Dr. Yi W.

Dr. Wang’s research investigates the health effects of environmental exposure and climate change on cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological outcomes, with a focus on vulnerable populations. With over 20 peer-reviewed publications, many of which as Lead Author, Dr. Wang’s work has been published in leading journals, including Environmental Health Perspectives, the American Journal of Epidemiology, and the Journal of the American Heart Association. He also has served as Principal Investigator on many projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the State Health Department, and private foundation endowments. Dr. Wang’s work has been cited and received media attention by the National Institutes of Health, the de Beaumont Foundation, IndyStar, Fox 59, WFYI Public Radio, and WFHB — Bloomington Community Radio.

Serving as a reviewer, judge, and conference panelist for over 15 years, Dr. Wang has served as a peer reviewer for major journals, including The Lancet Public Health, The Lancet Global Health, and Environmental Health Perspectives, and as an ad hoc grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health. He has presented his research at national and international forums over 30 times, including the EPA, various top US research universities, and the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) conferences, where he has also chaired symposia. His community-focused tools, such as the Multi-layer Data Community Action Tool (MDCAT), have been archived in the White House Climate Change Resilience Toolkit and informed local policy. As a result, he has received recognition, including the de Beaumont Foundation 40 Under 40 Award and the Indianapolis Mayor’s Outstanding Individual Advancing Sustainability Award.

A former tenured professor at the Indiana University School of Public Health, Dr. Wang taught multiple courses, including Environmental Epidemiology, Energy and Sustainability, Environmental Justice, Environmental Health Policy, Environmental Health Science in Public Health, and Energy, Climate Change, Resilience, and Health. Leveraging this experience, Dr. Wang has mentored undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers. Under his supervision, students have co-authored peer-reviewed publications, presented at national and international conferences, and advanced to roles in academia, government, and industry. Students Dr. Wang has coached have been accepted to Stanford, Johns Hopkins, UPenn, Purdue, and Rice, and gained employment at large and small US corporations and the EPA.

Beyond the lab, Dr. Wang is a serial entrepreneur and advisor, currently serving as the CEO and Co-Founder of health-tech startups and as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at NC Innovation. This unique blend of deep academic expertise, policy engagement, and practical business acumen allows him to mentor students not only on robust research methodology but also on how to envision the broader application and impact of their work.

With 20 years of mentorship experience, Dr. Wang has supported students in research spanning biochemistry and biomedical engineering to health economics and public health. He is committed to fostering the next generation of scientists and has guided many students through capstone projects, research assistantships, and co-authorships on peer-reviewed publications. He regularly works with students to develop independent research projects, strengthen their scientific portfolios, and prepare competitive applications. Currently, Dr. Wang teaches an eight-week Health Data Science Research Workshop to guide and mentor high school students to conduct and publish their own peer-reviewed research in peer-reviewed journals. As his ultimate goal and mission, Dr. Wang partners with aspiring students to design and execute compelling research projects, develop their unique academic narratives, and transform their scientific curiosity into powerful assets.

As a research mentor, Dr. Wang is flexible and supportive, guiding students through hypothesis development, study design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and final publication. He focuses on building both technical skills and scientific judgment, helping students articulate their research clearly and with impact. He is known for creating a "learn, teach, and share" environment that builds critical thinking and confidence.