Blessings Chisunkha

Major: Biomedical Health Informatics (PhD)

I am a Biomedical Health Informatics PhD student at the UIC. Graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science & Statistics) from the University of Malawi, and then MSc in Health Informatics from the Karolinska Institute (Sweden). I have been working with the U.S. Federal Government (at the CDC Headquarters) as a Data Scientist since August 2021. Prior to joining the U.S. Federal Government, I worked in public health research institutions in the sub-Saharan Africa (Malawi and South Africa) and had a brief stint with the Save the Children International (Singapore). Besides helping to manage complex public health programs, my specific interests are championing the design and use of electronic data capture and management methods to increase access to quality data and improve healthcare delivery. Other skills and areas of interest include: Research methodologies – protocol development, study design, questionnaire design, sampling strategies; Plan, design, develop, deploy and evaluate data management systems for electronic data capture & management using online & offline platforms like ODK, REDCap, EpiInfo, Commcare, OpenMRS & DHIS2; Surveillance, mapping, and spatial data management using GIS technologies (Google Earth, ArcGIS & QGIS); Data management, analysis, visualization, interpretation of results & reporting using tools like R, STATA, SPSS, Python & Power BI; Disseminating research findings through conference presentations & peer-reviewed publications.

Shanling Lei

Major: MS Biomedical Visualization

Hi! I’m Shanling Lei, currently a Master’s student studying Biomedical Visualization. I have a Bachelor’s in Physiology and Health & Disease from the University of Toronto. My hometown is a mix between Bay Area, California and Toronto, Ontario. My research area of interest mainly lies in discovering ways to communicate complicated biomedical information with diverse audiences. I enjoy exploring and learning different multimedia approaches that are adaptable to various communication needs.

Fun fact: My last name means “thunder” in Chinese.

Carlos Luna

Major: Applied Statistics (Pre-Med student)

I’m a transfer student who is of Hispanic origin. I live an hour away from Chicago in a city called Elgin, Illinois. I’m 20 years old and have received my high school diploma at Larkin High School in Elgin, Illinois and my Associates in Science with honors degree at Elgin Community College. I’m currently a Junior at the University of Illinois at Chicago and plan to go for my Bachelors degree in Applied Statistics. Afterwards, I either plan on going to medical school or graduate school; this depends on the outcome of my future.

I’m interested in any research that prepares me for medical school, including any research that wasn’t focused on enough in the past. My interests include those that concern the medical area, understanding human behaviors and why they imitate those kinds of behaviors. Previously, I didn’t have much research experience as my only prior knowledge was either reading from other researchers or writing a paper using the information from researchers as my sources. I hope by learning from this project I don’t just gain experience but increase my critical thinking skills and expand my knowledge of material that concerns our world presently.

Secret talent: From elementary school to high school, I played the violin and was a part of the orchestra of the three schools I attended.

Nitya Jani

Major: Integrated Health Studies (Health Science concentration)

Hi, my name is Nitya Jani, and I am majoring in Integrated Health Studies with a concentration in Health Science. I am also a part of UIC’s GPPA Dental program. My hometown is Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, and I attended Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

In the past I have conducted research for the CDC, and I want to continue exploring my passion for public health education through my research. In general, I plan on conducting research related to oral health as I want to use that work to better myself as a future dentist and healthcare professional.

Fun Fact: I am a super picky eater, so my favorite food is ice-cream.