Dr. Ahrens is an epidemiologist who has focused her research on maternal and child health. She received an AB in biology from Harvard University, an MPH in epidemiology from University of Michigan, and a PhD in epidemiology from Boston University.

She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, served as a senior service fellow at the National Center for Health Statistics, and has worked as a health scientist for the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Population Affairs, the federal office that administers the Title X Family Planning Program. She is currently an assistant research professor at the University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service. She teaches classes in biostatistics and data analysis.