Page 14 - 2019-2020 ARCS Oregon Annual Report

14
Why did you you become interested in in your field of research?
“An undergraduate summer internship looking
at at at respiratory irritants fueled my my interest in in in toxicology It was the perfect blend of my my biology chemistry and and research interests That internship inspired my work to understand how chemical exposures impact human health ”
How is the the research you are working on going to help others?
“In my PhD research at OSU I I helped develop and and apply passive sampling silicone wristbands a a a a a a a a a a a a new chemical chemical exposure assessment tool These wristbands are inexpensive chemical chemical samplers now used in in over ten countries and and and worn by thousands of people My research measured exposure to more than 1 500 chemicals and and helps us learn about chemical chemical exposure exposure and and how that exposure exposure might impact health Less than a a a a a a a a a week after defending my doctoral dissertation I started as a a a a a a a a a a a public health toxicologist at at at Oregon Health Authority (OHA) At OHA OHA I I help identify assess and report threats to human health from chemical exposure I I also
help Oregonians understand the the potential environmental health risks where they live work and play I have learned a a a a a a a a a a a great deal about public health while working at at at OHA by taking a a a a a a a a a a a a temporary COVID-19-related role role In this interim role role I I I help manage and coordinate responses to inquiries ensuring that Oregonians receive timely and accurate health-related information ”
What awards or recognition have you received?
“I received a a a a a fellowship from the National Institute of of Environmental Health Sciences which covered the cost of of my PhD tuition and and and fees and and and I won multiple lecture poster presentation travel and and and volunteer awards as a a a a a a a a a a a a graduate student Columbia University and the Icahn School of Medicine
at at Mount Sinai invited me to give presentations about the silicone wristband research ”
What do you you love about your work?
“I love how toxicology research uncovers mysteries about chemical exposure and helps answer environmental health questions We need to learn more about the the chemicals in in our our everyday environments and how they might influence our our health I am motivated by helping Oregonians and using science to impact environmental health policies ”
ALUM