Jahara Wakeel

Jahara Wakeel is a Public Health major at The Ohio State University. This past summer, she worked on a research project with Dr. Darryl Hood that focused on understanding a community’s climate with regards to a waste transfer site. She expects to graduate in 2021 when she will pursue a graduate degree. She plans to conduct research that focuses on disease and health issues in minority communities.

Jahara Wakeel standing in the sun weaing a black jacket and white striped shirt

LSAMP: Tell me a little bit about the research you’re conducting this summer!

Jahara: I am conducting research with Dr. Darryl Hood, who is a part of the College of Public Health. We are primarily conducting research in a community called Milo-Grogan in Columbus, Ohio. We go once a week to facilitate the time where we hand out surveys and have the community members answer questions about the community’s climate with regards to a waste transfer site in the community and how it potentially affects infant mortality.

LSAMP: How did you get involved in undergraduate research?

Jahara: I got involved with this research through LSAMP because Dr. Hood was appointed as my faculty mentor, and I met with him many times throughout the year. I eventually applied for an undergraduate grant provided through The Ohio State University that helped pay for the research that we are doing in Milo Grogan. I chose to work on this project because Dr. Hood is an amazing advisor and has such a vision for my undergraduate career.

LSAMP: What do you enjoy most about undergraduate research? 

Jahara: I enjoy the day-to-day with Dr. Hood and just working alongside him and seeing his love for his work and the people he is serving. The most rewarding moment was being in Milo Grogan at a community health fair and having conversations with the individuals who live there. It was just so exciting to witness the lives that this work will effect when the project is done.

LSAMP: Does your experience working with undergraduate research connect to your future career goals?

Jahara: Yes, this experience connects to my future career because once I complete my undergraduate education I would like to attend graduate school in hopes of conducting research once I am done with school. I would love to work with minority communities that are tragically impacted by different diseases and health issues. I would like to even possibly conduct similar research in third world countries that are in great need of the help.