Rikkia Thomas is a recent graduate of Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, earning an MPH in Global Environmental Health and certificates in Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology. She fulfills the role of Senior Research Interviewer for the Emory Behavioral Immunology Program and has experience in global health work in HIV and Chagas disease.
Rikkia's research interests lie in addressing the intersection of climate change, humanitarian crises and infectious disease outbreaks (particularly Neglected Tropical Diseases), as well as gene-environmental interaction (epigenetics). Tackling social determinants of health, environmental and medical racism and structural barriers to access and equity are also a part of her work. Rikkia's hobbies are reading and watching sci-fi content and stand-up comedy.