Dr. Hahn’s research focuses on the intersection of climate change and human health, with an emphasis on understanding health impacts and developing practical, community-informed strategies for adaptation. Grounded in environmental epidemiology, her work combines quantitative analysis with partnerships across state and federal agencies, Tribal organizations, and communities to inform policy, planning, and practice.
A central feature of her work is its span across a “data-to-adaptation” continuum: building the data systems needed to understand environmental exposures, conducting epidemiologic analyses, and co-developing and evaluating adaptation strategies. In Alaska, many of the datasets and surveillance systems commonly used elsewhere do not exist or are incomplete, requiring the development of new data sources and exposure metrics before analyses can begin. As a result, her research represents the first assessments of climate-related health risks in the state, including wildfire smoke, extreme heat, and tick-borne diseases.
A key outcome of her work is the development of community-facing tools, guidance, and reports that support real-world decision-making. These include contributions to statewide surveillance efforts, climate and health assessments, and decision-support resources.
Prior to her current work in Alaska, Dr. Hahn’s research examined the ecological drivers of infectious disease across diverse global settings. During her postdoctoral training with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Vector-Borne Diseases and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), she studied Lyme disease ecology, modeled disease vectors, and contributed to seasonal prediction of West Nile virus. Her doctoral work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison focused on Nipah virus in Bangladesh and malaria in the Brazilian Amazon, while her Master of Public Health research at Emory University developed a Livelihood Vulnerability Index to support climate adaptation in Mozambique. This work established a foundation in environmental epidemiology, spatial modeling, and climate-sensitive health outcomes that continues to inform her current research.