Nafisa Halim

Nafisa Halim, PhD, is a Research Professor in the Department of Global Health at Boston University School of Public Health. She specializes in applied sociological research focused on improving pregnancy and childbirth outcomes for women with histories of abuse. Her work addresses interventions to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) and its impacts on maternal and child health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Education: Halim holds a PhD in Sociology and two Master’s degrees in Sociology and Economics (with distinction) from the University of New Mexico, and a BS in Sociology from the University of Dhaka. She completed postdoctoral training in Social Demography at Emory University.

Research Interests: Her research spans IPV correlates and consequences, maternal mental health, gender-based violence prevention, and disaster resilience. She has led studies in Tanzania, Bangladesh, India, and other regions, examining topics like antenatal screening for sickle cell disease, gender-training interventions, and evacuation behavior during natural disasters. Her work integrates quantitative and qualitative methods.

Awards & Grants: Halim has received funding from NIH, NSF, USAID, and private foundations. Notable awards include Excellence in Teaching Awards (2016) and a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at Emory. She is Principal Investigator for a NIH-funded project (PIVOT) on sickle cell screening and violence prevention in India.

Teaching & Mentorship: She teaches courses such as SPHGH745 and SPHSB753, emphasizing collaborative learning in public health education. Her mentorship and pedagogical innovations have been recognized in peer-reviewed publications.

Labs & Collaborations: Halim collaborates with the Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and the Center for Trauma & Mental Health. Her interdisciplinary teams address complex issues like disaster response and gender equity through data-driven approaches.