Ian Brooks

Ian Brooks is a Research Scientist and Director of the Center for Health Informatics. He holds a PhD from Bryn Mawr College and is a Faculty Affiliate at multiple University of Illinois research centers including:

• Center for Global Studies
• Center for Informatics Research in Science and Scholarship
• National Center for Supercomputing Applications
• Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies
• CyberGIS Center for Advanced Digital and Spatial Studies
• Illinois Informatics Institute
• Center for Health, Aging, and Disability
• Center for African Studies

His research spans public/global health informatics, epidemiology, and data analytics, with specialized focus on infodemics, One Health frameworks, and health-focused cyberinfrastructure. He investigates how digital technologies transform health data management and disease surveillance systems.

Recent publications (2017-2021) demonstrate strong emphasis on COVID-19 infodemics, analyzing social media's role in health communication, diagnostic technology innovation, and pandemic-related healthcare disruptions. His work consistently integrates interdisciplinary approaches across public health, data science, and human-centered technology design.

He teaches advanced independent study courses (IS189ISB, IS389IBO, IS389ISB) and guided research (IS579IB) at the iSchool. He directs the Center for Health Informatics, coordinating interdisciplinary projects including:

• Pathtracker (smartphone-based disease detection)
• INDICATOR (community health monitoring system)
• COVID-19 social media analysis tools