UTHealth Houston Student Partners with Mentor to Win NASA Future Investigators Award
Aodong Mei, a PhD student at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, has partnered with her mentor, Yun Hang, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, to win the NASA Future Investigators in Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) award. This prestigious award, providing $150,000 in funding, supports groundbreaking research across multiple disciplines within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Mei’s proposal was recognized for its innovative use of satellite remote sensing and artificial intelligence in the FINESST program's first year of implementing a double-anonymized review process. This rigorous process substantially increased competitiveness due to the high volume of submissions. Her proposal was among 55 selected from a pool of 565 submissions, marking the first time a student from UTHealth Houston has received the NASA FINESST award and highlighting the growing intersection of public health and space technology. Under the mentorship of Hang, Mei will explore the relationship between air pollution and influenza transmission through a One Health framework. This interdisciplinary approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
Reflecting on her journey, Mei shared, “Since childhood, it has been my dream to study how environmental factors influence infectious diseases. From middle school through doctoral training, I've been dedicated to building knowledge and practical research methods. I’m especially grateful to Dr. Hang, who introduced me to a new interdisciplinary field and the transformative potential of satellite technology. Remote sensing provides unprecedented spatiotemporal detail, allowing us to uncover intricate connections between disease patterns and environmental exposures.” She added, "Being selected for this funding is not only a great honor but also a powerful affirmation of the value of this research direction. I am deeply thankful to my mentors, NASA, and UTHealth Houston for providing this opportunity to realize my dream."
Hang expressed enthusiasm for mentoring, stating, "Collaborating with students like Aodong has been truly rewarding. Their curiosity consistently inspires impressive achievements, including prestigious honors such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and NASA Future Investigator grants. They continually demonstrate that even in the early stages of their careers, students can significantly impact their fields. These experiences reinforce how fortunate we are to have the dedicated support of mentors, colleagues, and a nurturing academic community."
Hang remarked, “NASA’s unwavering commitment to supporting students has profoundly shaped my academic and professional journey over the past decade. I'm excited for the opportunity to inspire the next generation. I am deeply grateful to the mentors from my doctoral and postdoctoral training, whose guidance enabled me to meaningfully engage with students at UTHealth Houston. Additionally, I sincerely appreciate our department chair and center director, whose ongoing encouragement has significantly contributed to fostering a dynamic academic environment.”
Mei concluded, “With increasing access to high-quality data from medical and satellite systems, we are entering a transformative era of discovery. As a student deeply dedicated to this field, I am committed to fully utilizing these resources to address essential questions in environmental and public health.”
Hang will continue mentoring Mei, ensuring the project's success and alignment with NASA’s strategic objectives.