Master of Public Health Student Focused on Data-Informed Solutions

ATLANTA - For Sivgech Heang, public health has always been about more than numbers. It's about using data to tell meaningful stories, identify patterns and ultimately help communities better prepare for future health threats. As she prepares to graduate this summer from the Georgia State University School of Public Health with her Master of Public Health, Heang is already charting a clear course toward a career in research, academia and global health leadership.

Originally from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Heang first came to Georgia State as an undergraduate public health student, drawn by scholarship opportunities and the school's focus on applied research in areas such as urban health. "The opportunity to seamlessly transition from my undergraduate studies to the MPH program through the Accelerated 4+1 Program allowed me to deepen my skills and contribute to impactful public health projects early in my career," she said.

Building Expertise in Biostatistics
That accelerated pathway gave Heang an early start on the experiences that would shape her professional goals. She chose to concentrate in biostatistics, a field that perfectly blends her analytical strengths with her passion for solving real-world public health challenges.

"I chose biostatistics not only because I love math, but because I'm passionate about using data to inform public health decision-making," she said. Her academic interests include statistical modeling, spatial analysis and computational methods, with a particular focus on disaster informatics and infectious disease research.

Those interests have translated into meaningful hands-on experiences. Throughout her time at Georgia State, Heang has immersed herself in research and student support roles that mirror the kind of career she hopes to build.

Research Experience With Real-World Impact
As a graduate assistant in the Student Civic Engagement Office, she supported community-based learning initiatives across campus, helping students connect academic work to meaningful civic and community engagement. At the same time, she became actively involved in research through the Center for Disaster Informatics and Computational Epidemiology, where she worked on infectious disease risk mapping and spatial epidemiology projects and presented her work at several conferences.

These research experiences strengthened both her technical expertise and her long-term vision.

"My career goal is to pursue a Ph.D. and advance research in spatial epidemiology and disaster informatics, helping communities better prepare for and respond to infectious disease risks," she said. "Ultimately, I hope my work can contribute to reducing health disparities and building more resilient and equitable public health systems."

Learning Beyond the Classroom
Her academic preparation at Georgia State has laid a strong foundation for those next steps. One of her favorite courses, Biostatistics II, challenged her to think critically about advanced data interpretation and modeling while strengthening her technical skills in SAS through hands-on work with public health data sets. The course, she said, helped sharpen her analytical abilities and build confidence as a future public health professional.

Beyond the classroom, some of Heang's most impactful experiences came through mentorship and teaching opportunities that helped her envision herself not just as a researcher, but as a future educator.

She served as a graduate teaching assistant for Clinical Assistant Professor Meredith Dixon and as a graduate research assistant in the Biostatistics Computer Lab under the supervision of Assistant Professors Alexander Kirpich and Karen Nielsen. In those roles, she supported students navigating challenging coursework while gaining firsthand insight into the interconnected nature of teaching, mentorship and research.

"Since I hope to become a professor one day, these roles were especially meaningful because they made that goal feel more real and helped me better understand the kind of educator and mentor I want to become," Heang said.

Looking Ahead: Research in Cambodia and Beyond
After graduation, Heang plans to continue building applied research experience while preparing for the next phase of her academic journey. She hopes to secure an internship with a research center in Cambodia, where she can apply her training in biostatistics, geographic information systems and public health to communities and systems that first inspired her interest in global health, infectious disease surveillance and disaster preparedness.

For students considering Georgia State's School of Public Health, Heang encourages them to make the most of every opportunity available.

"I would encourage undergraduate students to take advantage of research and mentorship opportunities, both within and outside the School of Public Health," she said. "Building relationships with faculty and peers has opened doors for me academically and professionally. Don't be afraid to ask questions and get involved."

As she reflects on her time at Georgia State, Heang says one of the experiences she will always carry with her is the sense of community she found on campus.

"GSU became more than a place where I studied. It became a community where I met people who supported me, encouraged me and helped me grow both personally and professionally," she said.