Alexandra Heaney

Alexandra Heaney is an Assistant Professor at the University of California San Diego in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science. She also holds a Lecturer position at the University of California Berkeley, where she previously served as a Postdoctoral Scholar from 2019-2023.

Education

• PhD, Environmental Health Sciences - Columbia University (2019)
• BA, Human Biology - Stanford University (2014)

Research Focus

A climate epidemiologist and environmental health scientist, Heaney integrates epidemiology, computational science, and community engagement to analyze climate-disease relationships. Her work quantifies how climate hazards like extreme heat, dust, and wildfire smoke affect health outcomes, including coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever), adverse birth events, and healthcare utilization. Recent studies examine how prolonged dry seasons extend fungal disease transmission periods in California, while prior work investigated climate drivers of diarrheal diseases in Botswana.

Publication Trends

Her 15 most recent publications (2018-2025) span climate epidemiology, infectious disease modeling, and environmental health impacts. Key themes include Markov state transitions for disease seasonality, particulate matter exposure analysis, and surveillance network optimization for multi-serotype infections. Articles frequently employ longitudinal studies, computational biology, and public health frameworks to address climate-related health risks.

Teaching & Mentorship

Deeply committed to education, Heaney trains students in global health leadership to combat environmental hazards. Her mentorship philosophy emphasizes preparing the next generation to address climate-health intersections through interdisciplinary collaboration.