Name: Yu-Jung Lin, but I go by Grace Lin!
Hometown: Originally from Taiwan but now consider Atlanta my second home.
Undergraduate and master’s degrees and institutions: I earned my B.S. and MPH in Occupational Safety and Health at China Medical University in Taiwan
Why did you choose the Georgia State School of Public Health?
As an international student my aim was to enroll in a university that offers interdisciplinary programs and a wide range of courses focused on public health. The Georgia State School of Public Health stood out as my preferred choice due to its wealth of research resources and substantial funding opportunities available to students.
Tell us about your most memorable experience in the Ph.D. program.
I have been dedicated to air pollution research since I was a research associate in Taiwan. GSU’s public health program has an excellent record of research performance and academic publications. In my current lab, we have strong cooperation with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD). It provides me with the chance to get to know the state-of-the-art equipment and field sampling techniques operated by the Georgia government. Moreover, I have been to several conferences hosted by the American Aerosol Association Research (AAAR) and Annual Southeastern Pediatric Research Conference. These experiences provide me with lots of precious opportunities to learn more novel and advanced knowledge and ideas. Currently, my team and I are working on a project funded by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Research Institutes. The project goal is to discover and evaluate the relationship between children's exposure to air pollution and their risk of developing respiratory diseases by metabolic analysis.
Additionally, I have had the honor of being nominated for several fellowships, including those centered around urban transformation and environmental sustainability. These nominations have afforded me the opportunity to collaborate with local governments in Georgia focusing on initiatives related to clean energy, environmental sustainability and research concerning water and air pollution. These great exposures enhance my Ph.D. learning and improve my understanding and capacities of conducting research.
What’s your career aspiration?
Due to the abundant research opportunities and resources available, my ultimate career aspiration is to become a dedicated researcher within a university or esteemed research institution, aiming to contribute significantly to the field of environmental science, advancing knowledge and addressing critical challenges in air pollution control and environmental sustainability.