Kate Johnson

Assistant Professor

Research Classification

Research Interests

Health economics
Health outcomes
Epidemiology

Relevant Thesis-Based Degree Programs

Affiliations to Research Centres, Institutes & Clusters

Research Options

I am available and interested in collaborations (e.g. clusters, grants).
I am interested in and conduct interdisciplinary research.
I am interested in working with undergraduate students on research projects.
 
 

Research Methodology

cost effectiveness analysis
disease simulation modeling
observational studies

Recruitment

Master's students
Doctoral students
Postdoctoral Fellows
2025

I am looking for graduate students (MSc or PhD) to contribute to the development of the Lifetime Exposures and Asthma outcomes Projection (LEAP) model. LEAP is a whole disease model of asthma in Canada, which is currently being developed to evaluate the impact of climate change-related increases in air pollution and the value of climate-adaptation measures. This project has been supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Health Research BC, and aims to evaluate policies for prevention and early intervention for childhood and adult asthma in terms of their long-term impacts on health outcomes and their ‘value-for-money’ potential. Students working on this project will gain valuable skills in programming, disease modelling, and health economics, which will prepare them for careers as health economics and outcomes researchers in industry and academia.

The candidate will contribute to methodological aspects of disease model development, such as programming in Python and R, statistical analysis of clinical data sources, and model calibration, as well as develop excellent skills in science communication through presentations and writing. The candidate will have a quantitative background where they have developed computer science skills (ie. mathematics, statistics, computer science, epidemiology, or economics). Please contact Kate Johnson (kate.johnson@ubc.ca) with a copy of your CV, a summary of your skills and description of your interests.

Complete these steps before you reach out to a faculty member!

Check requirements
  • Familiarize yourself with program requirements. You want to learn as much as possible from the information available to you before you reach out to a faculty member. Be sure to visit the graduate degree program listing and program-specific websites.
  • Check whether the program requires you to seek commitment from a supervisor prior to submitting an application. For some programs this is an essential step while others match successful applicants with faculty members within the first year of study. This is either indicated in the program profile under "Admission Information & Requirements" - "Prepare Application" - "Supervision" or on the program website.
Focus your search
  • Identify specific faculty members who are conducting research in your specific area of interest.
  • Establish that your research interests align with the faculty member’s research interests.
    • Read up on the faculty members in the program and the research being conducted in the department.
    • Familiarize yourself with their work, read their recent publications and past theses/dissertations that they supervised. Be certain that their research is indeed what you are hoping to study.
Make a good impression
  • Compose an error-free and grammatically correct email addressed to your specifically targeted faculty member, and remember to use their correct titles.
    • Do not send non-specific, mass emails to everyone in the department hoping for a match.
    • Address the faculty members by name. Your contact should be genuine rather than generic.
  • Include a brief outline of your academic background, why you are interested in working with the faculty member, and what experience you could bring to the department. The supervision enquiry form guides you with targeted questions. Ensure to craft compelling answers to these questions.
  • Highlight your achievements and why you are a top student. Faculty members receive dozens of requests from prospective students and you may have less than 30 seconds to pique someone’s interest.
  • Demonstrate that you are familiar with their research:
    • Convey the specific ways you are a good fit for the program.
    • Convey the specific ways the program/lab/faculty member is a good fit for the research you are interested in/already conducting.
  • Be enthusiastic, but don’t overdo it.
Attend an information session

G+PS regularly provides virtual sessions that focus on admission requirements and procedures and tips how to improve your application.

 

ADVICE AND INSIGHTS FROM UBC FACULTY ON REACHING OUT TO SUPERVISORS

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a potential thesis supervisor.

 
 

If this is your researcher profile you can log in to the Faculty & Staff portal to update your details and provide recruitment preferences.

 
 

Planning to do a research degree? Use our expert search to find a potential supervisor!