Jessica Leibler
Profiles

Jessica H. Leibler, DrPH, MS

Associate Professor, Environmental Health - Boston University School of Public Health

(617) 358-2725
jleibler@bu.edu
Talbot - 430W
View Full Profile at BUMC

Biography

Jessica H. Leibler, DrPH, ScM is an Associate Professor and environmental epidemiologist in the Department of Environmental Health at the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH). Her research examines environmental determinants of health during adolescence, an understudied developmental window with heightened relevance for chronic diseases of adulthood. Dr. Leibler’s work applies molecular epidemiology tools to study early biological effects across kidney, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, integrating biomarkers of effect and subclinical dysfunction with advanced exposure assessment methods.

Her interests span multiple environmental domains, including metals, synthetic chemicals, particulate matter, extreme temperatures, and infectious agents. Dr. Leibler is Principal Investigator of an NIH-funded longitudinal international cohort study of kidney health among adolescents and leads additional projects on respiratory health and heat exposures in school and household settings. Earlier in her career, she studied the emergence of zoonotic influenza viruses and antibiotic-resistant bacteria associated with industrial food animal production, focusing on risks to food animal workers and their communities.

Dr. Leibler is also a dedicated educator and mentor. She serves as Director of the DrPH Program at BUSPH and Associate Chair for Education in the Department of Environmental Health. In 2017, she received the School’s highest teaching honor, the Norman A. Scotch Award for Excellence in Teaching, as well as national recognition from the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) through the Early Career Public Health Teaching Award. She played a central role in developing the Department’s new MPH Certificate in Environmental Health and Justice and the BUSPH Online MPH program. Since 2020, she has served as the co-host of BUSPH's Free Associations epidemiology journal club podcast, which received a Gold Anthem Award in 2024 for health communication.

Dr. Leibler holds a Doctor of Public Health degree in Environmental Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Science in Health Policy and Management from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Environmental Studies from Williams College.

Other Positions

  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research - Boston University

Education

  • Johns Hopkins University, DPH/DrPH Field of Study: Environmental Health
  • Harvard School of Public Health, MS Field of Study: Health Policy Management
  • Williams College, BA Field of Study: Political Science

Websites

Classes Taught

  • SPHEH961
  • SPHOM703
  • SPHPH718

Publications

  • Published on 4/15/2025

    Stone NE, Hamond C, Clegg JR, McDonough RF, Bourgeois RM, Ballard R, Thornton NB, Nuttall M, Hertzel H, Anderson T, Whealy RN, Timm S, Roberts AK, Barragán V, Phipatanakul W, Leibler JH, Benson H, Specht A, White R, LeCount K, Furstenau TN, Galloway RL, Hill NJ, Madison JD, Fofanov VY, Pearson T, Sahl JW, Busch JD, Weiner Z, Nally JE, Wagner DM, Rosenbaum MH. Host population dynamics influence Leptospira spp. transmission patterns among Rattus norvegicus in Boston, Massachusetts, US. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025 Apr; 19(4):e0012966. PMID: 40233129.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 11/25/2024

    Friedman DJ, Leone DA, Amador JJ, Kupferman J, Francey LJ, Lopez-Pilarte D, Lau J, Delgado I, Yih WK, Salinas A, Wang M, Genovese G, Shah S, Kelly J, Tattersfield CF, Raines NH, Amador M, Dias L, Pitsillides A, Ramirez-Rubio O, Amador AG, Cortopassi M, Applebaum KM, Alper SL, Banks AS, McClean MD, Leibler JH, Scammell MK, Dupuis J, Brooks DR. Genetic risk factors for Mesoamerican nephropathy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Dec 03; 121(49):e2404848121. PMID: 39585978.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 11/25/2024

    Ceballos DM, Vasquez D, Ceballos LM, Noguchi JE, Levy JI, Green JG, Baker WE, Schechter-Perkins EM, Leibler JH. Healthcare workers' experiences protecting themselves and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. Ann Work Expo Health. 2024 Nov 25; 68(9):919-939. PMID: 39110479.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 6/14/2024

    Stone NE, Hamond C, Clegg J, McDonough RF, Bourgeois RM, Ballard R, Thornton NB, Nuttall M, Hertzel H, Anderson T, Whealy RN, Timm S, Roberts AK, Barragán V, Phipatanakul W, Leibler JH, Benson H, Specht A, White R, LeCount K, Furstenau TN, Galloway RL, Hill NJ, Madison JD, Fofanov VY, Pearson T, Sahl JW, Busch JD, Weiner Z, Nally JE, Wagner DM, Rosenbaum MH. Host population structure and rare dispersal events drive leptospirosis transmission patterns among Rattus norvegicus in Boston, Massachusetts, US. bioRxiv. 2024 Jun 14. PMID: 38915728.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 5/22/2024

    Haley BM, Sun Y, Jagai JS, Leibler JH, Fulweiler R, Ashmore J, Wellenius GA, Heiger-Bernays W. Association between Combined Sewer Overflow Events and Gastrointestinal Illness in Massachusetts Municipalities with and without River-Sourced Drinking Water, 2014-2019. Environ Health Perspect. 2024 May; 132(5):57008. PMID: 38775485.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/18/2024

    Raines NH, Leone DA, Amador JJ, Lopez-Pilarte D, Ramírez-Rubio O, Delgado IS, Francey LJ, Leibler JH, Asara JM, Scammell MK, Parikh SM, Brooks DR, Friedman DJ. Derangement in Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Metabolism is Observed During Acute Kidney Injury Among Male Agricultural Workers at Risk for Mesoamerican Nephropathy. Kidney Int Rep. 2024 Jul; 9(7):2250-2259. PMID: 39081728.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 7/29/2023

    Haley BM, Patil P, Levy JI, Spangler KR, Tieskens KF, Carnes F, Peng X, Klevens RM, Troppy TS, Fabian MP, Lane KJ, Leibler JH. Evaluating COVID-19 Risk to Essential Workers by Occupational Group: A Case Study in Massachusetts. J Community Health. 2024 Feb; 49(1):91-99. PMID: 37507525.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/17/2023

    Hall SM, Raines NH, Ramirez-Rubio O, Amador JJ, López-Pilarte D, O'Callaghan-Gordo C, Gil-Redondo R, Embade N, Millet O, Peng X, Vences S, Keogh SA, Delgado IS, Friedman DJ, Brooks DR, Leibler JH. Urinary Metabolomic Profile of Youth at Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease in Nicaragua. Kidney360. 2023 Jul 01; 4(7):899-908. PMID: 37068179.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/12/2023

    Petropoulos ZE, Keogh SA, Jarquín E, López-Pilarte D, Amador Velázquez JJ, García-Trabanino R, Amador Sánchez MR, Guevara R, Gruener A, Allen DR, Leibler JH, Delgado IS, McClean MD, Friedman DJ, Brooks DR, Scammell MK. Heat stress and heat strain among outdoor workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2023 Jul; 33(4):622-630. PMID: 37041408.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 2/22/2023

    Raines NH, Leone DA, O'Callaghan-Gordo C, Ramirez-Rubio O, Amador JJ, Lopez Pilarte D, Delgado IS, Leibler JH, Embade N, Gil-Redondo R, Bruzzone C, Bizkarguenaga M, Scammell MK, Parikh SM, Millet O, Brooks DR, Friedman DJ. Metabolic Features of Increased Gut Permeability, Inflammation, and Altered Energy Metabolism Distinguish Agricultural Workers at Risk for Mesoamerican Nephropathy. Metabolites. 2023 Feb 22; 13(3). PMID: 36984765.

     Read At: PubMed

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