Elham Ali, MPH, PMP🇺🇸
Researcher, The Opportunity Project for Cities at Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation
About Elham Ali, MPH, PMP
Researcher, The Opportunity Project for Cities at Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation
Hi, I’m Elham 👋🏽 I’m a mixed-method UX researcher and data scientist with a decade of experience in qualitative and quantitative research, data analysis, program evaluation, human-centered design, and project management in public health and civic tech. I'm a doctoral student (DrPH) at Johns Hopkins University, focusing on using data science to advance equitable, sustainable food systems.
I help local and state governments, public health agencies, startups, and civic tech groups learn user behavior insights through evidence-based quantitative and qualitative design research and build equity-focused, actionable data products—from maps and dashboards to case studies—so they can make informed and impactful decisions that improve the lives of their communities.
📚 I like to make learning enjoyable and accessible, specializing in career transitions, interviewing, and portfolio review. My teaching uses interactive methods, the teach-back approach, sketchnoting, and relatable examples to cater to diverse learning styles. My students range from research and data science novices to career-transitioning professionals, from recent graduates to experienced individuals seeking enhanced quantitative skills.
A little more about me: I was the founder of Jumana Design (DBA Elham Ali Consultancy), a participatory experience research studio working to advance equity in public service delivery, and former Lead Human-centered Design Advisor at Pima County Health Department. Previously, I launched equity research practices and supported over 13 government partners during COVID-19 crisis response, at US Digital Response, a nonprofit that activates highly-skilled technologists to governments to support the immediate needs of the public. I am a member of DataKind, Statisticians without Borders, Design Justice Network, Technologists for Public Good, and Climate Action Tech.
📈 Areas of focus: Data equity and justice, qualitative and quantitative UX research, survey design, experimentation, data analysis, causal inference, predictive modeling, geospatial mapping, and data visualization/storytelling. Interested in advanced machine learning techniques and equitable GenAI for business automation.
Expertise
Sessions with Elham Ali, MPH, PMP
- Mentorship Session (30 min): General mentorship
What mentees say
“My session with Elham was very productive. I was surprised by how much I learned in such a short amount of time. Elham and I mainly discussed my job search strategy, and she walked me through how to diagnose where I'm experiencing blockers in my search. We also discussed how I can better articulate myself in interviews and align my experience to a position.”
“We had a really helpful and productive conversation about how to get started as a mixed methods researcher. Elham provided useful and practical strategies, as well as several resources. She was very approachable and a delight to converse with.”
“Had a great session with Elham today. It's clear that she is highly knowledgeable and passionate about UX research strategies and applications, and she gave helpful suggestions for my healthcare startup's research needs. Thank you Elham for your positivity and encouragement!”