Dr. Arielle Scoglio’s journey through Northeastern University’s Population Health PhD program exemplifies the transformative power of interdisciplinary education and mentorship. Today, as an Assistant Professor of Health Studies at Bentley University and recipient of the Outstanding Scholarly Contribution Award, Dr. Scoglio credits her success to the unique strengths of the Pop Health program at Bouvé College.
A Foundation Built on Flexibility and Excellence
What initially drew Dr. Scoglio to Northeastern was the program’s celebration of multiple disciplines and its promise of specialized, tailored education. “The Pop Health program really delivered on this,” she reflects, describing how she was given freedom to explore her own research questions while being encouraged to collaborate with faculty spanning multiple disciplines.
Her academic journey was marked by particularly impactful experiences, including a memorable social epidemiology course with Dr. Carmel Salhi. The laptop-free environment fostered deep engagement with complex readings and peer discussions that shaped her identity as a social epidemiologist. This meaningful connection led to co-authoring two peer-reviewed publications with Professor Salhi.
Mentorship That Transforms Careers
The program’s approach to research mentorship proved invaluable to Dr. Scoglio’s development. Working with multiple faculty members exposed her to different methodologies and approaches to scientific writing. Under Dr. Molnar’s guidance, she developed expertise in qualitative research methods, becoming sought after for training and consultation work. Dr. Molnar’s expertise in vicarious traumatization also provided crucial support as Dr. Scoglio navigated research focused on violence, abuse, and trauma—skills that have proven “priceless” in preventing burnout while conducting sensitive research.
On the quantitative side, courses with Dr. Griffith helped her truly master biostatistics and data management. The program’s encouragement to teach an introductory biostatistics course to undergraduates further solidified her methodological skills and prepared her for her future role as an educator.
Building Lasting Community
The program fostered deep connections among students, with Dr. Scoglio forming lasting friendships with two of her cohort members. Together, they pursued their shared interest in teaching, partnering with CATLR and beloved faculty to build programmatic structures supporting PhD students interested in pedagogical training. Their collaborative spirit extended to organizing writing retreat weekends for dissertation support—a tradition they continue annually, now supporting each other through career milestones and life changes.
Post-Graduation Success
After completing her PhD, Dr. Scoglio pursued a one-year post-doctoral fellowship in psychiatric epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health under Dr. Karestan Koenen’s mentorship. She maintains an ongoing collaboration and unpaid affiliation as a Visiting Scientist at Harvard.
In Fall 2022, she joined Bentley University as an Assistant Professor of Health Studies, where she teaches undergraduate courses including Global Health Challenges and Health Risk and Prevention. She has established the TIGER lab, where she supervises undergraduate students and graduate students from other institutions in research projects examining violence, trauma, and their health impacts across diverse populations.
Her research excellence was recently recognized with Bentley University’s Outstanding Scholarly Contribution Award for a study published with Harvard co-authors in JAMA Network Open.
A Lasting Testament to Support
Perhaps no moment better captures the program’s supportive culture than Dr. Scoglio’s graduation ceremony in September 2021. With her three-month-old daughter strapped to her chest, she approached the stage where Dr. Molnar hooded her. A photographer captured this powerful image, which both women now display in their offices—a reminder, as Dr. Scoglio notes, “of what is possible when women are supported.”
Dr. Scoglio’s trajectory from PhD student to accomplished academic researcher and educator demonstrates the Population Health program’s success in preparing graduates for impactful careers in public health. Her story illustrates how the program’s emphasis on flexibility, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strong mentorship creates the foundation for lifelong success and meaningful contributions to population health research and education.
