About Dr. Diego F. Cuadros

Epidemiologist, Health Geographer, and Data Scientist

Dr. Diego F. Cuadros, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati

Co-Director, Digital Epidemiology Lab

Biography & Mission

Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, Dr. Diego F. Cuadros earned his B.Sc. in Biology from the National University of Colombia, followed by a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Kentucky. His doctoral research on HIV epidemiology in sub-Saharan Africa cultivated his passion for quantitative epidemiology and health geography.

Dr. Cuadros's mission is to bridge academic rigor with real-world impact. He uses interdisciplinary approaches that connect geography, epidemiology, and computational methods to address global health issues, translating complex data into actionable insights for policymakers and the public.

Research Pillars

Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Pioneering research on HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and Hepatitis C, focusing on co-infections, transmission dynamics, and intervention strategies in high-risk populations.

HIV/AIDS

COVID-19

HCV

Pandemics

Health Geography & Spatial Epidemiology

Utilizing GIS and spatial analysis to map disease hotspots, uncover environmental/social determinants of health, and analyze geographic disparities in healthcare access.

GIS

Hotspot Analysis

Health Disparities

Digital Epidemiology & Data Science

Leveraging large datasets, computational models, and high-performance computing to simulate epidemic trajectories and predict health outcomes under various scenarios.

Disease Modeling

Data Science

AI/ML

Substance Use Epidemiology

Analyzing the spatial and temporal evolution of the U.S. opioid crisis, identifying demographic shifts and geographic drivers to inform targeted public health interventions.

Opioid Crisis

SUD

Public Health

Career Trajectory

2021–Present

Associate Professor

University of Cincinnati

Leading research in digital epidemiology and mentoring the next generation of spatial health scientists.

c. 2021–Present

Co-Director, Digital Epidemiology Lab

UC Digital Futures

Bridging geography, public health, and data science to tackle complex health challenges.

2016–2021

Assistant Professor

University of Cincinnati, Dept. of Geography & GIS

Established the Health Geography and Disease Modeling Lab, laying the foundation for current research.

2015

Research Scientist

Africa Centre for Population Health, South Africa

Investigated geographic drivers of HIV spread in KwaZulu-Natal, refining methods for hotspot mapping.

c. 2015

Consultant

The World Bank

Contributed modeling expertise to evaluate and improve HIV resource allocation tools for health policy.

2012–2014

Postdoctoral Fellow

Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar

Examined spatial patterns of HIV and Hepatitis C, honing skills in advanced spatial statistics and GIS.

–2012

Ph.D. in Biology

University of Kentucky

Doctoral dissertation on the epidemiological impact of co-infections on HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa.

B.Sc. in Biology

National University of Colombia

Foundation in biological sciences that sparked an interest in ecology and quantitative science.

Technical Expertise

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Spatial Statistics & Modeling

Mathematical & Computational Epidemiology

Data Science & High-Performance Computing

Global Research Footprint

My research spans five continents, involving over a dozen institutions and data partnerships. This interactive map highlights key projects where I've applied spatial science, modeling, and AI to solve real-world public health challenges—from HIV hotspots in southern Africa to predictive dashboards in U.S. urban centers.

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