Students

Wenqing Zha is a second-year MPH student at the Brown School with Epidemiology/Biostatistics specialization. She currently works on the Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) project and the Child Resilience in Afghanistan Study (CRAS).

In 2021, Mustafa was admitted into the Social Work Ph.D. program at the Brown School at Washington University in St Louis and was awarded the McDonnell Academy Scholar that same year. At the Brown School, he works with Dr. Jean-Francois Trani and Dr. Mitra Naseh. Mustafa currently works on the Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) project.

In 2021, Soobin was admitted into the Social Work Ph.D. program at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research interest spins around promoting active aging among older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). She works with Dr. Jean-Francois Trani to examine disability and multidimensional factors that impact the risk of Alzheimer's disease in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, she works with Dr. Ganesh M. Babulal to investigate how mental health and other factors influence overall health and affect the risk of cognitive decline among Black Americans.

Yinan Chen is a first-year MSP student at Brown School and graduated from Fudan University with a Master Degree in Social Work. Her research interests focus on disabled older adults, family caregivers, home- and community-based long-term services, and mixed research methods. She currently works on the Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) project as a research assistant.

I am currently pursuing a PhD in Economics and Statistics from University of Innsbruck, Austria. My academic journey has been shaped by a deep curiosity about how data can help us understand and improve the world around us. I enjoy exploring new ideas and collaborating with others who share an interest in the intersection of economics, statistics, and broader societal issues.  I am particularly focused on the intersection of global health and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), exploring how economic policies can contribute to achieving targets like poverty reduction, improved health systems, and equitable access to healthcare.

Vishnuvardhan Thotakura took his graduation in a bachelor's from Medical School in India and currently pursuing a master's in Public Health at Brown School at WashU as a full-time student.  He specializes in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, with which he aspires to acquire strength in the research arena and equip the thought process to manage health beyond just clinical intervention.  He worked as a teaching assistant in the Department of Anatomy, Dr. PSIMS and RF for nearly an year, alongside took part in voluntary activities involving children in need of education and mental health support. Currently, as a Graduate Research Assistant in GRID, he is working for the project EEQAP, tracking attrition and reviewing reports. He is enthusiastic to work on research topics in Internal medicine and pediatrics in near future.