Girasoles Study Team

Assistant Professor
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
A former doctoral student, Dr. Mutic currently directs the R4 Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit at Emory University. Her research focuses on environmental exposures and pediatric asthma.

A former postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Mix is currently an ORISE Research Fellow in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control studying HPV-related cancers.

A former doctoral student and postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Mac is currently an epidemic intelligence service officer for the Centers for Disease Control.

Assistant Professor
Certified Midwife

Carin Molchan, is a first-year doctoral student at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University. She recently joined the Girasoles research team, and is engaging in all aspects of the research process while completing her first two years of coursework.

“This work matters to me because I am passionate about sustainable and just food systems, from growing to consumer purchasing, and farmworkers are an essential component of that system. To understand the concerns of this community, and to have the opportunity to work collaboratively towards innovative solutions that address those issues, is a dream come true.”

When Carin is not working with the Girasoles team, she enjoys all the diversions that the great outdoors offers! Whether it's camping, hiking, climbing, or fishing, she prefers to be outside.

Adriana is a first year graduate student at Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University obtaining her MPH in Environmental Health and Epidemiology. Her role as a graduate student intern includes creating health education material in Spanish from previous manuscript publications to present to farmworker populations, as well as laboratory work.

“This work matters to me because environmental and occupational health hazards disproportionately impact marginalized populations, and I resonate with Girasoles goals of addressing these gaps through advocacy and promoting educational interventions in order to improve outcomes.”

When Adriana is not working with the Girasoles team, she enjoys watching movies, exploring the city, and trying new places to eat.

Roy is a second year undergraduate student at Emory studying Quantitative Sciences with a concentration in Economics and a double major in Human Health. He is currently a student researcher as a part of Emory’s Scholarly Inquiry and Research Experience (SIRE) program, investigating retention rates among the Girasoles sample population.

“This work matters to me as there are insufficient labor protection laws, especially for immigrants who are an extremely vulnerable and marginalized group. By being a part of the Girasoles group, I can have the chance to improve the working conditions of immigrants and help them not only survive, but thrive.”

When Roy is not working with the Girasoles team, he enjoys swimming, playing trombone and piano, and trying new foods.

Ioana is a Junior in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing pursuing a Bachelor in Science of Nursing on the traditional BSN pathway. Her role includes researching the health factors that impact retention rates in agricultural workers participating in a longitudinal study. This research is conducted alongside Dr. Chicas, Dr. Elon and Roy Chang. “This work matters to me because healthcare is a human right and advocating to repair an existing gap in the healthcare sector can only be done once there is research to back it up.” When Ioana is not working with the Girasoles team, she enjoys exploring the diverse food Atlanta has to offer in her free time.

Farmworker Association of Florida (FWAF)

General Coordinator
Community Principle Investigator

Farmworker Association of Florida (FWAF)

Health and Safety Coordinator

University of Florida

Joan Flocks, JD
Co-Investigator
Professor
University of Florida Levin College of Law