Doctoral student Rooshna Mohsin is set to graduate in May with a PhD in public health, concentrating in epidemiology at George Mason University. Mohsin said her time at the university has shaped her both academically and personally as she focused her research on how common environmental exposures impact metabolic and reproductive health.
This work is significant because it addresses important questions about the influence of chemicals encountered daily on long-term health outcomes. Mohsin’s dissertation examined per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are synthetic chemicals linked to various health concerns, particularly among Hispanic children. She also studied trace element exposures within populations undergoing in vitro fertilization.
Mohsin said designing her dissertation was challenging but rewarding: “The most challenging experience I had at George Mason was throughout my dissertation process. It was academically demanding, but it was also incredibly rewarding in terms of the outcomes and the skills I gained.” She credits much of her development to mentorship from epidemiologist Michael Bloom, saying, “He really helped shape me and make sure that I excel as a student here and as a future professional and academic.”
Beyond research, Mohsin participated in George Mason’s Three Minute Thesis competition for PhD candidates across the university, where she earned third place for effectively communicating complex findings within a strict time limit. “I think that’s such an important part of research,” she said. “We need to communicate our work in a way that people without this background can understand it.” Her cohort provided support throughout her studies: “My cohort was the rock of my whole degree,” she said. “They kept me sane and stable.”
Her experience extended beyond campus through roles such as serving as a public health ambassador for the Association of Schools and Programs in Public Health (ASPPH) in Washington, D.C., which allowed her to expand her professional network.
Reflecting on her journey at George Mason University, Mohsin described finding not only academic opportunity but also community: “My faculty were very welcoming, and the people in my cohort were just family for me,” she said.
