Alison Cohen

Alison Cohen, PhD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. She is also affiliated with the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies. Her research focuses on community-driven, policy-relevant applied epidemiology, with an emphasis on social and environmental determinants of health and interventions addressing health inequities. She collaborates extensively with community-based organizations globally and explores topics such as Long COVID, youth civic engagement, and participatory research methodologies.

Education:

• B.A., Community Health & Education Studies, Brown University (2009)
• M.P.H., Epidemiology & Biostatistics, UC Berkeley (2012)
• Ph.D., Epidemiology, UC Berkeley (2017)

Research Interests: Dr. Cohen’s work integrates participatory approaches to address systemic health disparities, particularly in marginalized communities. She investigates how social structures, environmental exposures, and civic actions influence health outcomes. Her recent projects include studies on Long COVID in transgender populations, sociopolitical stress in college students, and environmental health in industrial zones like Marseille, France.

Awards & Recognition: None explicitly listed in provided texts.

Grants & Advising: Active in mentoring trainees interested in community-based research. Her research has been supported by collaborations with organizations such as Mujeres Unidas y Activas and Generation Citizen. She leads projects funded through participatory partnerships and federal grants focused on health equity initiatives.

Labs/Teams: Involved in the FOS EPSEAL study in France and the UCSF-led Long COVID research network. Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams including epidemiologists, community activists, and public health policymakers.