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Jennifer ​Ahern, PhD, MPH

Professor, Epidemiology
  • Associate Dean, Research
  • King Sweesy and Robert Womack Endowed Chair, Medical Research and Public Health

Jennifer Ahern is a Professor of Epidemiology whose research focuses on the effects of the social and physical environment, and programs and policies that alter the social and physical environment, on many aspects of health.
Phone: (510) 643-4350
Address: 2121 Berkeley Way #5201-2
Berkeley, CA 94720

Biography

Dr. Jennifer Ahern is Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Epidemiology at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health. She examines the effects of the social and physical environment, and programs and policies that alter the social and physical environment, on many aspects of health (e.g., violence, substance use, mental health, and gestational health). Dr. Ahern has a methodological focus to her work, including the application of causal inference methods and semi-parametric estimation approaches, aimed at improving the rigor of observational research, and optimizing public health intervention planning. Her research has been supported by a New Innovator Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of the Director.

Research Interests

  • Social epidemiology
  • Neighborhood characteristics and health
  • Methodological issues and novel methodological applications in social epidemiology
  • Traumatic events
  • Substance use
  • Mental health
  • Behavioral health
  • Birth outcomes and maternal health
  • Population health

Education

  • PhD – Epidemiology
    University of California, Berkeley, 2007
  • MPH – Epidemiology and Biostatistics
    University of California, Berkeley, 2000
  • BA – Human Biology
    Brown University, 1997

Publications

Courses Taught

    • Spring | PH250B
    • Epidemiologic Methods II
    • Fall | PH255D
    • Methods in Social Epidemiology
    • Fall | PH293
    • Advanced Doctoral Seminar