By Fabiha Saddat, Research Team Member
Dr. Maimuna (Maia) Majumder has recently emerged as a leading luminary in computational epidemiology and public health. Her career, characterized by an extraordinary personal drive and academic achievement, is a source of inspiration for future generations, especially for women pursuing careers in STEMM.
Early Inspiration and Academic Foundations
Dr. Majumder's interest in public health started with a book about diseases in water, a poignant reminder of the annual cholera epidemics ravaging her homeland, Bangladesh. This connection led her to work in a hospital in Bangladesh during her college years, where she actively fought against these diseases. These early experiences were crucial in shaping her enduring commitment to the field of public health.
Her academic journey is equally impressive, with a Bachelor of Science degree from Tufts University in engineering, followed by a Master of Public Health from the same institution. Dr. Majumder then advanced her education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), earning both her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in systems engineering. Under the supervision of Richard Larson, her thesis work delved into modeling disease transmission dynamics, offering policy recommendations to improve public health responses.
Pioneering Computational Epidemiology
Dr. Majumder’s most significant contributions lie in the field of computational epidemiology. Her work at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital highlights her ability to use math to study how diseases spread over different times and places. This expertise proved crucial in her contributions to understanding the COVID-19 pandemic, where she made early estimates of the infection's basic reproduction number and emphasized the need for clarity in COVID-19 statistics.
Her innovative approach extends to using non-traditional sources like local media reports, Google searches, and social media posts for digital disease detection. This method has immense potential in identifying outbreaks early, enabling swifter responses that could prevent global pandemics.
A Multi-Faceted Talent
Beyond her scientific achievements, Dr. Majumder is an Assistant Professor and Inaugural Peter Szolovits Distinguished Scholar in the Computational Health Informatics Program at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital. Her research applies artificial intelligence & machine learning to public health problems, focusing on infectious disease surveillance.
Her talents aren't confined to the lab; Dr. Majumder is also an artist and a writer, balancing her scientific pursuits with creative endeavors like painting, music, and storytelling. Her first novel, "The Gunpowder Doctress," highlights her multifaceted personality and diverse interests.
Impact and Advocacy
Dr. Majumder’s work extends beyond research and academia. She advocates for the importance of preprints in quickly disseminating information during public health crises and stresses the value of local news as a resource for disease forecasting. Her voice is crucial in shaping global discourse on public health strategies and responses.
Dr. Majumder's story is a testament to the power of passion, innovation, and resilience in pursuing a better future for public health and science. Her contributions and approach to public health issues make her a role model for aspiring scientists worldwide.