Research

Ainash Childebayeva

Drilling for DNA: The Unexpected Adventures of a Public Health Anthropologist

Ainash Childebayeva, PhD ’19

Could that researcher in goggles sitting in a lab really be an anthropologist? And how much adventure will they actually have? From the top of the Himalayas and the Andes to the insides of cells, Ainash Childebayeva has combined anthropology, genetics, and public health to uncover secrets of human history and keep today’s vulnerable populations healthy.

Tanaka Chavanduka

From Political Refugee to Advocate for Adolescent Health

Tanaka Chavanduka, MPH '18

Tanaka Chavanduka was just four years old when his family fled from persecution in Zimbabwe. Despite the hardships he encountered, Chavanduka was able to excel academically. Now he is working to make a positive impact on marginalized communities and the country that helped him thrive.

Stephen Salerno

Statistics Served with Love: A Family Passion for Nourishing the Community

Stephen Salerno, MS ’18

How does biostatistics keep doctoral student Stephen Salerno connected to his family’s passion for feeding people? He makes sure every research and volunteer experience is a chance to feed local and global communities with accessible data that helps alleviate and prevent health problems and health disparities.

Pahriya Ashrap

Silk Road Native's Dream Repeats with Every Intervention

Pahriya Ashrap

When Pahriya Ashrap sees people in need, she imagines opportunities to help—whether she’s in an Ann Arbor lab or online with a math mentee on the other side of the world. Her simple, powerful dream of making a positive impact has motivated her on her long road to public health, where she works to build bridges of culture and science.