2025 November Student Spotlight
Published on November 18, 2025
Payal Vedanayagam
Program: MPH, 1st-year
Hometown: Cedar Falls, IA
Field(s) of interest: Cancer and Rural Health
Quickfire Queries:
What’s a random fact about yoWhat is one self-care tip/trick that has helped you while in grad school?
I absolutely love cooking. I can’t wait to come back home most days to try a new recipe I found. This helps distract me from grad school and keeps me well fed.
What is something you are thankful for right now?
I’m thankful for all the people I’ve met and became friends with since starting grad school!
If you didn’t have to worry about money and couldn’t pursue Epidemiology, what would your dream career be?
I would have loved to have been a director, writer, and actress.
If you could have any superpower to help you succeed in grad school, what would it be and why?
Having a photographic memory would be pretty cool. I would love to just read and absorb all the information like a sponge.
Ranking must-haves for surviving grad school:
1.Dual computer screens
2. School-Work/Personal Life Boundaries
3. An understanding advisor
4. A good officemate
5. Caffeine
Congratulations on your election as the ESA First Year Representative for 2025-2026!
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