Dr. Audrie Lin (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology at University of California, Santa Cruz. She completed her PhD in Microbiology & Immunology in 2012 at Stanford University and her MPH in Epidemiology in 2021 at UC Berkeley. She has 15 years of experience leading large-scale impact evaluations in low-resource rural settings and urban informal settlements in Bangladesh, Kenya, Fiji, Indonesia, and Madagascar using a Developmental Origins of Health and Disease framework. Through this lens, her transdisciplinary research focuses on the role of the exposome in the biological embedding of childhood adversity.
Aaliyah Balangue, B.A. in progress for Global and Community Health and B.A. in Feminist Studies, UC Santa Cruz (she/her/ella)
Aaliyah is a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is double majoring in Global & Community Health B.A. and Feminist Studies B.A. Hoping to intersect her studies in the health and social sciences, she looks forward to investigating how social determinants impact the health of different communities and populations. Currently, she is working on examining intimate partner violence, maternal depression, parental perceived stress, and child growth outcomes. With her ultimate goal being to make health care accessible and equitable, she plans on getting her MPH and pursuing a career in the public health field. During her free time, you can find Aaliyah taking photos with friends, checking out cool restaurants, or reading a new book!
Alexander Martin-Carrillo, B.S. in progress in Biology, UC Santa Cruz (he/him) Alexander is an undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is interested in understanding and learning different aspects of Biology regarding human health. He hopes to translate that knowledge into the health field one day in a career in public health or healthcare. Alexander enjoys his free time by trying new food restaurants/shops, exploring California’s coast along Highway 1, and spending time with family. Looking forward to learning more about biology with the rest of the team!
Alexandra Bialek, Honors B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State (she, her, hers)
Alexandra (Lexie) is a graduate from Penn State University’s Schreyer Honors College, where she conducted her thesis on the relationship between environmental enteric dysfunction and stress. She is currently continuing the work on gut health via a project involving intimate partner violence’s effect on maternal lower GI dysbiosis. She is currently working as a Medical Assistant at a medical dermatology office in preparation to apply to medical school this upcoming cycle. Outside of academia, she loves film, reading, and being active. Specifically, she enjoys running, weightlifting, boxing, and surfing!
Alexis V Silvera, Honors B.A. in Psychology and Global Public Health minor, UC Berkeley
Alexis joined the group in 2020 and her primary focus has been examining the effects of maternal exposure to intimate partner violence, depression, and parental stress on child stress biomarkers. In her undergraduate career learning about psychology and global health, such topics have always felt critically important and primary research such as this further illuminates the interplay between psychology and biology both within the individual and over generations. Now, as a first-year medical student these points are further emphasized in lecture, in independent study, and in clinical experiences. Learning about these topics in class, seeing their implications in-person, and then continuing to investigate them through this research with the Lin Lab has allowed Alexis to further understand the importance of integrated, evidence-based, and patient-centered care.
Andrew Mertens, Ph.D. in Epidemiology, M.A. in Biostatistics, UC Berkeley
Andrew is an epidemiology postdoctoral scholar and lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on the causes and consequences of poor child growth and development in low and middle income countries, and on how water, sanitation, hygiene, and nutritional interventions affect the causal pathways leading to poor growth and development. His methodological interests are in individual-participant data meta-analyses, causal inference, trial design, and replication and transparency in science. He obtained his Ph.D. in Epidemiology, M.A. in Biostatistics, and M.S. in Environmental Health Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Arlene Tan, B.S in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, BSN, RN, MSN candidate at the University of Pennsylvania
Arlene is a current graduate student at University of Pennsylvania pursuing a MSN in Nursing and Healthcare Administration. She obtained a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology and minored in Global Public Health at UC Berkeley. She then went on to obtain a BSN at the University of Pennsylvania and is currently working as a nurse at Penn Medicine. Passionate about improving the health of underserved populations and equal access to healthcare, her research in the lab focuses on investigating pregnancy factors and their correlation to child development. During her free time, Arlene loves hiking, playing soccer, and traveling to new places.
Belinda Chen, MS in Health Data Science at UCSF.
Belinda is a first-year master’s student at UCSF studying Health Data Science. Prior to her master’s, she obtained her B.S. in Chemical Biology and minors in public health/data science from UC Berkeley. Passionate about health equity and making healthcare accessible for all people, she is currently investigating associations between maternal hormones and child growth outcomes in the WASH-Benefits trials. You can find Belinda rock climbing, playing League of Legends, and exploring coffee shops.
Christina Archibald (she/her), B.S in progress for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Christina is a third-year student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, majoring in Global Community Health. She is currently working on a research paper exploring the connection between telomere lengths in children and infection. Passionate about both health and science, Christina is eager to continue researching topics related to public health and its impact on communities. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, crocheting, reading, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.
Courtney Chau, Medical Student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Courtney is a first year medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Prior to starting medical school, she attended the University of California Berkeley, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences: Toxicology and completed two minors in Global Public Health and Data Science: Statistics. Her main research interests are intimate partner violence, inflammatory skin diseases, and immunology. She particularly enjoys approaching these topics from both clinical and public health lenses. In her free time, Courtney enjoys strength training, making jewelry, and doing puzzles!
Da Kyung (Kathy) Jung, Medical Student at Johns Hopkins University
Kathy is a second year medical student at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She obtained her B.A. in Molecular Cell Biology and minor in Global Public Health from UC Berkeley. Kathy is passionate about studying gut health, maternal and child health, antimicrobial resistance, and access to safe food and water. Since joining the group in 2020, she published an article on maternal micronutrient status and child immune status as well as maternal psychosocial stress and child telomere length. She continues to research other topics including child development, environmental enteric dysfunction, and antibiotic use. During her free time, Kathy likes to sing, crochet, watch sunsets at the beach, and catch up with friends.
Ella Corrigan, B.S. in progress in Neuroscience and B.A. in Psychology, UC Santa Cruz (she/her)
Ella is an undergraduate at University of California, Santa Cruz. Motivated to address systemic inequities in global public health, she hopes to pursue a career in healthcare or public health research. In the lab, she researches child health and growth outcomes in low-resource settings. During her free time, you can find her cooking or watching reality TV. She is very grateful to all of the mentorship provided by the team of talented lab members!
Evelin Vazquez, B.A. in progress for Global and Community Health, UC Santa Cruz (she/her/hers) Evelin Vazquez is a currently fourth-year student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Global and Community Health. Her research explores the crucial link between child nutritional status and environmental enteric dysfunction, a major contributor to poor growth outcomes in low-resource settings. Evelin’s work leverages data from the WASH Benefits trials, which evaluate the impact of nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions in rural regions of Bangladesh and Kenya. Committed to advancing child health in vulnerable communities, Evelin plans to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and aims to lead her own research initiatives in the future. Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys spending time with her dog, exploring local trails, biking, and reading.
Farheen Jamshed, B.A. Integrative Biology, MPH in Epidemiology and Infectious Disease, Columbia University
Farheen is currently a 2nd year MPH candidate in Epidemiology and Infectious Disease at Columbia University. She plans to continue her education in medicine to apply her public health skills as a physician. Farheen’s research interests include infectious diseases, women’s health and empowerment, environmental health, and child health. Her work is focused on understanding the effects of maternal nutrition, inflammation, stress, and estriol on child telomere length. Her work on the WASH Benefits team has tremendously contributed to her interest in public health, and she continues to be inspired by the fantastic team. Farheen enjoys reading mystery novels, testing out new recipes, and playing with friendly cats in her neighborhood!
Juliet Ellenbach, PhD Student in Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, UC Santa Cruz Juliet is a rising second year PhD Student at UCSC. She attended UCLA for her undergraduate education, receiving a B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) in 2022. Juliet worked for two years as a Teaching Assistant for UCLA’s MIMG instructional laboratories, helping orchestrate course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) in bacteriophage biology and soil microbiology. Her current research in the Lin Lab examines the relationship between diet and Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED). Juliet is also getting started on a new project examining the effects of menstrual stigma and hygiene interventions on stress and immune status in adolescent girls. In her free time, Juliet enjoys cooking, baking, and playing the guitar.
Journey Bliss, B.A. in progress for Global and Community Health and B.A. in Environmental Studies, UC Santa Cruz (she/her/hers)
Journey Bliss is a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is double-majoring in Global & Community Health B.A. and Environmental Studies B.A. Her main research focus is identifying the relationship between maternal exposure to intimate partner violence, depression, paternal perceived stress, and child growth outcomes. Striving for equitable healthcare for all, she hopes to receive her MPH after undergrad. Journey also works at the UCSC Student Health Center as a Mental Health Peer Educator to promote resources for student well-being. In her free time, she enjoys reading, visiting coffee shops, going to the beach, and spending time with friends and family.
Lily Bell (She/Her), B.S. In progress for Biopsychology, UC Santa Barbara Lily is a third-year pre-med student at the University of California, Santa Barbara. With an associate’s degree in psychology and sociology and a passion for medicine, Lily aims to conduct research with a holistic approach. Some of her research focuses include evaluating the Gut-Brain axis, as well as hair cortisol analysis. On her off time, you can find her in her Muay Thai studio, Rock climbing, or practicing the visual arts, such as sketching and metallurgy. She is beyond grateful for her team and mentors!
Lynn Zhang, B.A. in progress in Molecular Cell Biology, Minor in Psychology, UC Berkeley
Lynn is a current junior at UC Berkeley. She possesses a burgeoning interest in clinical immunology and global health disparities, aspiring to make a direct impact on the lives of medically underserved patients worldwide. Beyond her undergraduate studies, Lynn plans to further her research endeavors and embark on a career in medicine. Since joining the team in 2023, she has been actively involved in investigating the intricate relationship between Pregnancy Stress, Inflammation, and Environmental Enteric Dysfunction. During her leisure time, Lynn enjoys exploring hotpot restaurants and going on hikes.
Nicolas Jeremiah Medina, M.S. candidate in Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, UCSC (he/him) Nick is a first-generation college graduate and an M.S. candidate in Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology at UC Santa Cruz. He obtained an A.S. in Biology at Antelope Valley College and a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Microbiology from San Francisco State University. He is interested in how environmental factors can cause mutations that lead to pathogenicity in microbes. Having experience in biotech, he’s also interested in applying knowledge learned in academia and applying it to the industry. In his free time Nick enjoys weightlifting, video gaming, and cooking!
Nicol Hernandez, B.A. Public Health, Minor in Data Science, UC Berkeley
Nicol is passionate about uplifting the community’s health through data driven solutions. In particular, she is interested in the relationship between maternal exposures/experiences and its impact on adulthood. She is also interested in biotechnology and improving its accessibility and affordability for all. Nicol joined the team in 2021 and is currently researching the association between maternal cortisol and inflammation and its impact on child development. She also worked on the RISE project. Nicol enjoys her free time by hiking, exploring new food restaurants/shops, and spending time with friends/family.
Ronit Gupta, S.M. Biostatistics Candidate, Harvard University
Ronit is a S.M. candidate in Biostatistics at Harvard University. He obtained a B.A. in Data Science and B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology at UC Berkeley. His research interests lie within the fields of global infectious disease epidemiology and biostatistics. He is passionate about examining the impacts of public health measures on underserved communities and people of color. Currently, Ronit is working on examining associations of biomarkers and children’s health. Following his undergraduate education, he plans to continue research, attend graduate school and pursue a career in the medical field. In his free time, he enjoys running, sunset hikes, cooking, and exploring new things with friends.
Ryan Liu, B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Ryan graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. His research in the Lin Lab focuses on the relationship between telomere length and micronutrient status in children from rural communities. He plans to pursue a career in medicine. Outside of research, Ryan is a black belt in Shuai Jiao (Chinese wrestling), actively teaching and training for competition. In his free time, he enjoys working out at the gym, collecting Pokémon cards, reading, and exploring local cafes and card shops.
Sophia Tan, B.A. Molecular and Cellular Biology and B.A. Data Science, UC Berkeley
Sophia is a recent graduate from UC Berkeley. She is currently a member of the EPPIcenter research group and Dr. Nathan Lo’s lab at Stanford University, exploring infectious disease modeling and utilizing computational tools to inform public health policy. Her primary work with the WASH Benefits projects examines the relationships between child immune status and early development. Outside of research, Sophia can be found making matcha lattes, chasing sunsets, boxing or practicing taekwondo!
Sumukh Cadpakar, B.S in progress in Global & Community Health (minor in Education), UC Santa Cruz
Sumukh is a third-year student at UC Santa Cruz and joined the Lin lab in 2024. He is very passionate about investigating children’s health and remediating systemic injustices and inequalities through the context of public health research. The research he is currently working on investigates child telomere length and micronutrient status. He is grateful for the opportunity to be mentored by an extremely gifted group of individuals. Sumukh loves being bald, the color yellow, and cooking!
Temi George, B.A. English, minor in philosophy, Barnard College Temi is a premedical post-baccalaureate student at Columbia University. She previously earned a B.A. in English with a philosophy minor at Barnard College. Her current research focuses on how maternal depression, intimate partner violence, and perceived parental stress affect child growth. Committed to understanding and addressing health disparities, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine and public health research.
Wei-Chi Chen, B.A. Molecular and Cellular Biology and B.A. Psychology, Minor in Global Public Health, UC Berkeley
Wei-Chi aspires to become a physician in the future. In Dr. Lin’s lab, she is interested in studying the relationship between pregnancy stress/inflammation and environmental enteric dysfunction. She is also a member of Dr. He’s lab in the MCB department studying the choroid plexus and its role in regulating cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Wei-Chi is involved in KOSMOS, MEDLIFE, iHCA, and PMHS. Wei-Chi can be found dancing to K-Pop music, exploring the streets of downtown Oakland and San Francisco, and spending time with family and friends. Random fun facts are that her favorite holiday is Christmas, and her favorite drink is boba!
Xiansheng Yan, B.A. Molecular and Cellular Biology (Neurobiology) and B.A. Public Health, UC Berkeley
Xiansheng Yan is a UC Berkeley graduate and has been a member of the Lin Lab since 2021. She is interested in examining how prenatal endocrine and immune exposures influence infant gut and immune development in underserved communities. The research she leads explores the dynamics between maternal estriol, cortisol, and inflammatory markers and their associations with environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) in rural Bangladesh. Outside the lab, she has volunteered at the Berkeley Free Clinic and the West Seattle Food Bank. She currently works as a medical assistant in the Heart Failure Department at Virginia Mason Cardiology and plans to attend medical school. In her free time, she creates educational courses and online shadowing videos for Heal Clinical Education and manages a medically focused Instagram account.
Md Ziaur Rahman, Ph.D. Candidate in Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, UC Santa Cruz
Zia is pursuing a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology at UC Santa Cruz. He obtained a M.P.H. and B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The epidemiology of environmental enteric dysfunction and maternal and infant stress are the primary subjects of his research. He was in charge of the WASH Benefits Bangladesh trial’s laboratory team. Zia is currently using WASH Benefits data to investigate the association between maternal stress and inflammation and the stress response of the child. Zia is also enthusiastic about epidemiological studies of wastewater.
Former Lin Lab Members
Serena Dern (2025), B.A. in Global and Community Health and Psychology, UC Santa Cruz
Agasthya Pattipati (2024-2025), High school student, Los Osos High School
Ari Phan (2024-2025), High school student, Evergreen Valley High School
Pooja Parikh (2024-2025), B.S. in Global and Community Health, UC Santa Cruz
Abigail Wright (2024-2025), B.S. in Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, UC Santa Cruz
Abhijeet Paluru (2023-2024), B.A. in Global and Community Health, UC Santa Cruz
Khurshid Iranpur (2023-2024), Ph.D. Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology rotation student, UC Santa Cruz
Paulina Andrade (2022-2023), Professor, Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Eri Wijaya (2021-2024), Ph.D. candidate in Public Health at Hasanuddin Univeristy, Indonesia
Chih-Hsien (Cindy) Lin (2021-2023), M.S. in Health Data Science, Harvard University
Diego Figueroa (2021-2023), B.S. in Microbial Biology, Minor in Global Public Health, UC Berkeley
Zachary Butzin-Dozier (2020-2023), Ph.D. in Epidemiology, UC Berkeley
Caitlin Hemlock (2020-2023), Ph.D. in Epidemiology, UC Berkeley
Gene Ho (2020-2023), MPH Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UC Berkeley
Abhishek Bhatt (2020-2023), B.S. in Molecular Cell Biology, UC Berkeley
Amy Li (2020-2022), B.S. in Public Health, UC Berkeley
Sarah Bakir (2020-2021), M.P.H. in Epidemiology/Biostatistics, UC Berkeley
Gabrielle Shuman (2019-2023), Medical student, UC San Diego
Lisa Kim (2019-2020), B.S. in Public Health, UC Berkeley
Lin Lab 