Barboza-Salerno Law Group LLC
Attorney. Researcher. Advocate.
I am a lawyer and interdisciplinary researcher with expertise in law, political methodology, statistics, public health, and social work. My work focuses on addressing systemic injustice by applying advanced spatial and geostatistical methods. I translate data on environmental and structural exposures into actionable legal and policy insights.
About Me
My name is Gia E. Barboza-Salerno, an attorney, researcher, and advocate working at the intersection of science, technology, public health, and criminal law. I bring together legal expertise, research, and data-driven approaches to tackle complex challenges with our legal system. I have extensive experience using applied statistics to address legal problems, and I aim to couple innovation with justice-centered approaches that advance equitable solutions within the justice system.
I am licensed to practice law in Ohio, Colorado, Maine, and the Southern District Court of Ohio, with a focus on criminal defense, forensic geography, and justice system reform. My academic background and research portfolio center on the intersection of law, science, and policy. Through my expert witness work and research on structural mitigation, I apply spatial and legal analysis to uncover how systemic and environmental factors shape legal outcomes.
What I'm passionate about
I’m passionate about bridging the gap between law, science, technology, and public health to address systemic injustice and systems (over)involvement. My work focuses spatial analysis, violence prevention, structural mitigation, and adverse childhood experiences. Using advanced spatial and statistical modeling, I strive to advance fair, evidence-based approaches to legal advocacy and public policy analysis.
With a unique blend of experience as an attorney, academic researcher, data scientist, and policy advocate, I approach complex legal and social challenges through a multidisciplinary lens. My work bridges criminal law, social welfare, public health, and data science, with an emphasis on evidence-based practice. Click here to explore my current and past projects.
Outside of work, I enjoy biking, weight lifting, true crime, making maps, and pro bono work. I also mentor students and early-career professionals interested in law, social work, and public health at The Ohio State University.
Quick Facts
Current Role
Founder and Attorney at Barboza-Salerno Law Group, LLC
Education
J.D. (Summa Cum Laude), Michigan State University College of Law
Ph.D. (with distinction), Political Science, Michigan State University
M.S., Statistics, Michigan State University
M.A., Family Studies and Human Development, Michigan State University
B.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Recent Achievement
Founder of The ISSUE Lab, advancing data-driven approaches to legal advocacy and violence prevention
Languages
R (Fluent)
Interests
biking, weight lifting, true crime, making maps, public health, social justice, criminal law, data science
Skills
To provide legal and policy insights using my expertise with law, public health, social welfare, and data science to advance violence prevention, justice reform, and social equity.
Legal Expertise
Licensed attorney with extensive experience in criminal law, forensic geography, structural mitigation, and justice system reform, focusing on historically marginalized populations.
Geospatial Analysis
Applying advanced GIS, spatial statistics, and machine learning to analyze environmental, social, and structural determinants of violence and health disparities.
Data Science & Statistics
Transforming complex public health and environmental data into actionable insights using statistical modeling and geospatial analysis.
Community-Engaged Research
Leading participatory, community-based projects that translate research into policy and practice, with a focus on violence prevention and environmental justice.
Software & Technical Tools
Developing and applying computational tools for legal and public health research, with Python, R, and other relevant statistical software.
Teaching & Mentoring
Experienced educator in law, criminology, public health, statistics, and public policy, with a commitment to equity-focused teaching and professional development.
Leadership & Collaboration
Leading interdisciplinary research teams, securing federal funding, and advancing policy-relevant projects across public health, legal, and technology sectors.
Interdisciplinary Perspective
Integrating legal, social, and urban planning to tackle complex challenges at the intersection of law, health, and technology.
Experience
From legal analysis to AI, I build practical, data-driven tools that bridge law, public health, and technology to address real-world challenges.
The Ohio State University
Assistant Professor
- Lead research on the intersection of law, public health, and technology
- Principal Investigator on studies using geospatial analysis and big data to inform violence prevention and justice reform
- Teach courses on statistics, research methods, and policy, with a focus on equity and data-driven decision-making
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Assistant/Associate Professor
- Developed interdisciplinary research on violence prevention and criminal justice policy
- Led projects integrating legal analysis, public health, and data science
- Taught undergraduate and graduate courses on constitutional law, criminal justice, and research methods
Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative
Director of Research
- Oversaw community-based research on neighborhood violence and social determinants of health
- Directed data collection, analysis, and translation to support community-driven policy change
- Contributed to the successful Promise Neighborhoods federal grant awarded by the Obama Administration
SYS Technologies (Contractor for the U.S. Navy)
Software Developer/Computer Programmer
- Designed and developed software for Navy security and defense systems
- Collaborated with engineering teams to implement robust, mission-critical applications
- Enhanced system reliability and cybersecurity for naval operations
Technical Skills
Technical expertise spanning statistical and geospatial methods, AI/ML, and policy analysis.
Technical Expertise
Let's Connect
Send me a message
Contact Information
Let's connect! I'm always interested in thinking of ways to collaborate.
GitHub
github.com/issues-osuLocation
Columbus, Ohio