Principal Investigators
Lindsay Till Hoyt, PhD, MA, is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Fordham University. Dr. Hoyt studies how biological, behavioral, and social processes interact to influence developmental trajectories across adolescence and emerging adulthood. Learn more about Dr. Hoyt's work here.
Alison Cohen, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, and is also affiliated with the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies. Trained in both epidemiology and education, she does community-driven, policy-relevant applied epidemiology research, with a focus on social and environmental determinants of health a. Much of her work is multidisciplinary, with an interest in understanding the complexities of young people’s educational, economic, civic, environmental, and health experiences. Learn more about Dr. Cohen's work here.
Benjamin W. Chaffee, DDS MPH PhD, is a Professor of Oral Epidemiology and Dental Public Health at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he also directs the UCSF School of Dentistry Program in Global Oral Health. His research is primarily focused on the epidemiology of tobacco use, particularly among adolescents, and the role of dental professionals in tobacco cessation. Dr. Chaffee’s research also explores how behaviors, social circumstances, and biological attributes contribute to health differences, with the goal of informing public health practices and policies to improve community health outcomes. Learn more about Dr. Chaffee’s work here.
UC Riverside
Robert Ream, PhD, is a Professor and Associate Dean of Student Success in the Division of Undergradate Education at the University of California, Riverside. With a background in postdoctoral research at Princeton University and the RAND Corporation, his research focuses on the social dynamics of race, social class, and language in K-12 and higher education. Dr. Ream has served as an associate program officer at the Spencer Foundation. Learn more about Dr. Ream's work here.
Sofia Ulisses is a Fulbright doctoral fellow from Brazil pursuing a Ph.D. in Education Policy Analysis and Leadership at the University of California, Riverside. She received her B.A. in Psychology and her M.A. in Clinical Psychology with highest honors. Sofia has experience working as a clinical psychologist and researcher with adolescents and youth in different settings, from public schools to juvenile detention systems and psychiatric hospitals. Her research interests merge Psychology, Education Policy, and Youth Civic Engagement, aiming to support the well-being of students by providing research-informed recommendations and responding to pressing social issues.
Omisha Sangani is an undergraduate student at UC Riverside. She is passionate about promoting health and hopes to pursue a career as a physician. Outside of research, her interests include fitness, art, spending time outdoors, and volunteering in her community.
Katherine Gonzalez is a premed student majoring in Biology at UC Riverside, aspiring to become a physician dedicated to improving healthcare experiences for all. Outside of her studies, she enjoys playing volleyball, exploring nature on long walks, and expressing her creativity through fashion.
Talmage (TJ) Cobb is a second-year premedical Bioengineering student at UC RIverside. He is a water polo player, swimmer, and aspiring doctor. His goal is to create technology that makes the healthcare process easier while helping people at the clinical level.
Kevin Kim is an undergraduate student at UC Riverside and a pre-dental student passionate about addressing oral health. He is actively involved in various initiatives aimed at improving access to dental care and has strong interests in community service and dental research.
Amisha Tilak is a neuroscience major at UC Riverside with a passion for healthcare and community service. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, playing sports with friends, and trying new experiences.
Namratha Kyathi Kadali is an undergraduate at UC Riverside, dedicated to becoming a physician with a focus on accessible care. She combines her interests in research alongside with hands-on community service to improve healthcare access and improve wellness resources.
Jake Cabral is an undergraduate at UC Riverside. He loves watching movies, going to the gym, and going to the beach. He enjoys meeting new people and trying new things.
Anita Anand is a premed undergraduate at UC Riverside majoring in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology. She is passionate about becoming a physician and is currently involved in various healthcare volunteering programs to provide back to the community. Outside of these activities, she enjoys taking up new hobbies and spending time with friends.
Kripa Panday is an undergraduate microbiology major at UC Riverside, eager to become more involved with research. She has aspirations to complete graduate studies in biology and eventually get into the biomedical research industry. She enjoys baking, reading, taking her dog on a walk, and dance.CSU East Bay
Ryan Gamba, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health at CSU East Bay. Dr. Gamba is a Bay Area native and got his MPH in Maternal and Child Health and PhD in Epidemiology at the University of California Berkeley. His research program focuses on how do help students who are struggling with basic needs. His current focus is how food insecurity impacts college students, and the best interventions to assist students who are food insecure. Learn more about Dr. Gamba's work here.
Cristina Zavala is an undergraduate student at CSU East Bay. She was born and raised in the Bay Area. Ms. Zavala plans on advancing her education and is interested in preventative healthcare/public health and disease prevention. She hopes to pursue a career in public health. Ms. Zavala works and goes to school full time. However, during her free time she enjoys exploring new places/foods and going to the gym.
Keylyn Medina is a first generation college student at CSU East Bay pursuing her bachelor's degree in Public Health. She is excited to see where this study goes and happy to be part of the team.
Esmeralda Amado is an undergraduate student at CSU East Bay who is looking to major in Public Health. She loves playing badminton, traveling, and making new friends!
Joseph Garo is a post-bacc student at CSU East Bay. He is a former student athlete with dreams of becoming an emergency department doctor! He loves taking his 2 year old beagle, named Stevie, to the beach so she can run around.
Ian Cohen is a second year Health Science major at CSU East Bay who is exploring options in medical care coordination. Outside of his commute, Ian volunteers at his local emergency room and works. He is also part of a running a club for clinical healthcare workers.
Catherine Tsai is a Psychology major at CSU East Bay whose key interests are in the behavioral and personality aspects of the field.
Contact the CSU East Bay team at [email protected]!
Other Co-Investigators
Natasha L. Burke, PhD,is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Fordham University and the director of the Burke Health and Wellness (BHW) Lab. Trained in clinical and pediatric psychology, her research program makes inroads into eating- and weight-related differences by addressing measurement, models, and interventions for children, adolescents, and emerging adults. Learn more about Dr. Burke's work here.
Mathew Kiang, ScD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford University School of Medicine. He has a multidisciplinary background that enables him to use methodologies drawn from computational social science and social epidemiology to address socioeconomic and racial/ethnic health differences. His ongoing research projects focus on reducing disparities in opioid use disorder treatment, examining the effects of wildfires and climate change on vulnerable populations, and leveraging data to inform effective interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about Dr. Kiang's work here.
Michelle Odden, PhD, MS, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford University and an Investigator at the VA Palo Alto Health Care Center. Her research focuses on improving preventive strategies for chronic disease in older adults, particularly those who are underrepresented in research. She has contributed to the fields of cardiovascular and kidney health, physical and cognitive function preservation, and methodological approaches to reduce biases in observational studies. Learn more about Dr. Odden's work here.
David H. Rehkopf, ScD, MPH, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Primary Care and Population Health at Stanford University. His research is focused on understanding the health implications of the myriad decisions that are made by corporations and governments every day - decisions that profoundly shape the social and economic worlds in which we live and work. Learn more about Dr. Rehkopf's work here.
Tiffany Yip, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology specializing in ethnic identity development among minority youth, young adults, and adults. Her research examines the association between ethnic identity and psychological adjustment, as well as the impact of ethnic-specific and general stressors on well-being outcomes. Additionally, she holds editorial roles for the Asian American Journal of Psychology and Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Learn more about Dr. Yip's work here.
Stuart Gansky MS, DrPH serves as Professor, Associate Dean for Research, and Lee Hysan Chair of Oral Epidemiology at the School of Dentistry, UCSF. Dr. Gansky's research focuses on oral health and applied statistical analysis, aiming to enhance methodological approaches in epidemiological studies and improve health. Learn more about Dr. Gansky’s work here.
Jing Cheng MD, MS, PhD, is a Professor in the UCSF Division of Oral Epidemiology & Dental Public Health and Division of Biostatistics. Dr. Cheng is a well-known biostatistician, an elected fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA), and 2020 Chair of the ASA Section on Statistics in Epidemiology. Learn more about Dr. Cheng here.
Caroline Shiboski, DDS, MPH, PhD, is a specialist who cares for adults and children with various oral health issues. Her expertise covers a range of conditions that affect the mouth, including inflammatory diseases like lichen planus and autoimmune disorders such as pemphigus and pemphigoid. Her research primarily investigates how immune system problems might affect oral health, focusing on conditions like oral cancer and Sjögren’s syndrome. Learn more about Dr. Shiboski here.
Bonnie Jue, DDS
Other Research Staff
Tatyana Bidopia is a fourth-year clinical psychology PhD student at Fordham University working under the mentorship of Dr. Natasha Burke. Her research interests are understanding sociocultural risk and protective factors for disordered eating and body dissatisfaction. During her free time, she loves to read, try out new restaurants, and watch reality TV.
Giovanna Rafanello is the Lab Manager for the Youth Development, Diversity, and Disparities (3D) Lab at Fordham University under Principal Investigator Lindsay Till Hoyt, Ph.D. Broadly, Ms. Rafanello is passionate about community-engaged research with adolescent and emerging adult populations. She feels privileged to contribute to the 3E Study as it promotes equ¡ty in education and health. Learn more about Ms. Rafanello's work here.
Angelica C. Vega is currently a doctoral student in the Applied Developmental Psychology program at Fordham University under the mentorship of Dr. Lindsay Till Hoyt, as well as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Youth Development, Diversity, and Disparities (3D) Lab. Her research focuses on examining the risk and protective factors associated with the college experience of emerging adults and nontraditional students with various challenges. This includes conducting research and designing programming focused on student needs and resilience, to better inform practices and techniques specific to promoting student wellbeing and overall college success.
Julianna Hsing is a PhD student in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford University. Her research interests focus on digital health and chronic disease prevention. Specifically, she aims to integrate epidemiology, bioinformatics, and data-drive approaches to develop equitable, population-level prevention strategies for chronic diseases, such as diabetes, liver disease, and cardiovascular disease. Outside of work, Julianna enjoys rock climbing and playing music with friends.
Isabella Yalif is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University studying Economics and Sociology. Ms. Yalif’s research interests center around policy recommendations for healthcare and economic development. Her past research focused on economic indicators. She grew up in the Bay Area and is passionate about contributing to a study so close to her community.
Liz Couch, RDH, MS, is a dental hygienist and project policy analyst in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences at UCSF. In her role, Ms. Couch contributes to multiple research studies focused on youth and young adults. Her research interests are primarily centered on exploring oral health behaviors and tobacco use among youth and young adults, as well as investigating the pivotal role that dental professionals play in tobacco prevention and cessation initiatives. Learn more about Ms. Couch’s work here.
Baylin Bennett, MPH, is a research data analyst at UC San Francisco. He provides support to several UC San Francisco faculty members whose work focuses on human health impacts related to socioeconomic and educational factors, smoking exposures, and ocean exposures (e.g., harmful algal blooms, shellfish toxins). His past work focused on gene target exploration for cardiometabolic health interventions and studies in the field of ocean and human health. Learn more about Baylin’s work here.
Dixie Blumenshine is a fourth year medical student at UC San Francisco on a research year to gain skills in epidemiology and population sciences in order to aid Indigenous groups in performing their own research or health interventions in the future. Her current research with 3E and beyond focuses on the cardiometabolic health of Indigenous emerging adults and how social determinants affect them, increasing access to education for Indigenous peoples.
Frankie Osso is a first year doctoral student at Fordham University in the Applied Developmental Psychology program. His research interests include exploring the developmental outcomes experienced by caregiving youth as well as organizing youth participatory action research. Frankie is the 3E Advisory Board Coordinator.
Samuel Appiah is a research assistant at UC San Francisco. He is an aspiring pediatric dentist and recent graduate from UC Berkeley with a strong interest in research and community engagement. He is passionate about advancing oral healthcare. Outside of work, he loves playing soccer, cooking, and hiking.
Former Team Members
Norbert Negrea is a doctoral student in Education Policy Analysis and Leadership at UC Riverside. His research focuses on improving the academic achievement and well-being of students with adverse childhood experiences.
Marina Franco is a pre-medical student in the post-bacc program at Cal State East Bay and was born and raised in the Bay Area. Ms. Franco is interested in Primary Care and is passionate about promoting health.
Anisha Ali is a pre-medical student in the post-bacc program at Cal State East Bay. Ms. Ali was born in Oakland, CA and is passionate about acting on the health care irregularities that she grew up witnessing in the Bay Area. Ms. Ali received a Bachelor's degree in Integrative Human Biology from UC Berkeley in 2022.
Hayne Navarra is a pre-medical student in CSU East Bay's post-bacc program (PHAP). Mr. Navarra enjoys cooking and hiking and believes that everyone has the right to education!
Saniya Sran is high school student aspiring to major in Public Health. From conducting a scoping review concerned with increasing access to remote healthcare to helping with the 3E study, Ms. Sran is dedicated to exploring her passions and contributing to public health research. Learn more about Ms. Sran's work here.
General questions? Email us at [email protected]