When Jacob Scioli began his undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, he imagined a future in medicine. But as he explored new opportunities, first in research and later at his local health department, he discovered a deeper interest in connecting science with community.
That realization eventually led him to the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, where he is now pursuing a Master of Public Health degree in infectious diseases and microbiology.
“I fell in love with research,” Scioli recalls. “But I also loved working directly with people. I realized there’s often a big gap between what researchers know and what the public understands, and I wanted to help bridge that.”
His interest in public health took shape during an internship at his county health department, where he worked on a youth vaping prevention grant. Scioli and his team visited schools and after-school programs to talk with students about the risks of e-cigarettes. “One boy told me there had been a fire at his school because a vape exploded in a trash can,” he says. “Hearing stories like that made me realize how important it is to connect science with real lives.”
When he first arrived at Pitt, Scioli enrolled in the master’s program in infectious disease pathogenesis, eradication, and laboratory practice, drawn to its strong laboratory foundation. As he progressed, he realized he wanted to expand his focus beyond the bench to include population health and community engagement. That led him to switch to the program in infectious disease management, intervention, and community practice, which combines the science of infectious diseases with hands-on public health application.
“At other schools, I felt like I’d have to pick one path, either lab science or epidemiology,” he says. “At Pitt, I get to do both. One hour I’m learning immunology, and the next I’m taking a course on how to communicate scientific information clearly and effectively. That flexibility was exactly what I was looking for.”
Scioli’s work in the lab of UPMC Children’s Hospital physician Dr. Glenn Rapsinski has deepened his understanding of how research can inform real-world health outcomes. His current project uses genomic technology to identify and track hospital-acquired infections, work that could one day help communities detect and prevent outbreaks in real time.
“I think technology like this has incredible potential beyond hospitals,” he says. “Imagine using genomic data and AI to monitor infections across a city or state. That’s precision public health in action.”
For Scioli, the collaborative spirit of Pitt and Pittsburgh itself has been one of the biggest surprises. “Opportunities are everywhere here,” he says. “There’s collaboration around every corner, between the School of Public Health, UPMC and all the research happening across campus. It’s an amazing environment to learn and grow.”
Looking ahead, Scioli hopes to combine his training in infectious diseases and data-driven public health with a medical degree. “I love science,” he says, “but I also love people. My goal is to use what I learn to make a real difference in how communities understand and manage their health.
-Clare Collins