Research Agenda – January 2025

My research is in the realm of environmental health hazards, with a particular focus on the health hazards fueled by climate change, which has a common root cause with air pollution: the burning of fossil fuels. Specifically, I investigate how these health effects are experienced by local marginalized communities that are at a higher baseline risk. My work focuses on the multiple impacts of climate change on health, emphasizing the hazards most relevant to local communities: air quality (from fossil fuel use and wildfire smoke) and extreme heat.

Current Research and Publications

My current research portfolio includes:

• A September 2023 paper on the dynamics of air particles related to SARS-CoV-2 infection
• A forthcoming paper on indoor and outdoor sources of air pollution
• Continuing to investigate environmental health chemical exposures to uncover the risks associated with various chemicals, informing both public health policies and individual behaviors.

Focus on Climate Change and Health

At the core of my agenda is the investigation of how climate change affects health, particularly in marginalized populations. Climate change hazards such as extreme heat exacerbate existing health disparities, yet we know little about the risk perceptions of these hazards among different populations.

Some work shows that climate change anxiety, while a negative outcome, can be attenuated by pro-environmental and self-protective behaviors. However, risk perceptions of climate hazards and associated behaviors are not well understood, especially for the most vulnerable populations.