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Bridge Faculty Fellow Recipients

Science and technology are driving forces behind vast changes across much of our society.

For public officials grappling with difficult policy decisions, data and analysis from experts can be indispensable. Bridge Faculty Fellows work with the Bridge Initiative to engage with the policy arena, increase the impact of their work for the public good, and stimulate new ideas for research and innovation to help fulfill our Land Grant Mission.

Fourth Cohort     2024 – 2025

Brad Phillips

Brad Phillips

brad.phillips@hsc.wvu.edu

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs - Director of International BSN Programs - Assistant Professor

My primary area of research is focused on family-centered care, children with acute/chronic illness, and the subsequent impact on caregivers, families, and communities.

Profile: Brad Phillips

Mark Olfert

Mark Olfert

imolfert@hsc.wvu.edu

Professor, Human Performance - Professor of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology - Director, Clinical and Translational Sciences PhD Program

My research focuses on inhalation toxicology stemming from use or exposure to novel tobacco products, such as electronic cigarettes or heated tobacco devices.

Profile: Mark Olfert

Steve Kannenberg

Steve Kannenberg

steven.kannenberg@mail.wvu.edu

Assistant Professor

My research is centered around understanding how environmental stressors alter the health and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems.

Profile: Steve Kannenberg

Emily Tanner

Emily Tanner

Emily.Tanner@mail.wvu.edu

Associate Professor of Marketing

My research focuses on the provision of healthcare services and the populations experiencing vulnerability that access them.

Profile: Emily Tanner

Amy Gentzler

Amy Gentzler

amy.gentzler@mail.wvu.edu

Professor, Life-Span Developmental Psychology

My research focuses on child and adolescent emotional development and well-being. Recent projects include studying teens' pursuit of happiness and developing interventions that could help to improve their social-emotional skills and well-being.

Profile: Amy Gentzler

Avishek Choudhury

avishek.choudhury@mail.wvu.edu

Assistant Professor - Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering

My research interests include patient safety, artificial intelligence, cognitive human factors, neuroergonomics, and clinical decision making. I focus on combining cognitive human factors with artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Profile: Avishek Choudhury

Kristy Ward

kristy.ward@mail.wvu.edu

Medical Director of Gynecology Oncology Division, Associate Professor

My research interests include gynecologic oncology, obesity medicine, robotic and minimally invasive surgery, and complicated gynecology.

Profile: Kristy Ward

Mohamed Hefeida

mohamed.hefeida@mail.wvu.edu

Teaching Associate Professor - Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

My research spans networking and communication solutions, focusing on sensor networks, IoT applications, data management, and cross-layer optimizations in wireless communications.

Profile: Mohamed Hefeida

Ruchi Bhandari

ruchi.bhandari@hsc.wvu.edu

Assistant Professor

My research focuses on the assessment of risk factors and outcomes of life-threatening infections associated with substance use disorder.

Profile: Ruchi Bhandari

Cerasela Zoica Dinu

cerasela-zoica.dinu@mail.wvu.edu

Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at West Virginia University

My research focuses on bioengineering and nanotechnology, including designing enzyme-based composites, evaluating nanomaterial-cell interactions, creating smart materials, and developing biomimetic systems.

Profile: Cerasela Zoica Dinu

Third Cohort     2023 – 2024

Daniel Totzkay

Daniel Totzkay

daniel.totzkay@mail.wvu.edu

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Eberly College; Director of Graduate Studies, Eberly College

My research is improving health and well-being through evidence-driven public health and clinical communication strategies, and empowering decision-makers and communities to put research into action to equitably promote health and well-being.

Profile: Daniel Totzkay

Katie Corcoran

Katie Corcoran

kecorcoran@mail.wvu.edu

Professor of Sociology, Eberly College

My research focuses on improving health outcomes for rare disease patients through patient-centered outcomes research, which recognizes that patients have unique knowledge and experience regarding their medical conditions.

Profile: Katie Corcoran

Aimee Morewood

Aimee Morewood

My research focuses on reading and writing instruction. Typically, I work with practicing teachers to support their content, curricular, and pedagogical knowledge as they work with students in the PK-12 system.

Profile: Aimee Morewood

Katie Kang

Katie Kang

katie.kang@mail.wvu.edu

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Eberly College

As a multi-disciplinary researcher and collaborator, who translates ideas into action via fieldwork, I have investigated core stigmatization in health organizations and communities using participatory action research.

Profile: Katie Kang

Second Cohort     2022 – 2023

Jamison Conley

Jamison Conley

jamison.conley@mail.wvu.edu

Associate Professor of Geography, Eberly College

As a geographer, I have an overarching interest in the statistics, algorithms, and techniques for the analysis of spatial data. I’ve used these tools in a variety of projects, including finding and analyzing disease clusters.

Profile: Jamison Conley Jamison Conley: Policy Brief

Vaike Hass

Vaike Haas

Vaike.Haas@mail.wvu.edu

Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

My work at WVU promotes social equity and diversity in public greenspace. One of my current interests is in pedestrian and bike infrastructure, especially safe routes to school, with a focus on implementation in Morgantown.

Profile: Vaike Haas

Crosby Hipes

crosby.hipes@mail.wvu.edu

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Department of Social Sciences and Public Administration, WVU Institute of Technology

My research focuses on public attitudes toward people with stigmatized identities. Currently, I am working on a project assessing public perceptions of opioid drug offenses, including whether attitudes depend on the offender’s social characteristics.

Profile: Crosby Hipes Crosby Hipes: Policy Brief

Kevin Orner

Kevin Orner

kevin.orner@mail.wvu.edu

Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

My research focuses on improving human and environmental health locally and globally through the safe and sustainable recovery of resources such as nutrients, energy, and water from concentrated waste streams.

Profile: Kevin Orner Kevin Orner: Policy Brief

Nicole Stout

Nicole Stout

Nicole.stout@hsc.wvu.edu

Research Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, WVU Cancer Institute and School of Public Health

My current research focuses on cancer survivorship and the functional needs of individuals living with and beyond cancer. Of particular importance is the lack of community-based services that are available and accessible to rural individuals with cancer.

Profile: Nicole Stout Nicole Stout: Policy Brief

Inaugural Cohort    2021 – 2022

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Eddie Brzostek

erbrzostek@mix.wvu.edu

Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Eberly College

Forest Ecology & Ecosystem Modeling

The overarching goal of my research program is to understand how processes that operate at the level of soil microbes and roots influence the ability of forests to take up carbon dioxide and slow the pace of global change.

Profile: Eddie Brzostek

Emily Garner

emily.garner@mail.wvu.edu

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Statler College

Environmental Engineering, Applied Microbiology

I work in natural and engineered systems to understand fundamental processes impacting water quality and to develop solutions that promote safe and sustainable water resources.

Profile: Emily Garner Emily Garner: Policy Brief

Jamie Shinn

jamie.shinn@mail.wvu.edu

Assistant Professor, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York

Geographer, flooding vulnerability, climate change adaptation

I use qualitative methods such as interviews, focus groups, and photography to document people’s lived experiences of vulnerability to flooding and to identify equitable solutions for climate change adaptation.

Profile: Jamie Shinn Jamie Shinn: Policy Brief