Jessie Ko will graduate with a PhD in Epidemiology on June 15 in the Bren Events Center.
What is your favorite memory at UCI?
It’s funny – my most vivid and meaningful memory of UCI actually happened before I became a student here. In 2018, three years before starting my PhD, I was visiting my sister in Orange County from Hong Kong. One evening, I went for a drive, got lost, and happened to exit at UCI. I remember passing the stone wall that reads “University of California, Irvine,” then driving through the research park and campus. I found myself wondering what it would feel like to be a student here, at a time when graduate school wasn’t even on my radar.
Three years later, I returned as a PhD student. That moment has stayed with me—it still feels a little surreal, and it remains my favorite, most wondrous UCI memory.
What are your plans after graduation?
With a background in public relations and training in epidemiology, I hope to work at the intersection of rigorous scientific research and real-world decision-making. I’m especially drawn to roles where I can engage with people and help translate evidence into insights that inform policy, strategy, and practice. I haven’t settled on a specific role yet, but this feels like a direction that aligns with what I want to do.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself serving as a bridge between scientific communities that uphold rigorous evidence and the people and organizations working to translate those ideas into real-world impact.
Alongside that, I hope to create opportunities that make scientific paths feel more accessible, especially for underserved children and youths. I didn’t always realize that becoming a scientist was within reach. It can feel like a distant or exclusive path, but it doesn’t require being a genius. At its core, it asks for curiosity and perseverance – both of which can be nurtured and developed. Helping make that possibility more visible is something I hope to contribute to.
Who was your biggest influence at UCI?
Rather than one individual, I would say my peers have been my greatest influence. Over the past five years, I’ve been surrounded by people who are not only incredibly hardworking and talented but also open-minded, grounded, and generous.
Being part of that community has shaped how I think, work, and collaborate in ways that no single person could have.
What do you know now that you wish you had known before coming to UCI?
That there is no single formula for success. Even in a field as structured as academia, there are many ways to carve out a meaningful path.
Through my years at UCI, I’ve learned that what matters most is understanding your own strengths – your “edge” – and staying connected to your reasons for doing the work. I believe once you find that clarity, the rest tends to follow.
What are your hobbies or interests?
I’m into all things aesthetic, interiors, and reading for fun. The past few years I’ve really enjoyed spending time in beautiful places around Orange County, especially the public libraries here. I can’t say enough about them—the architecture, the atmosphere, the personality each one has.
Some of my favorites are the Donald Dungan Library and the Laguna Beach Library. I could easily spend an entire day there, whether working or just getting lost in a psychological thriller.