From third grade dream to public health innovator
Laura Arboleda-Merino, MPH ’17
Epidemiology PhD student
By Bob Cunningham
Laura Arboleda-Merino’s path to becoming a public health researcher began with a simple childhood dream. In third grade, she was fascinated by microbes.
“I remember telling everyone I wanted to be a microbiologist,” she said. “People would look at me and say, ‘You’re in third grade. You don’t even know what that is.’”
But a young Arboleda-Merino knew exactly what she wanted: to understand how tiny organisms could impact human health.
Born in Colombia, she moved to New Jersey at the age of 12. Her early life was defined by adaptation and curiosity. She quickly became her family’s translator, navigating medical appointments and school conferences in a new language, an experience that would later shape her understanding of healthcare systems.
Her scientific curiosity continued to grow during her undergraduate years at Colgate University, where she studied biology. Initially following a path her parents hoped would lead to medical school, Arboleda-Merino discovered something even more compelling: the broad, interconnected world of public health.
A transformative semester abroad in Wales became a pivotal moment in her academic journey, reshaping the way she viewed health and its broader implications. While taking a virology class, she expected the usual dive into cells, pathogens and immune responses. But what she encountered was far more expansive.
“The class was so much broader than just cells and biological processes,” Arboleda-Merino said. “They started talking about the conditions people lived in, the environmental factors affecting different communities. I was fascinated.”
I wanted to understand why certain communities are more affected by disease. I wanted to explore how the environment, social systems and policy intersect with health.”
That fascination stayed with her. For the first time, she saw health not just as a biological issue, but as something deeply shaped by where and how people live. It was about more than viruses or immune responses—it was about understanding the complex social, environmental and economic factors that shape human health.
This experience opened her eyes to public health as something larger and more interconnected than medical treatment alone. During her undergraduate years, she followed that interest, taking courses in Latin American history, medical geography and global environmental health, gradually building a multidisciplinary foundation.
An internship at a local health department further crystallized her interests. She was no longer just interested in treating individual patients, but in understanding and addressing systemic health challenges.
“I wanted to understand why certain communities are more affected by disease,” Arboleda-Merino said. "I wanted to explore how the environment, social systems and policy intersect with health.”
Her academic journey led her to the University of Michigan School of Public Health, where she earned her Master of Public Health in Global Health Epidemiology in 2017. The transition wasn’t just about academic advancement but about finding a community that resonated with her interdisciplinary approach.
“As soon as I walked onto campus, I felt at home,” said Arboleda-Merino, who has lived in Ann Arbor since 2015. “The School of Public Health felt communal and welcoming, unlike other places where I’d felt disconnected.”
A prestigious fellowship would become her gateway to international research. As part of the Minority Health and Disparities International Research Training Program, she spent three months in Santiago, working with a longitudinal cohort study at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA) at the University of Chile.
Arboleda-Merino’s research there was groundbreaking as she conducted data analysis examining how early life factors—such as having a child at a younger age—could be associated with risks of metabolic syndrome and obesity. She led a pilot study exploring the intergenerational effects of iron deficiency, parental obesity, and substance use.
“I was trusted for the first time as an epidemiologist to develop procedures and protocols," Arboleda-Merino said. “It was incredibly exciting.”
I was trusted for the first time as an epidemiologist to develop procedures and protocols. It was incredibly exciting.”
The internship in Chile wasn’t just a short-term research experience—it became a profound professional opportunity. After graduating with her MPH, Arboleda-Merino was invited back to INTA by Jackie Goodrich, research associate professor of Environmental Health Sciences and Global Public Health faculty associate, for an additional four months to continue her work.
This experience led to a five-year position managing research projects, including serving as center manager for the University of Michigan Children’s Environmental Health Center and cohort manager for the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) study—a Mexico-based project led by Karen Peterson, chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences. Arboleda-Merino’s trajectory demonstrated a remarkable ability to turn research opportunities into sustained professional growth.
“One internship became a job after graduation, and then a serious full-time work commitment,” she said.
Over those years, she gained hands-on experience in managing complex research projects, collaborating across disciplines, and working closely with diverse communities. It was a formative period—one that deepened her understanding of public health research and solidified her commitment to the field.
Now pursuing her PhD in Epidemiology at Michigan Public Health, Arboleda-Merino is focused on interdisciplinary research that bridges cognitive aging, environmental exposures, and health disparities.
Under the guidance of Kelly Bakulski, associate professor of Epidemiology, and Sung Kyun Park, professor of Epidemiology, she is studying how early life and cumulative environmental factors may influence neurodegenerative risk later in life—research that not only advances scientific understanding, but also informs public policy and prevention strategies.
“I want to make science more accessible, public health more effective, and research more connected to the people it's meant to serve,” said Arboleda-Merino, whose vision extends beyond individual research projects to creating systemic change.
Being a first-generation college student, an immigrant and a woman, I’ve always been conscious of creating spaces where people feel they belong. It’s about more than just academic achievement—it’s about building community.”
In the spring of 2025, she was named a Rising Star in Public Health at the Public Health Honors, an award that recognized her leadership within the Epidemiology Doctoral Student Organization (EDSO). As the organization’s chair, she focused on creating inclusive spaces and supporting her fellow doctoral students.
“Being a first-generation college student, an immigrant and a woman, I’ve always been conscious of creating spaces where people feel they belong,” Arboleda-Merino said. “It’s about more than just academic achievement—it’s about building community.”
Looking forward, she sees her career as a delicate balance between producing impactful research and mentoring the next generation of public health professionals. As a first-generation college student, immigrant and woman, she’s deeply committed to creating and fostering inclusive academic spaces.
“I want to be the mentor I needed when I was starting out,” she said. “To support students from underrepresented backgrounds and help them navigate academic and professional landscapes.”
From her early fascination with microbes to leading multidisciplinary research projects, Arboleda-Merino’s journey has been anything but linear—but it has always been rooted in curiosity, equity and purpose.