Thoai D. Ngo, PhD, MHS

Dr. Thoai Ngo is an internationally recognized scientist working at the intersections of global public health, population dynamics, gender equality, and sustainable development. As an interdisciplinary scholar, Thoai has a longstanding interest in utilizing methods from epidemiology, demography, sociology, economics, and data science to address complex population and global health challenges.

Thoai has led international research collaborations to understand trends and develop solutions that improve health and social outcomes in areas such as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), mental health, adolescent health and well-being, gender equity and norms, and population dynamics and mega-trends. His work has been widely cited and utilized in amicus briefs, parliamentary briefings, national policies, and guidelines from the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO). He also advises on research and policy agenda-setting on health and development issues for multilateral and bilateral donors, private foundations, universities, UN agencies, the WHO, and governments worldwide.

Before joining Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Thoai held senior research leadership and executive roles at prominent international research institutions and nonprofits, addressing a wide range of global health and development issues. He served as Vice President for Social and Behavioral Science Research (SBSR) at the Population Council, where he led a global team of interdisciplinary scientists to advance SRHR, health and well-being for young people and marginalized populations, education, gender equity, and climate justice across 30 countries. At the Population Council, he founded the Girl Innovation, Research, and Learning (GIRL) Center - a global innovation hub that fosters interdisciplinary research collaboration aimed at improving the health and well-being of the 1.8 billion youth worldwide. In 2018, Thoai conceptualized and launched the Adolescent Data Hub – a unique global portal for sharing and accessing data on adolescents living in low- and middle-income countries, used by thousands of researchers worldwide.

Prior to the Council, Thoai was the Vice President and Senior Director of Research at Innovation for Poverty Action, directing a team of 500 research staff in conducting over 250 impact evaluations of poverty alleviation programs and policies in 18 countries. He also served as the Head of Global Research at MSI Reproductive Choices, a nonprofit providing SRH services in 37 countries, where he established its international research department. Additionally, he was a researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a research fellow at the National Institutes of Health.