Our PhD students engage in full-time coursework for the first one to two years of the program, a minimum of 32 credits (with prior relevant master’s degree) or 64 credits (without prior relevant master’s degree), depending on level of preparation prior to admission.

The EH PhD program requires coursework in environmental health, epidemiology and biostatistics. Coursework is organized as six required courses, four professional development courses (grant writing and teaching) as well as additional courses in three different training areas, and electives.

Our research rotation program allows students to become involved in research during their first year and is designed to assist students in the process of identifying a dissertation topic. Specifically, students participate in a research rotation during each of their first three semesters (fall, spring, summer). Students work with their advisor to select research rotations based on their interests, which provides opportunities to work with different faculty members and gain experience on different projects.

Our program is committed to providing doctoral students with opportunities to develop their teaching and grant writing skills. All doctoral students at BUSPH matriculating in Fall 2025 or later are required to take grant writing courses as well as public health teaching courses. Students will participate in a teaching practicum experience to further their training.

Our PhD students participate in a doctoral seminar (every week), a doctoral proseminar (monthly), a journal club (monthly), and an annual research retreat, all of which represent key elements of our program.

• The Gijs van Seventer Environmental Health Seminar provides trainees the opportunity to engage in an academic seminar addressing substantive topics in environmental health.
• The Doctoral Proseminar (short for professional seminar) covers topics not typically addressed in traditional coursework but critical to professional development (e.g., strategies for preparing a manuscript, strategies for managing data, etc.).
• The Journal Club allows students to gain experience reviewing and critiquing scientific journal articles, stay abreast of the literature in the field, and become more familiar with diverse topics across the field of environmental health.
• The annual EH Department Retreat is held each fall, bringing together faculty, staff, and students. The primary goals of the research retreat are to: enhance the cohesiveness of faculty and students while sharing ideas and developing new opportunities; provide trainees with an additional opportunity to discuss their research; allow trainees to hear about ongoing research projects both within and outside the department; and create an event that facilitates the social and professional transition of new trainees and new faculty members in the program.

After completing coursework, each trainee submits an application to the Doctoral Committee for approval to take qualifying exams. The application consists of a dissertation proposal in the form of a federal grant proposal and a copy of their unofficial transcript. The qualifying exam includes a written and an oral component.

Each student works closely with their advisor and dissertation committee while conducting their research and preparing their dissertation. The dissertation takes the form of 3 publishable papers, plus an abstract, introduction, and conclusion. Ultimately, students present their dissertation in a public forum that all individuals are welcome to attend.

We ensure that each of our admitted PhD students has all of the following:

• Full financial support, including stipend, tuition and fees, health insurance, a computer, and support for travel to scientific conferences;
• A faculty mentor with the experience and expertise necessary to train the student in their area of interest; and
• Research opportunities that are consistent with the student’s research interests that can serve as the basis for their dissertation.

A T32 training grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (PI: Claus Henn) supports students (U.S. citizens are eligible), in combination with traineeships through the BU Graduate Program in Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health (PIs: Levy, Templer, Hutyra) (to which all students can apply), individual training awards, and individual research grants, provide the resources necessary to ensure that our PhD students receive full financial support for the duration of their program.

Upon completing the PhD in environmental health, students are able to:

• Communicate the basic characteristics of major chemical, physical and biological hazards and the properties that govern the hazards’ behavior in the environment;
• Explain the scientific characteristics (e.g., route of exposure, dose response, mode of action) of major chemical, physical, and biological hazards that result in human health risk;
• Explain and analyze genetic, physiologic, and social factors that affect the susceptibility to adverse health outcomes following exposure to environmental hazards;
• Critically evaluate and interpret the hypothesis, experimental design, methods and results presented in a paper from a technical journal article in an environmental health discipline (toxicology, epidemiology, exposure assessment, environmental policy);
• Identify data gaps and formulate testable hypotheses about critical questions in environmental health;
• Design and implement data collection strategies and rigorous evaluations to test hypotheses using novel or current techniques;
• Analyze and interpret environmental health data;
• Identify appropriate intervention strategies for specific environmental health problems;
• Prepare scientific manuscripts for publication in peer reviewed journals in the field of environmental health; and
• Communicate scientific results at national and/or international conferences in the field of environmental health.

Quinn Adams

Advisor: Gregory Wellenius, ScD

Quinn studied spatial and statistical methods to understand how extreme weather hazards impact human health. Her dissertation research examined several aspects of emergency management mitigation strategies on health. For example, her dissertation focused on how extreme weather alters the distribution of vector-borne diseases. She also explored the use of novel data sources to understand population responses to extreme heat events. She currently is a postdoctoral researcher at C40 Cities.

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Laura Buckley

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Advisor: Jonathan I. Levy, ScD

Laura analyzed how air pollution mitigation efforts impact public health, with the goal of supporting policies that promote equitable and healthy communities. Specifically, her dissertation sought to understand how different strategies to reduce transportation

emissions in the Northeast impact existing pollution exposure inequities between populations. She also analyzed the health impacts of nitrogen dioxide exposure across Mexico. She currently is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Virginia.

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Sean Mueller

Advisor: Kevin James Lane, PhD, MA

Sean’s dissertation research focused on investigating the community exposures to air pollution associated with aviation activities. He applied machine learning models to quantify ultrafine particle exposures from multiple transportation sources. Sean examined how aircraft operations contribute to ambient ultrafine particle (UFP) concentrations near Boston Logan International Airport and how piston-engine aircraft using leaded aviation gasoline contribute to pollution exposure in communities near General Aviation Airports. He is currently working at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

Flannery Black-Ingersoll

Pronouns: she/her

Advisor: Amruta Nori-Sarma, PhD

Flannery is interested in innovative environmental epidemiology methods for studying how extreme weather (i.e. heat and flooding) affects public health and policy implications.

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Pilar Botana Martinez

Pronouns: She/Her/Ella

Advisor: M. Patricia Fabian, ScD

Pilar is interested in doing research at the intersection between indoor environmental health and heat, with a vulnerability lens. She prioritizes research goals that are actionable and benefit overburdened communities. Her current work quantifies indoor heat exposure in urban heat islands, explores the resilience of buildings to overheating, and identifies barriers to an equitable energy transition in affordable housing. Before joining the program, Pilar worked in the fields of architecture and urban planning for 18 years.

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Jocelyn Fimbres

Advisor: Madeleine L. Scammell, DSc

Jocelyn investigates environmental exposures related to the progression of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu). She is validating biomarkers for early signs of kidney

function decline through epidemiological and toxicological tools. She is also investigating the kinetics of injury to the kidneys from these environmental exposures.

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Beverly Ge

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Advisor: M. Patricia Fabian, ScD

Beverly is interested in the intersection of air pollution, heat, public health, and sustainability. She is particularly motivated to conduct projects that can support immediate and tangible interventions in communities. Currently, she is exploring the use of indoor environmental quality monitors as decision tools for schools.

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Samantha Hall

Pronouns: she/hers

Advisor: Jessica H. Leibler, DrPH, MS

Samantha (Sam) is interested in the health of agricultural workers and hopes to better understand effects of environmental and agricultural exposures on human microbiomes. Her dissertation work focuses on heat stress, metal exposure and urinary microbiome status in relation to kidney health in a population at high risk of kidney disease of uncertain etiology. She also works with a community group (The Trustees of Reservations) advocating for policy changes to increase safety of city-sourced compost for community gardeners.

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Noelle Henderson

Advisors: Kevin James Lane, PhD, MA and Birgit G. Claus Henn, ScD

Noelle’s research interests include methodological approaches for assessing the effects of chemical mixtures, particularly for endocrine disrupting chemicals, on child health outcomes. She is also interested in investigating the effects of gestational exposures on reproductive and birth outcomes.

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Emily Leonard

Advisor: Birgit G. Claus Henn, ScD

Emily is interested in applying environmental epidemiology methods to investigate how chemical mixtures affect reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric health, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations. Her dissertation work will focus on metal mixtures and novel exposure science methods to understand the relationship between metal exposure and childhood neurodevelopment.

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Jennifer Oliver

Advisor: Birgit G. Claus Henn, ScD

Jennifer investigates the relationship between early life exposures to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and pulmonary health in children. In collaboration with Project Viva co-investigators at Harvard Medical School and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Jen is evaluating the relationship between PFAS and pulmonary function and growth between childhood and adolescence. She is most interested in the use of advanced epidemiologic methods to explore underlying mechanisms of exposure-disease relationships, especially longitudinal analysis.

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Kathryn Rodgers

Pronouns: she/her

Advisor: Madeleine L. Scammell, DSc

Kathryn’s research interests include researching causes of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology, finding strategies to reduce exposures to consumer product chemicals, and translating science for policy change.

Jonathan Lee

Pronouns: he/him

Advisor: Madeleine L. Scammell, DSc

Jonathan is broadly interested in investigating the design of the built environment through a public health lens, particularly in relation to heat exposures and health. Specific research interests include how transportation systems, land use decisions, and urban designs impact health and how to use public health as a catalyst for change.

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Erin Polka

Advisor: Jonathan Buonocore, ScD

Erin investigates the environmental health consequences of oil and gas development—analyzing drivers of health impacts and community risk perceptions at local and national scales. In partnership with HEET, she is evaluating how clean energy transitions can mitigate negative impacts from fossil fuel dependence. She aims to integrate exposure science, epidemiology, and policy to advance equitable solutions that protect both environmental health and vulnerable communities.

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Margaret Quaid

Pronouns: she/her

Advisor: Maria Argos, PhD

Margaret is interested in the effects that environmental exposures have on gene expression through epigenetic modulation. She has worked previously with PFAS exposures and is interested in working with a variety of environmental exposures, including heavy metals.

Grace Betts

Pronouns: she/her

Advisor: Anoop Jain, DPH/DRPH

Grace is interested in investigating the health co-benefit implications of mitigation and adaptation strategies related to air pollution and heat on vulnerable and susceptible populations, especially those related to the built environment and urban planning and policy. This includes monitoring and evaluation of these strategies to better understand their public health benefits across contexts, such as levels of urbanicity or population subgroups.

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Lydia Lichtiger

Pronouns: she/her

Advisor: Junenette L. Peters, ScD

Lydia is interested in environmental and social influences on health and exposures experienced during early life. She is specifically interested in studying the combined effects of exposure to air pollution and psychosocial stressors on child health.

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Charlotte Robbins

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Advisor: Kevin James Lane, PhD, MA

Charlotte is interested in participatory mixed methods approaches to understanding the effects of heat on cognitive decline and mental health in general population and occupational settings.

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Niouma Semega

Advisor: Jonathan I. Levy, ScD

Niouma's research interests encompass the innovative application of geospatial analysis and biostatistics to understand the spatial pattern of energy infrastructure, focusing particularly on critical issues related to air pollution, heat and vector-borne diseases. By integrating data driven methodologies, Niouma seeks to uncover the complex relationships between environmental factors and health outcomes, ultimately contributing to more effective public health interventions.

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Selene Vences

Jessica H. Leibler, DrPH, MS

Selene’s research interests include investigating the environmental mechanisms and community-level drivers of Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology, health effects of the built environment, and occupational exposures on human health throughout the life course, using mixed methodologies to generate targeted interventions and implement policy changes.

Maribel Carpenter

Advisor: Birgit G. Claus Henn, ScD

Maribel is interested in environmental toxins and their impact on reproductive and maternal health. She is particularly focused on endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as PFAS, PCBs, and Organochlorines, and their effects on vulnerable populations, including developing interpretable and impactful report-outs for research participants.

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Léa Feuerbacher

Advisor: Anoop Jain, DPH/DRPH

Léa's research interests center on the relationship between air pollution, temperature and human health, including tropical infectious diseases, water contamination, and environmental conditions that contribute to adverse health outcomes.

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Brian Sousa

Advisor: Jonathan J Buonocore, ScD

Brian is interested in the health impacts and co-benefits of air pollution mitigation strategies in both the energy and transportation sectors. His research aims to focus on how these impacts can be incorporated to improve health and assist in future policy decisions.

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Zanyah Williams

Pronouns: she/her

Advisor: Kevin James Lane, PhD, MA

Zanyah is interested in using interdisciplinary methods to understand disproportionate exposures to environmental hazards, including air pollution. She aims to integrate community-centered research with urban health and social epidemiology methods to address environmental health.

Our graduates successfully obtain positions as postdoctoral research fellows and faculty members at academic research institutions; as senior scientists at environmental consulting companies, nonprofit organizations, and other private industries; and as senior scientists at regulatory health and other government agencies.

The BUSPH Career Office is available for students interested in learning more about career paths, networking and navigating the job search process.

Below is a summary of some of the institutions and organizations where graduates of our program have obtained positions.

Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships

Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Brown University School of Public Health, Dartmouth Center for Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research, Michigan University School of Public Health, University of Washington School of Public Health, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Léa-Roback Research Centre on Health Inequalities, Michigan Public Health Institute, Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University, Yale University Climate & Energy Institute, Channing Laboratory at Brigham & Women’s Hospital

Students & alumni can access the Fellowships section of the SPH Career Library

Positions in Academia

Boston University School of Public Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Northeastern University, University of California – Irvine, Dickinson College, East Tennessee State University, University of Southern Maine, Clark University, Brandeis University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Vermont

Students & alumni can access the Academic Careers section of the SPH Career Library

Government Agencies

Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Minnesota Department of Public Health, California Department of Public Health, United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Environmental Protection Agency

Students & alumni can access the Government Careers section of the SPH Career Library

Consulting Firms

Environmental Health & Engineering, Abt Associates, Global Health Solutions, The Lifeline Group
Students & alumni can access of the Consulting Careers section of the SPH Career Library