Get to know our team

Ifeoma Ozodiegwu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Informatics and Data Science at Loyola University and serves as a Principal Investigator at the Urban Malaria Lab. Previously, she held the position of Research Assistant Professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. At Northwestern, Ifeoma led the development of the first mathematical model aimed at tailoring malaria interventions at the subnational level in Nigeria, with results published in the Malaria Journal. She also contributed to Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Program, helping create a mixed-methods prioritization framework to identify low-risk malaria areas. This framework was successfully piloted in Ilorin during the 2023 integrated (bednet and chemoprevention) mass campaign. Ifeoma completed postdoctoral training in mathematical modeling at Northwestern University and holds a DrPH in Epidemiology and an MPH in Health Services Administration from East Tennessee State University.

Dr. E.A. Bamgboye is an infectious disease epidemiologist with expertise in public health research. He has collaborated with federal agencies like Nigeria’s FMOH and international organizations, including WHO, the World Bank, and the Gates Foundation. Currently a postdoctoral fellow at Loyola University Chicago, he supports the Urban Malaria Lab, aiming to assess malaria burden and determinants in urban areas, in a bid to inform Nigeria’s 2026-2030 Malaria Strategic Plan. Eniola was trained as a medical doctor and also holds a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and Medical Statistics as well as a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Ibadan. He is a Consultant Public Health Physician, Fellow of the West African College of Physicians, with advanced training from Erasmus Medical School and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in clinical epidemiology and infectious disease modeling. His research, using diverse quantitative and qualitative research methods to advanced statistical modeling techniques, focuses on generating evidence to guide public health interventions and policies.

Dr. Laurette Mhlanga is an expert in infectious diseases, mathematical modeling, and statistical analysis. Currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Urban Malaria Lab, she leads a project focused on malaria interventions for Nigeria’s 2026-2030 National Strategic Plan. She also serves as a Research Associate at SACEMA, with notable publications covering HIV, malaria, SARS-CoV-2, and Global Burden of Disease studies. Laurette holds a PhD in Computational Epidemiology from Stellenbosch University, an MSc in Mathematical Sciences from the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Tanzania, and an MSc in Operations Research from the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe. She earned a BSc with a double major in Statistics and Biochemistry and a BSc Special Honors in Statistics, both from the University of Zimbabwe.

Hephzibah Adeniji is a Research Associate at the Urban Malaria Lab, where she analyzes environmental variables, settlement type information and building data to model malaria risk in Sub-Saharan Africa and identify communities that would benefit most from malaria interventions. With over two years of research experience, she is skilled in using R and Python to conduct in-depth data analysis for epidemiology and public health. Prior to this role, she worked as a Research Assistant at Hospitals for Humanity, supporting their free surgical initiatives for children with congenital heart defects, and research in cardiovascular health. Hephzibah graduated with first-class honors in Biology from Covenant University, Nigeria and is passionate about improving healthcare in the Global South through data-driven research.

Gift Enang is a Research Associate at the Urban Malaria Lab, where she collaborates with leading academic institutions to support malaria control strategies in Nigeria. With a strong background in biochemistry and environmental health science, Gift plays a key role in supporting data collection activities and ensuring data quality, which is crucial for informing national decision-making on malaria prevention and elimination. Gift’s expertise encompasses quality control, research data analysis, and project management, with a focus on infectious disease management. She has previously worked as a Clinical Data Specialist, Data Analyst, and Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, where she developed her skills in managing complex datasets and applying statistical techniques to address health challenges. Gift is dedicated to advancing public health through evidence-based research. Gift holds a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Science from the University of Ibadan and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Madonna University.

Yusuf Jamiu is a Research Associate at the Urban Malaria Lab, where he collaborates with leading academic institutions to advance malaria control strategies in Nigeria. With a background in computer science and over a decade of experience in both qualitative and quantitative research, Yusuf has led impactful projects, including UNICEF’s Adolescent Girls Formative Research in northern Nigeria, which addressed educational barriers through human-centered design. He also co-led the Gates Foundation-funded Pathways Project, exploring challenges around iron and folic acid supplements for pregnant women in Bauchi and promoting community acceptance of Multi-Micronutrient Supplements. Skilled in R and Python, Yusuf conducts in-depth data analysis for epidemiology and public health studies. Prior to this role Yusuf has worked on different projects across various thematic areas for organizations like KPMG, Ipsos Public Affairs, and the World Bank, showcasing his leadership in health-focused data analysis. Currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Data Science at the University of East London, he aims to further drive data-informed health strategies in Nigeria and beyond.

Grace Legris is a Research Data Analyst on the Urban Malaria Project Team, leveraging her expertise in data analysis and quality assessment to inform national malaria strategies. Previously, she was a Research Fellow with Move Up Global, where she designed and implemented a household survey and GIS mapping project focused on neglected tropical diseases and malnutrition in Rwanda. She has a strong background in public health research, having worked on various public health projects, including epidemiological surveillance of communicable diseases, health policy evaluation, and risk adjustment. Grace is dedicated to advancing health equity and improving public health practices through data-driven research and community engagement. Grace holds a Master’s of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Tufts University (2024) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Tufts University (2023).

Bernard Boateng is a Data Science Intern at Loyola University Chicago with the Urban Malaria Lab, where he advances urban malaria research in Nigeria. He played a key role in developing the Malaria Re-Prioritization Tool (MRPT), which supports targeted bed net distribution across Nigerian cities and is now used by malaria control personnel for data quality checks, visualization, and risk mapping. Currently, Bernard is contributing to a machine learning-driven settlement classification initiative and leading a comprehensive machine learning analysis to understand the determinants of malaria in urban Nigeria. Under Dr. Laurette Mhlanga’s mentorship, his work with the MRPT has already influenced decision-making processes in two Nigerian cities. He is pursuing a Master of Science in Data Science at Loyola University Chicago, specializing in Mathematics and Computer Science, and expects to graduate in December 2024.