Institute of Health and Environment, Graduate School of Public Health Seoul National University Seoul, KOREA
Raised in a rich cultural environment in Atlanta, Georgia, Joshua Cole developed artistic and intellectual interests early on as a humanist and a scientist. At Boston University, Joshua pursued a dual degree in French studies and biochemistry and molecular biology. During summer 2013, he conducted research at the University of Pennsylvania where he characterized the effect of Flaxseeds on HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and the modulation of cell receptors vital to HIV entry. His results showed a reduction in HIV entry and oxidative stress in the brain, which may influence therapies for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
Joshua also interned with Act-Up Paris in 2012, which is the leading HIV/AIDS advocacy group in France that seeks to reduce the hardship of the AIDS pandemic. That same year, Joshua investigated malarial infection via Plasmodium Falciparum at Tufts University where he identified four novel parasite ligands, which may contribute to the basis of a multi-unit vaccine. In October 2012, he presented his research at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) where the American Physiological Society honored him with an award for his presentation. In addition to his research, Joshua also studied the mathematical modeling of HIV and influenza epidemics through the Outreach Conference created by the HSPH Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics.
Through these experiences, Joshua has learned about the socio-cultural norms, local realities, and developmental factors that affect health around the world, which has inspired him to pursue a career in assessing traditional medical systems and addressing global issues of infectious diseases, malnutrition, and health disparity. He is committed to improving the health of populations through integrative practices and policies, such as the integration of traditional and allopathic medicine.
As a humanist, Joshua has a natural inclination to learn languages.He enjoys speaking French, Spanish, and Portuguese and plans to learn Amharic and Arabic. He is a Gates Millennium Scholar as well as a Posse Scholar and mentor.
The placement for 2014-2015 Luce Scholar Josh Cole is at the Institute of Health and Environment of the Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) at Seoul National University. Seoul National University is the leading academic institution in Korea, and honors the ideals of liberal education and aims to teach students a lifelong love of learning that will form the basis for continuous personal growth. At the same time it is committed to preparing students to work and live in an increasingly competitive global environment. The mission of Graduate School of Public Health is dedicated to training current and future public health professionals who contribute to the nation’s health and wellbeing through research and practice. Also as a research institution, GSPH is committed to exerting continuing efforts to advance public health research to address health inequalities in our diversifying society. Within the GSPH are several research units under the Institute of Health and Environment, including the Center for Genome Epidemiology, Center for Economic Evaluation, and Center for Global Health Research.