McCullough_AboutMe_Headshot.jpg

EDUCATION

Vanderbilt University Logo BA 2005, Vanderbilt University

Meharry Medical College Logo MSPH 2007, Meharry Medical College

University of Noth Carolina at Chapel Hill Logo PhD 2013, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

LAUREN E. McCULLOUGH, MSPH, PhD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
ROLLINS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, EMORY UNIVERSITY

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Center & Institute Affiliations

About Dr. Lauren E. McCullough

Dr. Lauren E. McCullough is Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health. Her overarching research interests are in cancer epidemiology, specifically the contributions of obesity and the social environment to the tumor epigenome and microenvironment, as well as disparities in cancer outcomes. Her research program integrates molecular epidemiology, epigenetics, and other biomarkers for disease risk and progression; environmental and social epidemiology; and causal inference methods. Her research goals are to improve cancer outcomes in underserved populations by bridging molecular and social epidemiology to identifying targets for pharmacologic, behavioral, and policy intervention.

Contact Dr. McCullough

Research Interests

  • Cancer Epidemiology
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Breast Cancer Outcomes
  • Obesity
  • Social Determinants of Health

Courses Taught

  • EPI 561: Methods in Obesity Epidemiology
  • PUBH 701: Public Health Research: Discovery to Practice

HONORS & AWARDS

This course (EPI 561) had me thinking in new and creative ways about obesity epidemiology at a time when I was considering a change in my research focus. Under her guidance, I’m now developing my dissertation in an area of obesity epidemiology we discussed in her class.

EPI 561 Doctoral Trainee

This session changed my perspective on the role of planning in an academic career. Before these seminars, I frequently felt overwhelmed by the prospect of managing long-term projects such as a dissertation. I now use much of what she taught in my day-to-day work and am confident I would not have been as productive without her advice.

PUBH 701 Doctoral Trainee

She trained me really well and has given me the opportunity to teach and share my code with her current students right now working with similar data. She helped me find my passion in research, which is social epigenetics and the impact of the neighborhood on health outcomes, and helped me channel that passion into finding projects to work on. Now I am in a dual degree DO-PhD program, and I've already gotten started on my dissertation because of how Lauren trained me to develop a solid work ethic and think critically about research. I really, honestly, owe everything to her, because I would not be where I am today without everything that she had given me from day one.

Masters Thesis Student

Dr. McCullough met with me regularly after the Obesity Epidemiology course ended to work on updating my final paper into a publishable quality commentary. She provided thoughtful feedback and encouraged collaboration with other RSPH faculty to strengthen the manuscript. It has since been published, and is something I have proudly added to my CV. As a PhD student, having published, first-authored manuscripts in my topic area is extremely valuable for my professional development, and I am so grateful that Dr. McCullough took time out of her many other obligations to support me.

EPI 561 Doctoral Trainee