#WeAreEmoryEPI: Meet Sahil Jiwani

Meet Sahil Jiwani! Sahil is a second-year Epidemiology MPH candidate with interests in infectious diseases and genetic and molecular epidemiology. In this feature, Sahil talks about his current projects, advice for first-years, and his favorite coffee shops in Atlanta. Read more below!

Tell us a little bit about your academic history/where you went to school.

I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in May 2020 with a degree in Public Health and a minor in Business.

Are there any exciting projects that you are currently working on that you’d like to share with us?

I am currently working on a project under Dr. Julie Gazmararian and a team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looking at trends in COVID-19 infection rates at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) based on their respective COVID-19 return to campus policies. I am also going to be starting a position with the School of Medicine where I will be performing data analyses on clinical trial data.

What is your favorite part about earning your MPH at Emory? 

My favorite part about earning my MPH at Emory has to be the immense amount of opportunities to engage in hands-on work as a Graduate Research Assistant. The staff and faculty at Rollins provide students with so many opportunities to engage in ongoing research, or even start new research projects, that meet their interests.

What advice do you have for 1st year MPH Students? 

Network with your peers and professors. Each student and faculty member has such a fascinating background and it is super cool to hear about all of their past experiences and current work. This is also a great ways for you to find opportunities that meet your interests!

How have you been spending your free time?

In my free time, I really enjoy going on runs around Atlanta. I also enjoy going on hikes, especially in North Georgia. I have also been exploring new food options around the area which has been nothing short of amazing.

If you currently live in Atlanta, what is one place that you would recommend people to visit?

I really enjoy studying at coffee shops around the city. Some of my favorites include Dancing Goats, Land of a Thousand Hills, Chocolate, and East Pole.

What are three fun facts that you want people to know about you? 

1. I love breakfast tacos.
2. I have gone skydiving in Dubai.
3. I was on a Bollywood fusion dance team in undergrad. 

Thanks for talking with us, Sahil! Tune in every Monday for a new feature on #WeAreEmoryEPI.