Shoshannah Eggers, PhD
Director of Laboratory Facilities
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
University of Iowa College of Public Health
About me: I completed my BS in Microbiology and PhD in Population Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My training there was in environmental epidemiology and microbiome research. My postdoctoral fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai was in the department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health. There, I trained in exposomics and mixture modeling, and received a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). As an Assistant Professor in Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, I serve as co-director of the Microbial Exposomics Lab, and an associate member of the Environmental Health Sciences Research Center (EHSRC). When I'm not working, I like to spend time with my family and dogs, read, do art projects, and get outside.
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Vishal Midya, PhD, MSTAT
Director of Methods Development
Assistant Professor of Environmental Medicine
Biostatistics Division
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
About Me: I am an assistant professor at the Division of Biostatistics in the Department of Environmental Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai. My primary research focuses on how prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals and metals affects the childhood or adolescent gut microbiome, eventually leading to adverse health effects during the life course. I specialize in Biostatistical methods and incorporate tools from the machine learning literature.
Previously I did a Post Doctoral Fellowship with Damaskini Valvi at the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, where I developed integrated statistical models to study how early life and life-course exposure to environmental chemicals impact cardio-metabolic health outcomes, with a particular focus on the mixture-effects and interactions of endocrine disrupting chemicals. I received PhD from Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at the Pennsylvania State University under Jason Liao and Arthur Berg. I wrote my thesis on Frequentist and Bayesian hypothesis testing with a focus on meaningful effect sizes to enhance reproducibility in scientific studies. Before joining Penn State, I completed B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science) in Statistics from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, India and M.Stat (Masters of Statistics) from Indian Statistical Institute. I am a serious Matcha green tea aficionado. Outside of studies, I enjoy the outdoors, long-distance running, rowing, and volleyball.
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Joseph Eggers
Lab Manager
Research Specialist in Epidemiology
University of Iowa College of Public Health
About Me: I graduated with my bachelors degree from the University of Iowa in 2008. I worked in industrial microbiology labs for 10 years, in both quality control and probiotic research and development. I earned a post-baccalaureate certificate from Madison College in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine in 2018. Then I switched to an academic research position at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where I was the primary research staff in the Microbiome Translational Center within the Precision Immunology Institute. Now, I'm glad to be back in the Midwest and continuing my career at my alma mater. I'm a big fan of Hawkeye Wrestling, the Kansas City Chiefs, Milwaukee Bucks, and Atlanta Braves, as well as an avid runner and disc golfer.
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Bassim Albishri, MHS
Graduate Student
PhD Student in Epidemiology
University of Iowa College of Public Health
About Me: I am originally from Saudi Arabia, where I earned my bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science from Umm Al-Qura University. I moved to the USA to pursue a master's degree in health science with an emphasis in Clinical Laboratory Sciences from Quinnipiac University in 2017. Following graduation, I worked as a Laboratory Specialist at the Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I recently joined Umm Al-Qura University as a lecturer and received a scholarship to pursue my PhD. I am currently a PhD student in the Epidemiology Department at the University of Iowa. My research interests include infectious diseases, laboratory health science, and the microbiome, focusing on advancing public health research.
Sanzhar Naizabekov, MSE
Graduate Student
PhD Student in Informatics
University of Iowa
About me: I hold a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from Nazarbayev University and a Master's in Chemical Engineering from Kyung Hee University, with a focus on biochemical engineering. Currently, I'm pursuing a Ph.D. in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Informatics at the University of Iowa, specializing in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.
My research interests lie in the fields of bacterial genomics. I have published several papers, including studies on bacterial interactions with soil properties and methane metabolism, and have presented my work at various conferences, showcasing my expertise in genome-scale metabolic modeling and microbial engineering.
Outside of academia, I enjoy running and exercising both indoors and outdoors. In my free time, I always try to travel, even if it means visiting neighboring villages for weekend festivals.
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Kshitij Sachdev, MSc
Graduate Research Assistant
PhD Student in Epidemiology
University of Iowa College of Public Health
About Me: I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences from the University of Vermont and spent nearly five years working in a hospital laboratory setting. My experience working through the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with the broad implications of disease on public health, steered me towards a deeper exploration of epidemiology. I then pursued a Master of Science in Epidemiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Currently, I am enrolled as a PhD in Epidemiology student at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. My research interests include clinical epidemiology, with a strong focus on infectious diseases and the impact of environmental factors on public health. Outside of my studies, I enjoy gaming with friends, exploring new foods and cuisines, and unwinding with Sci-Fi movies. I’m always up to dive into a new anime series or enjoy a weekend movie marathon.
Kiran Nagdeo, MPH
Research Assistant
PhD Student in Epidemiology
New York University
About Me: I graduated with a B.D.S. (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) from D.Y. Patil University School of Dentistry, Navi Mumbai, India, and gained 8 years of clinical experience. I then completed an MPH (Master of Public Health) specializing in the Global Health track with a concentration in Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, NY. My research spans global, oral, and maternal and child health.
Currently, I am enrolled as PhD in Public Health (Epidemiology) student at the New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, where I also serve as the Doctoral Representative in the Student Governing Council. Outside of school, I serve as the Vice Chair of the Oral Health Workgroup at the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), Geneva, Switzerland, as well as on the Education Board of the American Public Health Association (APHA) Student Assembly, and am a Senior Student Fellow in the APHA Maternal and Child Health Section. When I’m not working, I love watching movies, reading, meditating, and am a culinary connoisseur.
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Cecilia Alcala, PhD, MPH
Collaborator
Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Chris Gennings, PhD
Collaborator
Professor of Environmental Medicine
Biostatistics Division Chair
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Jamil M Lane, PhD
Collaborator
Instructor in Environmental Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Elizabeth O'Neal, PhD, MPH
Collaborator
Assistant Professor of Community and Behavioral Health
University of Iowa College of Public Health