Stefani Baca-Atlas
Dr. Stefani N. Baca-Atlas is a T32 postdoctoral scholar in the Population Science Training Program at the Carolina Population Center. Building on her background in social work research, her postdoctoral training focuses on social epidemiology, violence, and aging. Under the mentorship of Drs. Chantel Martin and Lauren Gaydosh, her research investigates the social, environmental, and biological pathways through which multilevel stressors—including violence exposure, neighborhood disadvantage, and broader political contexts—contribute to chronic disease risk and accelerated epigenetic aging. Her work aims to clarify how stress is embodied across the life course to inform upstream strategies for disease prevention and promote improvements in population health.