Rochelle Sun

I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Government at Harvard University, where I also hold affiliations with the Center for American Politics, the Institute for Quantitative Social Science, and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. My research evaluates the role of healthcare provision in diplomatic relations, governance, and conflict. Additionally, I support research on optimizing HIV care services in settings of conflict and instability through my work with the GHESKIO centers in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Prior to my graduate studies, I worked as a health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) analyst specializing in cost-effectiveness modeling and indirect treatment comparisons. I have also had the opportunity to support research at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. I received my bachelor's in Political Science and Health Policy from the University of Rochester. I am a member of the Board+ for the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) and GHESKIO.

My dissertation project analyzes the role of healthcare as a strategic resource in conflict and development. One of my projects aims to identify the conditions under which combatants target healthcare resources with violence, particularly when such resources provide value for members or supporters of the perpetrating group. A second project attempts to evaluate the long-term political and economic impacts of partisan shocks to foreign aid delivery in recipient countries. By integrating insights from political economy, conflict studies, and global health, my research agenda hopes to delineate the pathways through which healthcare provision shapes politics and power dynamics, particularly in low-resource settings.

Highlights of my HEOR experience include cost-effectiveness analyses of anti-obesity medications and population modeling to estimate the impact of novel cell therapies on reducing racial disparities among patients indicated for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Other projects include matching-adjusted indirect treatment comparisons, network meta-analyses, patient surveys, and physician chart reviews.

Through my partnerships with global health non-profits, I have also had the opportunity to work on data analysis for NIH-funded clinical trials on HIV and tuberculosis research in Haiti, impact modeling for large-scale COVID-19 contact tracing programs in Massachusetts, and program development and evaluation to improve global health service provision.

As a first-generation American, my path was shaped by many individuals who went out of their way to offer me support and guidance over the years. I am committed to building more bridges for other young researchers from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds. Please reach out over email if I can be of support.