Advisor: Dr. Joseph Allen | Program: EER | Department: EH | Concentration: Environmental Epidemiology
– Q & A –
- Background/Experience PRIOR to entering the program:
My undergraduate training was in computer science and environmental studies. As I learned about issues related to toxic chemicals and public health for the first time, I decided to enter the MS program – and later PhD program – in environmental occupational health at Harvard SPH, funded by the ERC training grant.
- Why/How you became interested in Occupational Health:
During the summer before the MS program, I worked as a research assistant in the department for a project about the chemical exposures of nail salon workers. I was inspired by the importance of investigating disparate exposures among vulnerable occupational populations and of informing solutions that address hazards upstream at the source to effectively protect workers.
- Current involvement in Occupational Health:
I am currently leading a few occupational health studies: 1) The impacts of real-time indoor air quality at home on people’s brain function, productivity, and well-being while working remotely from home during the covid-19 pandemic; 2) The hormone-disrupting exposures of office workers to complex chemical mixtures using silicone wristband samplers worn only in office buildings around the world; 3) The benefits of “healthier materials” interventions in university buildings on reducing levels of PFAS and total organic fluorine in dust.
- Future career plans/goals:
I plan to apply for faculty jobs at public health universities and build a research program in the reproductive epidemiology of our exposures to complex mixtures of hormone-disrupting chemicals.
- Current and Past Pilot Projects:
“Total Fluorine as a Surrogate for PFAS Content in Dust in Healthy vs Conventional Buildings” (2021 pilot)
“Identifying Sources of Exposure in Nail Salon Workers to Inform Targeted Interventions” (2016 pilot)
