Qiang Pu, Ph.D. Joins SLU Department of Behavioral Science and Health Equity as Assistant Professor
The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice has named Qiang Pu, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Science and Health Equity.
Pu earned his Ph.D. in Geography with a concentration in Geographic Information Science (GIScience) from The State University of New York at Buffalo. He joins SLU after completing additional postdoctoral training at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.
His research interests include air pollution, machine learning and spatial statistics, GIScience and environmental health. Pu also has begun to investigate the patterns and health consequences of climate change induced issues, such as extreme heat and wildfires.
“As a new investigator, I am excited about setting up my own lab, teaching and supervising students, and witnessing their growth. Joining the faculty in CPHSJ and serving as a research fellow at Taylor Geospatial Institute (TGI) offers a fantastic opportunity for my professional and research development,” Pu said.
“I am looking forward to collaborating with colleagues in BSHE, CPHSJ, and across various institutes. I must also say that I feel privileged to be based in St. Louis, a city poised to become the world’s geospatial hub, and I look forward to contributing to this promising process.”
Dr. Pu’s greatest accomplishments include seeing his students apply textbook theories to solve real-world problems. He has developed methods to improve the utility of geospatial data for public health applications. In a health equity study conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, his proposed approach for healthcare resource allocation using open-source geospatial data provided guidance on enhancing access to healthcare for those desperately underserved populations.
“The field of public health is becoming increasingly transdisciplinary. I think such a shift has been driven by the growing complexity and breadth of public health challenges we face today,” he said. “Issues such as global pandemics, climate change, and health disparities require transdisciplinary approaches that integrate diverse perspectives and expertise.”
Pu notes the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone in order to grow and explore new topics and embrace continuous learning, said Pu.
As Pu continues his career, he looks forward to developments in space science.
“NASA’s upcoming launch of the MAIA satellite, the first mission in collaboration with epidemiologists, is particularly exciting. It will provide high-resolution air pollution monitoring and will be integrated into downstream health impact assessments,” he said. “I am excited about utilizing this instrument to enhance my research on ambient air pollution exposure modeling and explore its implications for environmental justice.”
Pu looks forward to all that St. Louis and SLU have to offer.
“Now that I’m living in Missouri, I would love to explore the hiking trails and caves in the area. I’d say St. Louis is very artistic, rich in history, family-friendly, and it offers great food of various kinds! There is always more to explore here,” he said.
College for Public Health and Social Justice
The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the college offers nationally recognized programs in public health and health administration.