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Dr. Rajesh Melaram - Bio
Rajesh Melaram
Principal Investigator - Epidemiology
Dr. Rajesh Melaram is an epidemiologist and received his training at the University of Memphis School of Public Health. He earned his PhD in Public Health from Walden University and his MS and BS in Cell & Molecular Biology from the University of South Florida. Dr. Melaram is also a licensed Molecular Diagnostics Technologist by the state of Florida and is provisionally certified by the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB). His research interests include pollen and air pollution (PAP) exposures of childhood allergic diseases, PAP-induced DNA methylation changes, and the human health impacts of freshwater cyanobacterial blooms.
“To be a global leader in environmental and public health innovation, transforming scientific discoveries into actionable solutions that sustain ecosystems, promote health equity, and mitigate environmental risks through data-driven insights and interdisciplinary collaboration.”
— Our Vision at Melaram Lab
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Core Team

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Donald E. Warden Bio
Donald E. Warden
Biostatistician
Dr. Donald E. Warden is a biostatistician and earned his PhD and MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Memphis. His dissertation examined the roles of DNA methylation and parental history on wheeze trajectories in children. He also holds an a BS with Honors designation in Biology from Oglethorpe University. Dr. Warden specializes in respiratory epidemiology and epigenetic mechanisms, contributing advanced biostatistical expertise to investigate environmental exposures and childhood allergic diseases.

Collaborators

Dr. Amanda Rose Newton is an accomplished specialist in sustainable agriculture, dedicated to combating climate change and food insecurity through innovative agricultural practices. She holds a PhD in STEM Education from Florida Institute of Technology, along with MS degrees in Agronomy, Entomology, and Plant Health Management from the University of Iowa, University of Nebraska, and Ohio State University, respectively.

Dr. Jon Roberts is a pediatric pulmonologist and the medical director of pediatric pulmonology and respiratory therapy at Driscoll Children's Hospital, dedicated to advancing childhood respiratory care in South TX. He earned his medical degree from NY Medical College, completed his pediatric residency and pulmonology fellowship at Winthrop University Hospital, and has since focused on establishing the region's first cystic fibrosis center.

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Justin Ramsaran Bio
Justin Ramsaran
Biomedical Engineer
Dr. Justin Ramsaran is a biomedical engineer and digital health entrepreneur with a DBA from New York University and an MBA in Cybersecurity from Florida Institute of Technology. He serves dual leadership roles as CEO of R Group, a healthcare technology company, and VP of Digital Health Solutions at Fukuda Denshi. At R Group, he develops next-generation clinical data systems that revolutionize medical device connectivity and clinical workflows. His expertise spans biomedical engineering, cybersecurity, and AI-driven healthcare solutions, focusing on creating interoperability platforms that enhance clinical decision-making.
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Community & Industry Partners

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Aidan Meyers Bio
Aidan Meyers
Logistics Data Analyst
Aidan Meyers is pursuing a B.A. in Chemistry and Psychology with a Neuroscience minor at Rollins College, where he maintains a 4.0 GPA as a full-ride Alfond Scholar. As co-founder and CEO of Affordable Tutoring Solutions Inc., he has built a successful educational enterprise from the ground up. At Melaram Lab, Aidan oversees the project management system, creates QC frameworks and databases, aids web development and graphics design, and improves AI integration into workflows. His research focus areas include air pollutant exposure-induced epigenetic changes and cyanobacterial applications in agriculture.  
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Dr. Lei Jin is a statistician and data scientist. He earned his PhD in Statistics from Texas A&M University. His research areas include time series analysis, missing data inference, computational methods, applied statistics, and the application of statistics and machine learning methods to various problems, including asthma disparities.

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Manasa Kuchavaram is a geospatial systems engineer specializing in spatial databases, GIS, and data visualization. She holds an M.S. in Geospatial Systems Engineering from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and a B.E. in Computer Science from Osmania University. Her expertise includes spatial analysis, interactive dashboard development, and WebGIS platforms.

Dr. Allison-Hoien serves as the Collaborative Research Advisor for the Global Institute for Hispanic Health (GIHH), a joint initiative dedicated to eliminating pediatric health disparities through clinician-researcher collaborations. She holds a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania, where she focused on pediatric biomechanics and injury prevention, along with her MD from UCLA and an academic appointment with the Texas A&M School of Medicine.