Research Topics

Research Topics

Current Projects

  • Michael Kado: For his research, Michael will explore the industrial hygiene implications for SARS-CoV-2 transmission and jobsite re-opening as well as occupational exposures in the carpet recycling industry.

  • Merideth Lewis: For her research, using qualitative methods, Merideth will explore the experience and risk perception of surgical smoke by perioperative teams. 

  • James McNicholas: For his research, James is working on a project to identify which communication methods and channels are most effective to communicate occupational risk in the mining industry to stakeholders who are in a position to foster change.

Past Projects

Firefighter and wildfireFirefighters

  • Stephanie Phelps: For her research, Dr. Phelps studied hearing loss, tinnitus and occupational injuries among career firefighters. 249 firefighters from Texas and California participated in a cross-sectional, internet-based survey.

  • Kathleen Navarro: Dr. Navarro characterized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposures for wildland firefighter performing various job tasks on wildland and prescribed fires. 

  •  Jessica Trowbridge: This was a community based participatory biomonitoring research project looking at occupational exposures to environmental chemicals linked to breast cancer among female firefighters compared to non-firefighter controls.

Automotive & Repair Workers 

  • Erika Garcia: Dr. Garcia’s dissertation project investigated the association between metalworking fluid exposure and breast cancer incidence among a cohort of occupationally exposed women. The study’s objective was to examine the exposure-response relation between breast cancer incidence and cumulative exposure to straight and synthetic MWF among a cohort of occupationally exposed female autoworkers.

Air Pollution 

  • Eunice Lee: Dr. Lee studied long-term effects of air pollutants on chromosome telomere length in children, as a biomarker of oxidative stress in immune cells.

Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Debra Hemmerle: Ms. Hemmerle studied post-concussive symptoms and delayed return to work in adults following mild traumatic brain injury. This research project involves a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study to evaluate the relationship between post-concussive symptoms and delayed return to work in adults following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Municipal codigestion of food wastes and sewage sludge 

  • Rachel Sklar: Ms. Sklar studied the microbial risks associated with occupational exposure during municipal codigestion of food wastes and sewage sludge.

Workplace violence 

  • Rachel Odes: Dr. Odes’ research aims to improve understanding of workplace violence in hospitals and engage frontline staff in attempts to improve safety in their workplaces. Her research will help understand the utility of a new California-wide reporting system for incidents within healthcare facilities.

Asbestos Exposure Assessment

  • Sheiphali Gandhi: Dr. Gandhi is using the rapid case ascertainment of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure assessment tools to elucidate non-occupational asbestos exposures that are associated with the development of mesothelioma