Jacquelyn A
- Research Program Mentor

MPH at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

Expertise

Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Biology, Public Health, One Health, Zoonotic Disease, Infectious Disease, Community Health, Health Communication, Public Health Surveys, Primary Data Collection, Foodborne Outbreaks, Enteric Diseases

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. As an epidemiologist in San Diego, I focused on the spread of zoonotic infectious diseases. Now, I am broadening my expertise in foodborne outbreaks and enteric epidemiology in Orange County, CA. 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.

Foodborne Outbreaks

Conduct a literature review on foodborne outbreaks of the past and present. Analyze trends in disease outbreaks and the ways people become sick from the foods we eat. Evaluate news and social media coverage of foodborne outbreaks and how the public responds. Optional student showcasing options could cover food safety guidelines in education campaigns, opinion editorials, a website, podcast, and more.

Coding skills

SAS, R

Teaching experience

I have experience teaching from elementary to college-level students across various subjects. During my graduate studies, I was a teaching assistant at the University of California, Los Angeles where I led students through life science concepts such as genetics, evolution, and ecology. I served as a teacher and mentor to these undergraduates as they prepared for their upper-division life science courses.