Global-Focused Projects
1. Exploring differences in HPV vaccination behaviors
To increase coverage of important public health interventions like HPV vaccination for cancer prevention, we need to understand people’s choices and behaviors around undertaking these behaviors. Using survey data from Kenya, students will investigate when and where girls receive the HPV vaccine; and explore whether these behaviors differ by characteristics of the girl’s household (for example, geography).
2. Attitudes toward gender-neutral HPV vaccination
There is increasing evidence that vaccinating both girls and boys against HPV is helpful for achieving maximum cancer prevention impact. Many countries only vaccinate girls at present, so understanding how people in these countries feel about gender-neutral vaccination is important, for anticipating the types of messages and interventions that may be most helpful once boys are eligible to be vaccinated. Using survey data from Kenya, students will explore parents’ attitudes about gender-neutral HPV vaccination, including whether there are unique concerns around vaccinating boys and whose concerns vary and differ.
3. Understanding dynamics of opinions about HPV vaccine in social networks
Understanding how social dynamics influence perceptions of HPV vaccine is critical for improving communication strategies. This study will explore factors associated with Kenyan parents’ perceived opinion differences with social contacts, openness to changing one's own views, and willingness to influence others. Students will use data from a 2024 national phone survey of caregivers in Kenya to assess whether the respondent perceived a difference of opinion about HPV vaccination with their social contacts and was open to changing their own opinion, and if this was associated with characteristics of the respondent and of the contact.
4. Integration of NCD Care in HIV Health Systems in LMICs
To better understand the application of integration of NCD services into existing HIV care systems on a broad scale, students will conduct a content analysis of existing global and country-level documents. Specifically, students will review official guidelines from public health organizations, including the WHO and the The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and from countries that are sponsored under PEPFAR.
Domestic-Focused Projects
1. E-Cigarette Use Survey and Intervention
The goal of this project is 1) to understand, through the administration of an anonymous survey, NYU undergrad's attitudes and behaviors around e-cigarette use, and 2) to use the survey findings to inform an e-cigarette use related intervention.
2. Legislator Outreach and Communications
This project offers students a unique opportunity to support New York City Treats Tobacco (NYCTT), a NYSDOH grant, in advancing tobacco control through legislative outreach, strategic communication, and sustainability planning. Students will work alongside faculty and NYCTT staff to engage New York State legislators on tobacco use in their districts, advocate for evidence-based cessation initiatives available to constituents, and speak on the state of tobacco in New York City. In addition to legislative outreach, students will contribute to earned media efforts (e.g. letters to the editor and op-eds) and work with local media and partner organizations to elevate public awareness of tobacco control efforts.
Through hands-on experience, students will learn how to craft persuasive policy messages, apply evidence-based communication strategies, and practice effective engagement with government institutions. Students will also gain experience in public health sustainability by contributing to a NYSDOH grant workplan’s deliverable activities, supporting the long-term success of tobacco control programming in New York City.
3. Evidence-based Interventions to Address Postpartum Mortality: A Scoping Review
The purpose of this project is to conduct a scoping review to comprehensively understand the urgent issue of postpartum mortality. The review will identify root causes that contribute to postpartum mortality and synthesize evidence-based interventions from the literature that address them. A key focus of the review will be to identify the gaps in service delivery that may contribute to poor outcomes for new birthing people.