This interview is part of a new series on Vida de PhD—a podcast hosted by Lorena Aceves, a research scientist at ChildTrends, that explores stories of impact at the intersection of research and people. In collaboration with Child Trends, this series aims to spotlight researchers whose work meaningfully supports youth, families, and communities. In this episode, Lorena interviews Dr. Andra Wilkinson, senior researchscientist at Child Trends, about her journey into research, her approach to impactful science, and her vision for the future of public health research.