The College of Public Health and Health Professions has recently named two faculty members to associate dean positions.

Mattia Prosperi, Ph.D., has been appointed to a new leadership role within the college, associate dean for artificial intelligence and innovation.

Prosperi is a professor in the department of epidemiology and director of the Data Intelligence Systems Lab. His expertise includes data science at large, artificial intelligence and causal machine learning, with a focus on the domains of bio-health informatics and epidemiology. His research leverages technology and data intelligence to develop “interventional AI” models for improving future health and lives. He is an advocate for increased diversity and inclusion in AI research, and the ethical use of AI in health studies so that findings are accurate, fair and do not cause unintended harm.

Prosperi will work collaboratively with the associate deans for research and education and the department chairs to expand PHHP’s AI efforts in the areas of research, teaching and commercialization.

Adam Woods, Ph.D., succeeds Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H., as the associate dean for research.

A member of the UF faculty since 2013, Woods is an associate professor in the college’s department of clinical and health psychology where he has also served as associate chair for research. He is the associate director of the Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory in the UF McKnight Brain Institute. His research focuses on discovery and application of novel non-invasive interventions for enhancing cognitive function in older adults, including those with neurodegenerative disease. Over the past five years, he has established one of the largest and most well-funded neuromodulation laboratories in the United States.

As associate dean for research, Woods will focus on the development of junior faculty, and building college-level programs and resources.