Environmental Health Sciences (Ph.D.)

Faculty

Shannon M. Bailey, Ph.D., Associate Professor. Molecular Mechanisms of Chronic Alcohol and Obesity Induced Liver Diseases; Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Disease; Molecular Bioenergetics; Functional Proteomics; Free Radical Biology

Steven M. Becker, Ph.D., Associate Professor. Environmental Management and Policy; Disaster Preparedness and Response; Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear Incidents; Terrorism and Public Health Preparedness; Psychosocial Aspects of Radiation; Risk Perception; Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication.

Dale A. Dickinson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director. Molecular Mechanisms of the Adaptive Response to Environmental Toxicants and Pollutants; Mechanisms of Action of Naturally Occurring Compounds; Functional Genomics and Proteomics of Naturally Occurring Compounds; Induction of Glutathione; Free Radical Biology; Post-transcriptional gene regulation with microRNAs.

Michelle V. Fanucchi, Ph.D., Associate Professor. Childhood lung disease and its etiology; Pulmonary cell biology and toxicology of air pollutants, including particulates, ozone, and various polyaromatic hydrocarbons; Cell-to-cell interactions in the developing lung as well as in repair after lung injury and disease in children.

Mark D. Garfinkel, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor. Environmental Toxicology; Drosophila Developmental Biology, Genetics and Epigenetics; Computational Genomics; Nutrigenomics

Julia M. Gohlke, Ph.D., Assistant Professor. Main focus of research is development of methods to improve assessments of health threats, both nationally and globally, through application of novel bioinformatics and computational modeling approaches.  Particular areas of interest include improving methods for incorporation of neurodevelopmental processes that distinguish children as a vulnerable population, health implications of energy policy and climate change, and environmental policy evaluation from a global health perspective

Rui-Ming Liu, Ph.D., DABT, Associate Professor. Oxidative Stress/Antioxidants in Lung Fibrotic and Neurodegenerative Diseases; Glutathione Metabolism during Aging and Age-Related Diseases

Claudiu T. Lungu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor. Evaluation of Adsorption Characteristics of Granular Activated Carbon and Activated Carbon Fibers used in Respiratory Protection and Protective Clothing; Measurement and Evaluation of VOC Exposure in Various Workplaces; VOC Emissions from Building Materials; Exposure to Ionizing Radiation

Elizabeth H. Maples, Ph.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor. Reduction of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses Through Effective Training; Expanding the Capacity of Environmental Public Health Practitioners in Working Within Communities to Address Environmental Health Problems; Prevention of Workplace Violence.

R. Kent Oestenstad, M.S.P.H., Ph.D., Associate Professor. Evaluation of respirator effectiveness, respirator performance modeling; aerosol measurement, aerosol behavior and health effects; noise exposure and hearing loss, and occupational safety. 

Edward M. Postlethwait, Ph.D., Professor. Research and academic interests are founded in pulmonary toxicology and free radical biochemistry, with current efforts primarily focused on delineating the mechanisms by which inhaled oxidants interact with the lung surface to initiate epithelial injury, how environmental oxidants impact lung growth and development, and what factors may govern the extent and distribution of exposure-related cellular perturbations. To address these issues, research endeavors incorporate aspects of physiology, quantitative morphology and image analysis, oxidant and antioxidant biochemistry, pharmacokinetics, dosimetry, and chemical engineering. 

Giuseppe L. Squadrito, Ph.D., Research Associate Professor. Free Radical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Chemical Reactions; Oxidants and Antioxidants; Smoke, Smog, and Combustion Products

Program Information and Objectives

The Department of Environmental Health Sciences focuses on understanding the causes, mechanisms, and consequences of environmental and occupational hazards, as well as the prevention and management of these hazards. Principal research areas include: Environmental Toxicology, Free Radical Biology, Cell Signaling, Exposure Assessment, and Environmental Disasters and Environmental Management.

The objectives of the program leading to a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences are to prepare students for scientific careers in academia, industry, government, and non-governmental organizations. A combination of didactic, laboratory experience, and/or field-based training will be provided to achieve the specific goals for each student. This degree is granted on the basis of distinctive academic achievement, scholarly proficiency, and original research. The Department offers training in three areas of concentration: (1) Basic Science of Environmental Toxicology, (2) Environmental Management and Policy, and (3) Industrial Hygiene/Occupational Safety.

UAB is a highly innovative major research university with five schools ranked in the top 20 in NIH funding and an overall level of research funding totaling more than $400 million. The university also hosts over 70 research centers providing rich opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations. Students will have the opportunity to interact and conduct dissertation research in university-wide translational research endeavors. Basic science students will participate in the Graduate Biomedical Sciences (GBS) program during their first year of study. The GBS program is an innovative multidisciplinary program that integrates the principles of biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, pathophysiology, and toxicology in the context of human health and disease. More than 150 UAB faculty members are affiliated with the GBS program, providing students with the opportunity to grow academically and professionally with a diverse network of faculty. More information on the GBS program can be found at: http://www.uab.edu/gbs/

Admission

Applicants should have a bachelor's or higher degree in one of the natural sciences, medical sciences, or engineering fields from an accredited college or university. Regardless of degree, this should include courses in biology; general, organic, and physical chemistry; physics; and mathematics though calculus. Applicants interested in a specializing in Environmental Toxicology are encouraged to have completed courses in biochemistry and physiology. Individuals interested in the Environmental Management and Policy concentration should have a Masters degree in an appropriate health, environmental or related field; or significant relevant professional experience. Industrial Hygiene applicants are expected to have completed Industrial Hygiene courses in an accredited Industrial Hygiene Masters program or the equivalent, or have significant experience in the practice of Industrial Hygiene. Applicants who do not have adequate preparation in these areas are expected to complete remedial training as part of their didactic requirements. Applicants are required to have a GPA of at least 3.0 and to take the GRE General Test. A score of at least 550 on each section (verbal and quantitative) is required; consideration will also be given to performance on the analytical section. Deadline for applications to be admitted into the program is April 1, although basic science applicants are encouraged to apply no later than February 1.

Curriculum

PhD students are expected to complete the department course requirements as well as those courses necessary to prepare them to conduct their dissertation research. The department’s PhD program offers training in three areas of concentration: (1) Basic Science of Environmental Toxicology; (2) Environmental Management and Policy; and (3) Industrial Hygiene/Occupational Health and the curriculum requirements can be found at https://www.soph.uab.edu/node/1180.

Additional Information

For additional information, please send emails to the address below.

E-mail ehs@crl.soph.uab.edu

Course Descriptions

Environmental Health Sciences (ENH)

700. Scientific Basis of Environmental Health. Environmental problems encountered by public health professionals, including water pollution, water resources, air pollution, industrial hygiene and occupational safety, and toxicology. Case studies used in examining environmental problems.

701. Environmental Chemistry. This advanced course covers physical and chemical processes that determine the dynamic nature of the atmosphere and interrelations with water and soil. It also covers measurement methods and data analysis regarding observed concentrations of many key compounds. The course also covers chemical aspects of current environmental change issues, as well as reviews risk assessment as applied to tropospheric air quality.

702. Advanced Topics in Environmental Management. Course will combine lectures, case study discussions, and special topic presentations by students to apply principles and methods of environmental management. Instruction will feature case studies for assessments under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), Non- indigenous species and the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Students will receive instruction on planning processes and structuring of interdisciplinary teams, and will demonstrate their independent and comprehensive understanding of environmental management tools (advisory, economic and regulatory).

705. Special Topics (Readings) in Environmental and Occupational Health. Topics taught on request on individual basis: radiological health, air pollution, systems safety, advanced toxicology, toxicokinetics, environmental science related to risk assessment process, free radical biology, cell signaling.

706.  Mitochondria in Health, Disease, and Toxicology.  Course will include lectures and discussions of original research articles that critically analyze the role of mitochondria in human health, disease, and toxicology. Topics will include: mitochondria research techniques; bioenergetics principles; mitochondrial redox signaling; mitochondrial fusion and fission; mitochondrial genetics and paradigm for disease; mitochondrial medicine; mitochondria and environmental toxicology. Prerequisite: Successful completion of doctoral level biochemistry or cell biology course.

710. Grant Proposal Writing in the Biomedical Sciences. Introduction to writing grant proposals and fellowship applications. Topics include scientific ethics, funding sources, electronic databases, organization and format of proposals and applications, submission and review processes, use of secondary sources, and guidelines for effective proposal writing.

711. Risk Assessment of Environmental Hazards. Principles of risk assessment and management as applied to various environmental issues. Examination of theoretical aspects of epidemiology, toxicology, and environmental science related to risk assessment process.

763. Aerosol Technology. Properties and behavior of aerosols from industrial hygiene and environmental perspectives. Fundamental particle descriptions and critical fluid properties affecting particle behavior. Methods of defining particle size and size distribution and theories of particle kinetics and their application to particle deposition and collection. Prerequisite: ENH 661-662.

770. Advanced Topics in Environmental Disasters and Public Health. This course examines emerging public health challenges posed by incidents involving chemicals, radiation and biological agents. Students are provided with the opportunity to undertake guided research on current topics in the field and discuss their findings with graduate students and faculty members. Students engage in an advanced in-class group exercise based on a realistic disaster or emergency scenario. Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENH 610: Environmental Disasters or the equivalent

780. Seminars in Free Radical Biology and Medicine. The purpose of this course is to provide a forum in which students are directly exposed to the most recent findings in free radical biology and medicine from national and international experts in these fields. Students will be expected to become comfortable asking questions in scientific setting.

781. Journal Club: Mechanisms of Redox Cell Signaling and Disease. The purpose of this course is to provide a forum in which students become comfortable critically reviewing recent refereed publications in the fields of redox cell signaling, physiology and pathology. Students will also be expected to become comfortable answering and asking questions in a scientific setting. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

782. Free Radical Chemistry and Biochemistry. This course will use chemical and biochemical principles to thoroughly understand how free radical species mechanistically function in vivo. This course is designed for doctoral students admitted to campus-wide PhD programs in the biomedical and basic sciences with research interests in free radical chemistry, biology and medicine. Prerequisite: successful completion of the IBS or CMB first year program; co-registering in ENH 783 is strongly encouraged. Offered January/February in odd numbered years.

783. Free Radicals in Health and Disease. The primary focus of this course will be a critical examination of how free radical species mechanistically function to promote human health or contribute to disease, and will build on the material taught in ENH 782. Emphasis will be placed on debunking some common beliefs found in the lay and scientific communities that are not supported by rigorous scientific research. Prerequisite: successful completion of the IBS or CMB first year program and completion of ENH 782. Offered March/April in odd numbered years.

790. Seminar: Current Topics in Environmental Health Sciences Research. Interactive forum in which students and faculty discuss topics related to the field of Environmental Health Science research through student presentations of dissertation research and relevant scientific journal articles. This course is designed to develop oral communication and presentation skills needed for presenting scientific material to peers. Presentations by graduate students are followed by discussion and questions. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor.

791. Advanced Environmental Health and Toxicology Seminar. This seminar course will expose students to diversified subjects and cutting edge research from national and international experts in Environmental Health Sciences. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor.

796. Environmental Health Sciences Research Rotation. First year PhD candidates in Environmental Health Sciences are required to complete at least three mentored-research rotations approved by the PhD/DrPH Program Director.

798. Doctoral-Level Directed Research. Independent study with guidance of appropriate faculty mentor. Pass/No Pass. Prerequisite: Permission of PhD/DrPH Program Director.

799. Dissertation Research. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy.

Last modified 07/13/2011