Epidemiology Student Travel Grant
The School of Public Health’s Epidemiology Program provides a limited number of travel awards to full-time students (2nd year MPH and PhD students) to encourage student participation in academic meetings, conferences and other related activities. Grants are limited and received once per fiscal year (July to June) per individual.
Applications for the Epidemiology Travel Grant should be completed and submitted to Director of Epidemiology, along with all supporting materials: application check list, detailed budget, student statement, advisor statement, and proof of presentation acceptance. The application must be submitted at least a full month before the date of the meeting. You can access all the application documents here.
The student will be reimbursed only upon submission of appropriate receipts, which must conform to LSUHSC University policy on allowable travel reimbursements.
Applications will be reviewed within two weeks. The decision to award support and the amount of support awarded (up to a maximum of $500 per meeting) will be based on the following criteria and are under the purview of the Director of Epidemiology:
- Students is presenting work
- Student’s presentation is tied to student’s thesis, final data analysis project
- Meeting is directly related to the student’s principal area of interest and the meeting presents academic value for professional networking
- Participation and visibility in the conference:
- Professional quality/ impact of the presentation
- Size/quality of the meeting (local vs. national, for example)
- Support from advisor statement
- Availability of Program funds
- Lack of availability of alternate sources of travel support
PhD Students
RACHEL DENNY, MPH
Rachel’s research interests are focused on the intersection of rodent-borne disease, the urban environment, and socioeconomic disparities. She regularly attends neighborhood meetings across the city to promote citizen engagement and empowerment and is deeply involved with community-centered efforts to fight environmental injustice, advocate for worker rights, and provide access to necessary resources to the unhoused population. She also spent four years in a leadership role for the rodent division of the City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, and Rodent Control Board.
- Rachel received her BS in Anthropology (2014) from the University of Georgia and her MS in Environmental Health Science (2020) from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
- After receiving her MS, she completed a one-year fellowship at the CDC’s Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria.
Hobbies: Performing with the Chorus Girls dance troupe, participating in Master Naturalist outings, volunteering for biodiversity surveys, birding, & playing the mandolin.
MUHAMMED JAWLA, MPH
Muhammed’s interest is in infectious diseases, clinical, and cancer epidemiology. His predominant work right now is in the area of Hepatitis C and its intersection with maternal health and substance abuse.
- Muhammed’s background is in clinical medicine and he has an MPH in Epidemiology with a minor in Biostatistics from East Tennessee State University.
- Prior to pursuing a PhD in LSUHSC, Muhammed worked at Johns Hopkins in the Internal Medicine department as a Linkage to Care Coordinator and Research Assistant.
Hobbies: Hiking, Swimming, & cooking
JAMES (WES) KINCHEN, MPH
Wes’ research interests center around improving quality of life for survivors of cancer as a child, in areas such as factors influencing health behaviors and outcomes, prevention of chronic diseases, and novel interventions to improve the lives of cancer survivors.
- Wes’ career is guided by his own experience as a childhood cancer survivor. He hopes that his first-hand perspective of what the lives of persons battling and surviving cancer are like will benefit the research he does.
- Wes completed his Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology here at LSUHSC School of Public Health in 2023. Wes also holds a Bachelor of Arts in World Languages and Cultures from Southeastern Louisiana University. He is a native of southeast Louisiana.
Hobbies: Baking & spending time with my dogs
SARAH NORTHRUP, MPH
Sarah’s research interests include infectious diseases, HIV, PrEP use, social determinants of health, and Medicaid expansion. Sarah works at the Louisiana Department of Health’s STI/HIV/Hepatitis Program (SHHP). She is actively involved in campus activities, serving as the garden manager for the Raised Root Student Garden through the Students for Sustainability Club and as the student representative on the Faculty Search Committee.
- Before joining LSUHSC, Sarah worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Infectious Disease Research Clinic (IDRC) at the University of Rochester Medical Center, where she contributed to COVID-19 vaccine trials.
- Sarah earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Lynn University and a Master of Public Health from Long Island University Brooklyn.
Hobbies: Aerial arts and pole dancing, crafting costumes and throws for Chewbacchus and other parades throughout the year.
JULIUS L. TONZEL, MPH
Julius’ research is focused on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitalizations in individuals with health disparities in Louisiana. He currently works for the Henry M. Jackson Foundation as a clinical epidemiologist researching the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on neurocognition in people living with HIV.
- Julius received his Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana.
Hobbies: His hobbies include traveling, going for runs at the park, & collecting vintage vinyl records.
SHENGDI WEN, MPH
Shengdi’s scientific interests focus on colorectal cancer. Shengdi works with Dr. Mei-Chin Hsieh on the Disparities and Cancer Epidemiology-Colorectal Cancer (DANCE-CRC) research project. He is also an analyst and REDCap administrator with the Public Health Analytical Center and READ Center.
- Shengdi received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington and a Master of Public Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health prior to joining LSUHSC.
ERICA WASHINGTON, MPH
Erica’s research aims to assess the relationship between colorectal surgeries and morbidity and mortality among colorectal cancer patients. Erica is the current Bureau Director for Regional and Clinical Operations at the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Public Health (OPH). Erica previously led the Healthcare-associated Infections and Antibiotic Resistance Program within the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section.
- Erica was honored as a 2013 White House Champion of Change for Prevention and Public Health. She holds certifications in Public Health (CPH), Infection Control (CIC), and Healthcare Quality (CPHQ).
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University and her Master of Public Health degree from Tulane University.
XINHUI YANG, MPH
Xinhui is passionate about advancing women’s health. Xinhui’s current research predominantly focuses on Oncotype diagnoses and breast cancer, aiming to contribute to precision medicine and improve outcomes for women facing breast cancer. She works at the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) at LSU Health Sciences Center, collaborating on impactful cancer epidemiology projects.
- With her dedication to Public Health, Xinhui aims to drive research that bridges data analysis and public health to enhance cancer prevention and treatment strategies.
- Xinhui holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from Brown University and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from UC Davis.
Past PhD Students
DR. ERIKA ROSEN
Dr. Rosen is an Assistant Professor at California State University at Long Beach. She graduated from our program Summer 2022. She completed her Postdoctoral Fellow with the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health and Alcohol Research Group. Background in examining the biomedical consequences of alcohol use in people with HIV, with dissertation work focused on the interaction between alcoholic and nonalcoholic pathways to liver injury. Current research interests include the use of social and spatial epidemiologic methods to examine contextual predictors of socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic alcohol-related disparities.
DR. PRATIBHA SHRESTHA
Dr. Shrestha graduated from our program Summer 2023. She completed her Postdoctoral Fellow at Washington University at St. Louis. Dr. Shrestha is an experienced epidemiologist specializing in cancer research, focusing on health disparities, geospatial analysis, and the impact of racialized economic segregation. Dr. Shrestha’s expertise lies in advanced data analysis, utilizing tools like SAS, R, STATA, and ArcGIS Pro to drive comprehensive research initiatives.
DR. TYLER PRUSISZ
Dr. Prusisz graduated from our program Fall 2024. He is the first graduate of the Epidemiology MD/PhD degree program. Dr. Prusisz’s dissertation title was ” The Impact of Air Pollution and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Health in the Gulf South”. He is currently completing his MD at Louisiana State University New Orleans School of Medicine.
Epidemiology and Population Health MPH Students
HEATHER VALDIN, MD
MPH STUDENT
I am currently a second-year student in the LSUHSC School of Public Health and in my third and final year of a Pediatric Hematology Oncology Fellowship with a special career interest in Bone Marrow Transplantation. My current research is on barriers to curative therapy among those with Sickle Cell Disease.
- I hope that by earning a MPH in Epidemiology and Population Health, I can strengthen my research skills and continue to complete clinical research projects.
- I completed my BS in Biology at the University of Mississippi and my MD at LSUHSC in New Orleans.
- I am originally from St. Charles Parish, Louisiana.
ROBERT TYLER
MPH STUDENT
I am a 2nd year MPH student focusing on EPPH, with a specific interest in Infectious Disease Epidemiology! I graduated from LSU in Baton Rouge with a degrees in Biology and minor in Spanish in 2022, GEAUX TIGERS! I hope to utilize the knowledge and skills I have learned at LSU Health to pursue a career in infectious disease research, with a focus on emerging diseases. In my free time, I enjoy spending quality time with my friends and family, going to concerts, amateur photography and playing in my recreational soccer league!