Temple University: Epidemiology & Biostatistics Department

08/25/2026

We were excited to welcome our new and returning students, faculty, and staff at this year’s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Welcome Event last week!

It was a great evening where we all had the opportunity to meet and connect with one another. The evening included remarks from Department Chair Resa M. Jones, MPH, PhD and Temple University Barnett College of Public Health Dean Jennifer Ibrahim with department highlights presented by Graduate Program Director Allison Casola, PhD, MPH, MCHES, a look into EBSA by Dr. Erin Kulick, and a student panel giving advice and tips on student life and academic success.

08/21/2026

What a great day welcoming all of the new TU Barnett College of Public Health students at Convocation and connecting with students from across the college at BCPH’s Student Resource Fair. We were excited to meet so many students interested in our Applied Epidemiology minor, Public Health Beyond Borders, and the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Student Association. Our Department Chair, Dr. Resa M. Jones, and Graduate Program Director, Dr. Allison R. Casola, even showed off our new department shirts!

We can’t wait to see you all next week! 🍒🦉

08/10/2026

Congratulations to Tugce Kinik, MS, our PhD in Epidemiology student, for successfully defending her dissertation "Exploring Functional Limitations by Thyroid Cancer Status, Mental Distress, and Predictors of Functional Limitations in Thyroid Cancer Survivors" last Friday!

07/24/2026

Congratulations to our PhD student, Haoyu Zhou, for successfully defending his dissertation "Missing Data Methods for Nonignorable Missingness in Clustered Health Data and the Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Venous Thromboembolism Following COVID-19 Among Adults" this past Tuesday!

07/21/2026

The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics welcomed Qiuyu Wu, PhD, Assistant Professor, at the beginning of this month!

Before joining the TU Barnett College of Public Health , Dr. Wu was a postdoc research fellow in the Departments of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics at Duke University and received her Ph.D. from the Department of Biostatistics & Computational Biology at the University of Rochester. Her research interests include high-dimensional data analysis, spatial statistics, functional data analysis, and multi-omics integration.

Fun fact: Dr. Wu's Erdős number is 3.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Wu to the Department and to Temple University !

07/14/2026

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Allison R. Casola as the new Graduate Program Director for the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics!

Since joining our department in August 2025, Dr. Casola has taught multiple courses for us, including our undergraduate courses Introduction to Research Methods and Biostatistics and Public Health, as well as our graduate courses MPH Fieldwork I and MPH Fieldwork II. In addition, she is a proud Temple alumna, having earned her PhD in Epidemiology from our program. Dr. Casola brings extensive experience at the intersection of public health research, practice, and academic instruction. Her research focuses on sexual, reproductive, and women's health, with an emphasis on psychosocial factors related to contraceptive use, women's health and wellness in primary care, and communication surrounding menstrual health and uterine wellness. She is passionate about mentoring students and preparing the next generation of public health leaders.

Fun fact: Outside of work, Dr. Casola enjoys staying active through exercise and soccer, and loves spending summer days with a good book at the beach.

Congratulations, Dr. Casola! We look forward to the impact you'll make in this new role.

06/17/2026

From community surveys in Ancahuasi to health education in local classrooms, Public Health Beyond Borders students are turning knowledge into action and making a difference in Peru!

Alongside students from UNSAAC, Temple-PHBB students mapped areas of environmental contamination, surveyed community members, and engaged with residents to better understand local public health needs and challenges. Students also had the opportunity to teach local 5th- and 6th-graders about bullying prevention, handwashing with glo germ gel, and oral health and plaque prevention. In addition, they also facilitated nutrition discussions with community members, fostering conversations about healthy eating before sharing a nutritious traditional meal.

Of course, the experience wasn't all work! Whether enjoying freshly squeezed juice at San Pedro Market, sharing a late lunch after a long day in the field, or taking in the sights of Compone's morning routines, every moment offered our students valuable lessons in culture, connection, and global public health.

Are you a Temple University student interested in making a global impact and addressing pressing public health challenges? Whether you're interested in taking one of our courses, traveling with a PHBB team, or joining our student organization, there are many opportunities to get involved and make a difference. Complete PHBB’s contact form to learn more about how you can contribute to improving health in communities around the world: https://chpswtemple.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0uG9lVdiUez9X1Q

05/12/2026

Santhi Chandrasekaran, an alumna of Public Health Beyond Borders, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach in Spain! Santhi completed our PHBB undergraduate courses, PHBB International Community Projects (EPBI 3377) and PHBB International Travel Experience (EPBI 3387), and participated in the Spring 2025 trip to Peru with faculty mentor Dr. Graciela Jaschek. Santhi was also a recipient of the department’s Hope Travel Award, established in 2024 through the generosity of alumni, family, and friends of PHBB to support student travel experiences as part of EPBI 3387.

When asked how her experience in Public Health Beyond Borders helped her move forward with her Fulbright application, Santhi said, "My experience with Public Health Beyond Borders sparked my interest in working abroad and gave me the confidence to apply for this Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. As part of the trip to Peru in 2025, I had the opportunity to use Spanish in real-life contexts through translation and in-country communication and develop evidence-based activities that were responsive to community needs. The trip also gave me a valuable global experience that strengthened my ability to adapt, communicate across cultures, and engage thoughtfully in international settings. These experiences not only built my confidence but also helped me develop skills and perspectives that made my Fulbright application stronger. Altogether, PHBB played a big role in shaping my interest in global work and encouraged me to take this next step."

Congratulations, Santhi! This is a huge accomplishment!

05/09/2026