My name is Miah, and I am a PhD candidate in Dr. Margaret Carrel’s lab. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Genetics from Iowa State University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan. Prior to beginning this program, I worked as a Medical Laboratory Scientist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, specializing in clinical microbiology and molecular virology.  

My research focuses on how human-environment interactions shape the spatial distribution of disease and contribute to the continuous evolution of disease agents. More specifically, my dissertation examines geographic patterns and drivers of emerging antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus across the United States, using spatial statistics, GIS techniques, and phylogenetic methods.