Course Instructor
Pallavi Kache
Pallavi Kache holds both a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology and a Master's of Public Health in epidemiology from Columbia University. Her work as a disease ecologist examines how global changes like climate change affect the spread of infectious diseases. Pallavi recently served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer (i.e., “disease detective”) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), studying waterborne diseases. As part of her fellowship, she investigated how extreme rainfall events impact the risk of waterborne diseases for marginalized communities in the United States.
While at Columbia University, her dissertation focused on understanding how rising temperatures in the Andes Mountains contribute to increased risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. In 2019, she received a Fulbright fellowship to carry out research in Colombia, South America, where she conducted household surveys and mosquito sampling. She paired this on-the-ground data with meteorological data taken from weather stations and satellite imagery to develop statistical models and maps of disease risk for high-elevation cities experiencing warming temperatures.
Additionally, while at Columbia, Pallavi cultivated a strong interest in climate and environmental justice issues in NYC. During 2020–2022, she co-founded and co-directed the “Urban Ecology in the Heights” Program at Columbia University. The summer program worked with high school students to conduct community-based scientific research in Northern Manhattan. During the program, youth researchers conducted fieldwork to answer questions about the urban heat island effect, environmental justice, and the ecosystem services of urban forests. She hopes to examine the intersection of climate justice and emerging infectious disease research in the future. When she is not working, Pallavi can be found on hiking trails, exploring new restaurants and cafes, and wandering the halls of modern art museums.