Taylor Clarkson, BS

I am an MPH student with an interest in global health, health equity, and vector-borne infectious disease epidemiology. My interest in public health and epidemiology began with my undergraduate studies at Colorado State University under the mentorship of Dr. Brian Foy. My work focused on novel ways to prevent mosquito-borne diseases and I developed a love of infectious disease research and medical entomology. I appreciated how the research I participated in had the potential to impact the health of real human beings, which inspired me to pursue an MPH. I joined Dr. Joseph Fauver’s lab in 2023 after being awarded the Chamber’s Global Health Fellowship to study hookworm epidemiology in Ghana as a part of a field study in collaboration with Yale University and the University of Ghana. This project aims to better understand the host factors and transmission dynamics associated with hookworm infections in Ghana, and to develop genomic tools to aid in hookworm elimination. My experiences in Ghana deepened my interest in global infectious disease and epidemiological fieldwork, areas I hope to delve further into as my career progresses.