Julie A. Gonzalez

Julie A. Gonzalez is an Environmental Justice Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Environment, Community, & Equity. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Demography from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her doctoral research explored the complex relationships between air pollution, maximum air temperature, and mortality rates from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases across the United States between 2010 and 2019. Using Negative Binomial Generalized Linear Models, her dissertation provided insights into the temporal and geographical variations affecting health outcomes, with a particular focus on how these are influenced by sociodemographic factors.

Gonzalez’s research interests include demographic analysis, spatial demography, and the intersections between the environment and population health. She is interested in understanding how climate change impacts various communities, with a special focus on issues of equity and environmental justice. Her work employs a multidisciplinary approach to address the pressing public health challenges posed by environmental factors such as air pollution and climate-induced temperature variations.

Julie uses R, a robust coding software, for advanced statistical analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), applying a coding-based approach to spatial analysis. She leverages R for tasks such as data display, map creation, geocoding, and vector and raster analysis, integrating complex spatial and demographic data to uncover insights into population dynamics and environmental impacts. Julie also uses R for spatial statistics and point pattern analysis, further enhancing her ability to analyze spatial relationships. With expertise in developing R Shiny dashboards, she creates interactive data visualizations that facilitate comprehensive analysis and research.