Ka-Yuet Liu

Associate Professor

My research applies data science methods to epidemiological questions. My test cases include suicide contagion, the autism epidemic, vaccine refusals, premature deaths among undocumented immigrants, and elective birth deliveries. My research has been supported by grants from the National Institute of Health and appeared in the American Journal of Sociology, Demography, Social Forces, International Journal of Epidemiology, American Journal of Public Health, and other journals.

My CV
My website

Degrees

D.Phil., University of Oxford

M.Phil., University of Oxford

B.Soc. Sci., University of Hong Kong

Awards

Eliot Freidson Outstanding Publication Award, American Sociological Association, Medical Sociology Section, 2011

JK Swire Memorial Scholarship, full D.Phil. Scholarship, 2004-2006

Swire & Cathay Scholarship, full M.Phil. Scholarship, 2000-2002

Grants

NIHCD-R01. "Obstetrics Interventions, Neonatal Health, and Child Development". Role: Co-Investigator. Principal Investigators: Julien Teitler (Columbia) and Nancy Reichman (Rutgers). 9/11/2017-5/31/2021. UCLA direct and indirect costs: USD$438,388; total direct and indirect costs: USD$1,345,228.

California Center for Population Research Seed grant (US$16,167).“Estimating the Mortality Rates of Unauthorized Mexican Immigrants in California” role: Principle Investigator. 5/1/2015- 4/30/2016

UCLA Hellman Fellows award (US$24,253). “Diffusion of Non-Medical Exemptions to School Vaccine Requirements in California, 1992-2011” Principle Investigator.7/1/2014-8/30/2016

NIMH-R21 (MH100514-01A1. UCLA direct cost: $113,436; total direct cost US$275,000). “The Spread of Autism Diagnosis through Spatially Embedded Social Networks” Principle Investigator (with Peter Bearman). 1/1/2014-12/31/2016

Selected Publications

Gromis, A. & Liu Ka Y. (2020). The emergence of spatial clustering in medical vaccine exemptions following California Senate Bill 277, 2015-2018. American Journal of Public Health, 110, 1084-1091 [link]

Gromis, A. & Liu Ka Y. (2018). The Roles of Autism Prevalence and Neighborhood Composition on Vaccination Exemption Pockets: A Population-wide Study. Vaccine 36(46): 7064-7071 [link]

Liu, Ka Y, Bearman, PS (2015). Focal points, endogenous processes and exogenous shocks in the autism epidemic. Sociological Methods and Research, 44(2) 272-305 [link]

Liu Ka Y, King M, Bearman P (2010). Social influence and the autism epidemic. American Journal of Sociology 115(5):1389-434 [link]

Liu Ka Y, Zerubavel N, Bearman P (2010). Social demographic change and autism. Demography 47(2):327-343 [link]

Hedström, P, Liu, Ka Y, Nordvik, M.(2008) Interaction domains and suicides: A population-based panel study of suicides in Stockholm, 1991-1999. Social Forces 87(2):713-740 [link]

Liu Ka Y, Beautrais A, Caine E, et al. (2007). Charcoal burning suicides in Hong Kong and urban Taiwan – An illustration of the impact of a novel method of suicide on overall regional rates.Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 61:248-53 [link]

Liu Ka Y, Chen E, Chan C et al. (2006). Socio-economic and psychological correlates of suicidality among Hong Kong working-age adults: results from a population-based survey. Psychological Medicine 36: 1759-68. [link]