in Detection and Treatment. Belvoir Media Group, 2007.

Stephen R. Gliessman, Eric Engles, and Robin Krieger, Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture.* CRC press, 1998. My undergraduate thesis adviser hired me as a contributing writer for the first edition of this text.

Talks and Workshops

From informal trainings to plenary talks at conferences, I work hard to connect with a variety of audiences.

Panelist, Communicating to Understand: Communicating Statistical Information, ASA webinar, 2025

Co-organizer and speaker, Biostatistics Lunch and Learn on implementing small-scale active learning activities into existing courses (with Katie Wilson), 2025

Keynote Speaker, Tepper Executive Education program on data science for business leaders, CMU (online), 2022

Invited Speaker, Dietrich Deep Dive 2022, CMU (online)

Invited Speaker, Association of Forensic Quality Assurance Mangers Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, 2021

Organizer and Moderator, Invited Panel, Statistics at the Border: Migration, Detention, and Assimilation, online, Joint Statistical Meetings 2020

Organizer and Moderator, Invited Panel, Census 2020, Denver, CO, Joint Statistical Meetings 2019

Meeting Organizer and MOC, Meeting on Blind Proficiency Testing in Forensic Laboratories, Pittsburgh, PA, 2018

Speaker, Statistics and Justice: Issues in Forensic Feature Comparisons, Invited Session on Statistical Modeling to Address Human Rights Issues, Eastern North American Region, International Biometric Society (ENAR), Atlanta, GA, 2018

Invited Speaker, International Latin American Research Networking Meeting, University of Pittsburgh, 2017

Speaker and Organizer, Invited Session, Statistics and Human Rights, Western North American Region, International Biometric Society (WNAR), Victoria, Canada, 2016

Moderator, panel on career advancement, Women in Statistics and Data Science, Charlotte, NC, 2016

Invited Speaker, Quantitative Data and Human Rights Meeting, Duke, Durham, NC, 2016

Panelist, Working for Human Rights: Communicating for Effective Engagement (Career Development Workshop), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Chicago, IL, 2014

Panelist, Scientists and Engineers Working for Human Rights (Career Development Workshop), AAAS, Boston, MA, 2013

Invited Speaker, Ask a Scientist Panel, San Francisco, CA, 2013

Invited Speaker, National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers / National Cancer Institute Public Affairs & Marketing Network Annual Conference, Portland, OR, 2012

Organizer and Panel Moderator, Northern California Science Writers Professional Development Day, UC Berkeley, 2009

Organizer and Moderator, Pitch Slam Panel, National Association of Science Writers Annual Conference, San Jose, CA, 2008

Organizer and Moderator, Pitch Slam Panel, National Association of Science Writers Annual Conference, Spokane, WA, 2007

Invited Speaker, Documentary Panel, Investigative Reporters and Editors Annual Conference, Fort Worth, TX, 2006

Moderator, Panel on Investigative Journalism and Science Stories, Investigative Reporters and Editors Annual Conference, Washington, DC, 2003

Select Journalism and Opinion

8u88Mejia, Robin, and Megan Price. “Working Where Statistics and Human Rights Meet.” CHANCE, vol. 3, no. 1, 2018, pp. 5–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/09332480.2018.1438702.

Mejia, Robin. "Label the Limits of Forensic Science." Nature, vol. 544, no. 7648, Apr. 2017, pp. 7-7. https://doi.org/10.1038/544007a.

Mejia, Robin. “Stephen E. Fienberg (1942–2016).” Nature, vol. 542, no. 7642, Feb. 2017, pp. 415–415. https://doi.org/10.1038/542415a.

Gammon, Katharine, and Cynthia Graber. “The Science Byline Counting Project: Where Are the Women—and Where Are They Not?” The Open Notebook. February 11, 2016. https://www.theopennotebook.com/2016/02/10/science-byline-counting-project/. *I analyzed the data for this story

Mejia, Robin. “Gender Stop-Gaps.” Nature, vol. 465, no. 7299, June 2010, pp. 832–33. https://doi.org/10.1038/nj7299-832a.

Mejia, Robin. “The Challenge of Environmental Regulation in India.” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 43, no. 23, Dec. 2009, pp. 8714–15. https://doi.org/10.1021/es903239b.

Mejia, Robin. “Taking the Industry Road.” Nature, vol. 453, no. 7198, June 2008, pp. 1138–39. https://doi.org/10.1038/nj7198-1138a .

Mejia, Robin. “The Iraq Math War.” Mother Jones, November/December 2008. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2008/11/iraq-math-war/.

Mejia, Robin. “Students Compete to Mount Best Defense Against Malicious Hackers.” The Chronicle of Higher Education, 9 May 2008. https://www.chronicle.com/article/students-compete-to-mount-best-defense-against-malicious-hackers/.

Mejia, Robin. “Emergency Care for the Undocumented: Who Bears the Burden and Where to Draw the Line?” Annals of Emergency Medicine, vol. 50, no. 4, Oct. 2007, pp. 445–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2007.08.015.

Robin Mejia. “Geek Squad vs. Death Squad.” Mother Jones, May/June 2007. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/04/geek-squad-vs-death-squad/.

Mejia, Robin. “These Satellite Images Document an Atrocity.” The Washington Post, 10 June 2007. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2007/06/10/these-satellite-images-document-an-atrocity/1406041f-ae32-4ef7-a7f1-7c340bf3c018/. * Washington Post Magazine cover story.

Mejia, Robin. “CSI: TCP/IP.” Wired, January 2007. https://www.wired.com/2007/01/cybercop/.

Mejia, Robin. “From Accountability to Rebuilding.” Science, vol. 313, no. 5785, July 2006, pp. 289–289. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.313.5785.289.

Mejia, Robin. “Grim Statistics.” Science, vol. 313, no. 5785, July 2006, pp. 288-290 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.313.5785.288.

Mejia, Robin. “Why We Cannot Rely on Firearm Forensics.” New Scientist, November 23, 2005, https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18825274-300-why-we-cannot-rely-on-firearm-forensics/2005.

Piller, Charles, and Robin Mejia. “Science Casts Doubt on FBI’s Bullet Evidence.” Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2003. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-03-sci-bullets3-story.html. This A1 (front page) story predated the 2006 NAS reported that addressed concerns with bullet lead evidence and led to the discontinuation of the technique.

Sample, Ian, and Robin Mejia. “Chemical Matching of Bullets Fatally Flawed.” New Scientist, 17 Apr. 2002, https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2172-chemical-matching-of-bullets-fatally-flawed/

Oral Histories

In 2005 and 2006, I conducted a series of semi-structured multi-day oral history interviews for the Pew Biomedical Scholars Oral History Project, under the auspices of the Oral History Project, University of California, Los Angeles:

James A. Goodrich, interview by Robin Mejia at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, 15-17 August 2006 (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation, Oral History Transcript #0609).

Z. Hong Zhou, interview by Robin Mejia at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, 16-18 May 2006 (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation, Oral History Transcript # 0623).

Seung K. Kim, interview by Robin Mejia at Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, 16-17 March 2006 (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation, Oral History Transcript # 0614).

Makoto Kuro-o, interview by Robin Mejia at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, 6-8 March 2006 (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation, Oral History Transcript #0615).

Henrique P. von Gersdorff, interview by Robin Mejia at the Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, 8-10 February 2006 (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation, Oral History Transcript # 0622).

Fenyong Liu, interview by Robin Mejia at the University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 1-3 November 2005 (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation, Oral History Transcript # 0602).

Bruce A. Hamilton, interview by Robin Mejia at the University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, 5-7 October 2005 (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation, Oral History Transcript #0611).

Samuel L. Pfaff, interview by Robin Mejia at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, 3-5 October 2005 (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation, Oral History Transcript #0620).

Media Coverage

Sometimes I talk to other reporters about my work. Live interviews like the ones below still make me nervous, but they're an important way to connect with people who are not going to read my papers. Most recently, there was a lot of interested in my work on vaccine hestiancy during the pandemic, and some work with the Pennsylvania Prison Society on health (and death) in PA jails. A few examples:

Live radio interview, The Confluence, WESA (Pittsburgh, PA) on county jail deaths, August 22, 2023

Live radio interview, KCBS (San Francisco, CA) on vaccine hesitancy, June 29, 2021

nterview with WESA/NPR for radio and web stories, “Vaccine Hesitancy Highest Among Jobs Like Construction And Farming’” May 3, 2021

Live radio interview, KDKA (Pittsburgh, PA), on vaccine hesitancy research, July 21, 2021

CDC COVID-19 Science Update (April 30, 2021, Edition 87)

Other outlets that cited our vaccine hesitancy research that cited research included the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, US News & World Report, UPI, and WebMD.

Documentary: Reasonable Doubt

In 2003, I won a fellowship from the Open Society Insisute to support a year of reporting on problems at forensic lasb that were leading to wrongful convictions. In 2004, CNN contracted me to develop a documentary, pairing me with the amazing senior producer Ken Shiffman, from whom I'm learned pretty much everything I know abotu video production. Reasonable Doubt: Can Crime Labs be Trusted? premeired on CNN in January 2005 and re-aired multiple times of the year, and I won the Livingston Award, the largest the national reporting prize for journalists under 35. You can watch the 43 minute film on YouTube using the link to the left. (We hired a professional theater actor for narration, but if you watch very closely, you can see my name flash in the credits at the end.)

Some of the problems we documented have improved signficantly since Reasonable Doubt first aired. Others remain. During my time at CMU, I was fortunate to joine the Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence, where an amazing team of reasearchers are working to improve forensic analyses.

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