The goal of the research rotation is for the student to gain experience in a real research setting. Students in the EHS program complete three research rotations in the three EHS core areas of exposure science, biological mechanisms of susceptibility and disease, and environmental determinants of population health. Each rotation should include development of a research problem and collection/analysis of data. It is also an opportunity to develop relationships with faculty members and to explore and develop dissertation research ideas.

The health effects of environmental or pharmaceutical chemicals depend on their concentrations and their metabolites in the human body. Given an exposure to a chemical, understanding and predicting its internal concentrations can be greatly aided by a physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) or pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling approach. PBTK/PBPK models simulate the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination processes that collectively determine the fates of exogenous chemicals in the human body, producing as model output temporal changes in chemical tissue concentrations. EHS 720 and IBS 720 are cross-listed courses.

Understanding biological responses to external perturbations, their health outcomes, & risks requires a systems biology approach. Such an approach is necessary to make sense of biological pathways comprising genes, RNAs, proteins, & metabolites, & to understand how they are organized to carry out integrated, systems-level functions & respond to biological, pharmaceutical, & environmental perturbations. This interdisciplinary course introduces the basic concepts in systems biology & numerical simulation techniques for mechanically understand & predict biological responses.EHS 730 crosslisted w IBS 741.

Prerequisites: EH 520 or instructor permission. The goal of this course is to strengthen the students' understanding of the interaction between environmental chemicals and specific organ systems of the human body, focusing on appreciation of cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the toxicity. This knowledge will be supplemented through outside readings and class discussions using a modified problem based learning (PBL) format. These interactions will serve to support the students' understanding of the material and provide them with a real world perspective of molecular toxicology. Cross-listed with IBS 740.

Prerequisites: Required: EPI 530 and BIOS 500; BIOS 501 or BIOS 591P; also preferred: EPI 539, EPI 540 or EPI 545; or instructor?s permission. Students will gain experience reading, evaluating, and interpreting EPI studies on the health impact of workplace & environmental exposures. Students will understand & interpret the EPI literature. Skills are developed through class lectures, assigned readings, & case studies. Most case studies require data analysis though the focus of the class is on conceptual issues common in environmental EPI rather than on applied statistics. Cross listed with EPI 747.

This course provides students with training at the nexus of scientific methods and practice, building skills fundamental to scientific enterprise, which support ethical and responsible conduct of science. The course will address the range of skills needed to conduct research in the areas of exposure science, biological mechanisms of disease, and environmental determinants of population health. The class will allow students and program faculty to exchange and develop new ideas in research and mentoring and share relevant difficulties and opportunities encountered during doctoral training.

Students pursue a specialized course of study in an area of special interest. Complements rather than replaces or substitutes coursework. Requires an agreement with and permission from the faculty instructor and Department Chair.

EHS doctoral students engage in research prior to candidacy. The type of research training that students complete during these research hours vary widely. Most research activities that contribute to students' overall training and allow them to make progress in the program will qualify toward these credits. Examples of typical student research activities include: conducting primary data collection, performing an analysis, writing a manuscript, studying for the qualifying exam, or preparing a grant proposal.

EHS doctoral students engage in research after entering candidacy; research must contribute to students' overall training and allow them to make progress in the program. Examples of typical student research activities include: writing a dissertation proposal, writing a dissertation chapter, or preparing a grant proposal.

The public demand and critical need for accurate, understandable public health communication is greater now than ever before. An epidemic of misinformation and disinformation has contributed to distrust in science and led to public harm. This course aims to equip students with the skills necessary to serve as public health ambassadors who can educate and inform the media, lawmakers, and the general public about pressing public health topics with accuracy, efficacy, and confidence.