Melissa Neuman

Melissa Neuman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health within the Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). She is based within the MRC International Statistics and Epidemiology Group and serves as co-lead for the Quantifying Impact theme in LSHTM's Centre for Evaluation. Dr. Neuman also contributes to the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee for her faculty.

Her educational background includes:

• ScD (PhD equivalent) from Harvard School of Public Health (2008-2012)
• MSc from Columbia University (2002-2004)
• BA from Harvard College (1995-1999)
• Post-graduate certificate in learning and teaching from LSHTM (2018-present)

Dr. Neuman is an epidemiologist with particular interests in understanding community-level determinants of health and supporting the design and evaluation of social interventions to improve population health. Her research focuses on HIV, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health, with a strong emphasis on implementation science and evaluation of community-based health interventions. She has extensive experience working in sub-Saharan Africa, conducting research on HIV self-testing, community health programs, and interventions for vulnerable populations including adolescent girls and women.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on HIV prevention and testing strategies, particularly community-based HIV self-testing approaches across multiple African countries. Her work also spans mental health interventions in humanitarian settings, maternal and child health, and the intersection of policy environments with health outcomes for marginalized populations. Dr. Neuman's research often employs mixed methods approaches, combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights to understand implementation challenges and opportunities.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (2019)

Dr. Neuman is actively involved in research funding and mentorship. She serves as Programme Director for the MSc in Medical Statistics at LSHTM and contributes to several teaching modules including Social Epidemiology, HIV, and statistics. Her current research portfolio includes grants focused on youth livelihoods, support structures for young migrants, and integrating mental health into HIV care. She has served on multiple data safety and monitoring boards and trial steering committees for international clinical trials.

Her research is conducted through LSHTM's Centre for Evaluation and the Health in Humanitarian Crises Centre, where she collaborates with international partners to design and evaluate interventions that address critical public health challenges in resource-limited settings.