About Us

Josh Colston 

Plan-EO Coordinator 

Josh Colston is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the founding coordinator of Plan-EO. His research focuses on the environmental and climatic drivers of infectious diseases, particularly enteric pathogens and child health in low- and middle-income countries. His work integrates epidemiology, spatial modeling, and Earth observation data to better understand disease transmission and inform public health strategies.

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Nasif Hossain

 Postdoctoral Research Associate

Nasif is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Virginia’s Environmental Institute studying the health impacts of climate change. His research focuses on how environmental variability shapes infectious disease transmission, particularly child diarrheal pathogens in low- and middle-income countries. He integrates statistical modeling, epidemiology, and climate science to support data-driven public health strategies.

Sani Neupane

Communications Officer

Sani serves as Communications Officer for Plan-EO, overseeing the initiative’s digital strategy and public-facing communications. She designs and maintains the Plan-EO website and manages its social media platforms, translating complex spatial modeling and global health research into clear, accessible content. Her work strengthens stakeholder engagement and expands the reach of Plan-EO’s scientific outputs.

Kelly Herdzik

 Postdoctoral Researcher

Kelly is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Amsterdam University Medical Centre, specializing in epidemiology. Her work uses hierarchical modeling, spatial methods, and Bayesian inference to study global health disparities, with a focus on infectious diseases. She earned her PhD in epidemiological sciences from the University of Michigan, where she examined how physical and social environments influence diseases, including COVID-19 and coccidioidomycosis.

 Prakrut Kansara

ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST

 Prakrut Kansara is an Assistant Research Scientist in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. An expert in hydrometeorological forecasting, he leads the climate data processing for Plan-EO, generating the high-resolution environmental variables that underpin the project’s health risk factors. 

Adhvikaa AR

Graduate Research Analyst

Adhvikaa is a medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine (Class of 2029). She graduated from UVA in 2025 with degrees in Biochemistry and Classics. She has a strong interest in global health and contributes to Plan-EO’s research initiatives, supporting efforts to better understand the environmental and epidemiological drivers of infectious diseases. Alongside her medical training, she remains engaged in service and academic activities focused on advancing health equity.

 Jason Mazique 

Graduate Research Analyst

Jason Mazique is a first-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He previously served as Chief of Population Health at the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and holds an MPhil in Population Health from the University of Cambridge and a B.A. from Williams College. At Plan-EO, he is interested in applying epidemiological methods to understand how place-based and community dynamics shape infectious disease transmission.

Asia Leslie

Undergraduate Research Analyst

 Asia Leslie is a undergraduate at the University of Virginia, majoring in Global Public Health and Psychology. She serves as an undergraduate research Analyst in the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, where she contributes to Plan-EO by screening studies for the project’s living systematic review. She is interested in global epidemiology and the use of data and technology to better understand how disease patterns vary across populations. 

 Brianna Paz-Roque 

 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ANALYST

Brianna Paz-Roque is a Biochemistry major on the pre-med track with a strong interest in global health and environmental determinants of disease. She is particularly drawn to understanding how climate and ecological conditions shape health disparities in vulnerable populations. As part of Plan-EO, she contributes to research initiatives focused on mapping enteric disease risk and advancing evidence-based approaches to child health.

Danielle Meister

Undergrad Research Analyst

Danielle Meister is a second-year undergraduate student from Richmond, Virginia, majoring in Biology with a minor in Religious Studies. She is interested in pursuing a career in public health and epidemiology. As part of Plan-EO, she contributes to ongoing research initiatives and supports efforts to better understand the environmental and epidemiological drivers of infectious diseases.