“Yi-Fang exemplifies the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence that defines the University of Iowa. Her work is shaping the future of public health and social science research.” – Ethan Rogers

Hometown: Hsinchu City, Taiwan

Faculty mentor/advisor: Ethan Rogers, PhD, associate director, Center for Social Science Innovation

At the Center for Social Science Innovation, Yi-Fang Lu investigates how structural and environmental factors contribute to firearm violence and how exposure to community violence affects health and well-being. Her research integrates policy databases, health and crime surveys, and geospatial data to uncover patterns and generate evidence for understanding these issues.

“Being involved in research has allowed me to pursue my curiosity as a scholar while producing innovative, policy-relevant work—supported by the University of Iowa’s rich interdisciplinary environment,” says Lu.

Lu also leads a project funded by the Injury Prevention Research Center that examines how laws designed to prevent children from gaining unsupervised access to firearms and broader state firearm policy environments influence firearm storage. In addition, she is investigating occupational health risks among law enforcement officers—an area that has not been studied much. After her fellowship, Lu plans to pursue a career in academia, conducting impactful research and teaching future scholars to address pressing public health and safety challenges.