Chidera Ejike

Chidera Ejike is a PhD student in Epidemiology at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Nigeria, and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Arizona. Her research interests lie at the intersection of infectious diseases, Long COVID, disease surveillance, and climate resilience. Her research study within the Arizona COVID-19 Longitudinal Study (CoVHORT) focuses on examining the relationship between food insecurity and Long COVID. She co-authors additional projects exploring disability experiences and social vulnerability in post-COVID health outcomes in Arizona. She also supports research at the Southwest Center on Resilience for Climate Change and Health (SCORCH), focused on climate-related health risks and pathways to strengthen community resilience. As a case manager with the Student Aid for Field Epidemiology Response (SAFER) team, she assists in outbreak investigations and in driving disease and contact tracing efforts within Arizona. Through the R4R program, she looks forward to deepening her computational and methodological skills to lead independent, community-centered research that advances resilience and health equity in Arizona and beyond. Outside of work, she enjoys family road trips, baking, and taking leisurely walks with her daughter.