Mathematical Biology
One of the research projects I worked on was in the field of Mathematical Biology. On this project, we worked in a team to build mathematical models that could help solve the cholera epidemic in Haiti. We worked with a Haitian public health official and an expert on cholera mathematical models from Georgia Southern University, who helped us create more effective models. For our project, our mission was to use statistical analysis and create a context-adapted map of cholera incidences in Haiti in order to organize existing data for effective use. Our goal was to find a better way to organize and distribute information regarding cholera outbreaks and other aspects that might lead to future cholera outbreaks. In the hands of aid organizations or Haiti’s government, this information would help them to plan more effectively when and where to send aid, saving time, money, and most importantly, lives.
During this project, there were many challenges we had to overcome as a team. The biggest issue we faced was with obtaining data, and assessing the reliability of the data we had. For instance, we obtained data on cholera rates from hospitals which we initially considered a very reliable source. However, we later discovered that those records could be inaccurate for several reasons: first, there is only one lab in Haiti that can conduct cholera tests, so all recorded cases were based on symptoms, meaning that accidental misdiagnosis was possible; second, some hospitals intentionally underreported the number of cholera cases to make the problem seem less severe; and third, poor communication infrastructure means that hospitals are not always able to report their cholera cases, even if they are properly recorded. Being able to view our data through a critical lens allowed us to be more realistic regarding the accuracy of our models. This experience complemented the research articles I wrote at my USCIS internship, as it reinforced the importance of data quality to obtaining reliable results.
Click here to see our poster - Cholera in Haiti: A Map to the Cure.
During this project, there were many challenges we had to overcome as a team. The biggest issue we faced was with obtaining data, and assessing the reliability of the data we had. For instance, we obtained data on cholera rates from hospitals which we initially considered a very reliable source. However, we later discovered that those records could be inaccurate for several reasons: first, there is only one lab in Haiti that can conduct cholera tests, so all recorded cases were based on symptoms, meaning that accidental misdiagnosis was possible; second, some hospitals intentionally underreported the number of cholera cases to make the problem seem less severe; and third, poor communication infrastructure means that hospitals are not always able to report their cholera cases, even if they are properly recorded. Being able to view our data through a critical lens allowed us to be more realistic regarding the accuracy of our models. This experience complemented the research articles I wrote at my USCIS internship, as it reinforced the importance of data quality to obtaining reliable results.
Click here to see our poster - Cholera in Haiti: A Map to the Cure.