undergraduate research topics in environmental health

Research Topics & Ideas: Environment

100+ Environmental Science Research Topics & Ideas

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. Here, we’ll explore a variety research ideas and topic thought-starters related to various environmental science disciplines, including ecology, oceanography, hydrology, geology, soil science, environmental chemistry, environmental economics, and environmental ethics.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the environmental sciences. This is the starting point though. To develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. Also be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to develop a high-quality research topic from scratch.

Overview: Environmental Topics

• Ecology /ecological science
• Atmospheric science
• Oceanography
• Soil science
• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental economics
• Environmental ethics
• Examples  of dissertations and theses

Topics & Ideas: Ecological Science

• The impact of land-use change on species diversity and ecosystem functioning in agricultural landscapes
• The role of disturbances such as fire and drought in shaping arid ecosystems
• The impact of climate change on the distribution of migratory marine species
• Investigating the role of mutualistic plant-insect relationships in maintaining ecosystem stability
• The effects of invasive plant species on ecosystem structure and function
• The impact of habitat fragmentation caused by road construction on species diversity and population dynamics in the tropics
• The role of ecosystem services in urban areas and their economic value to a developing nation
• The effectiveness of different grassland restoration techniques in degraded ecosystems
• The impact of land-use change through agriculture and urbanisation on soil microbial communities in a temperate environment
• The role of microbial diversity in ecosystem health and nutrient cycling in an African savannah

Topics & Ideas: Atmospheric Science

• The impact of climate change on atmospheric circulation patterns above tropical rainforests
• The role of atmospheric aerosols in cloud formation and precipitation above cities with high pollution levels
• The impact of agricultural land-use change on global atmospheric composition
• Investigating the role of atmospheric convection in severe weather events in the tropics
• The impact of urbanisation on regional and global atmospheric ozone levels
• The impact of sea surface temperature on atmospheric circulation and tropical cyclones
• The impact of solar flares on the Earth’s atmospheric composition
• The impact of climate change on atmospheric turbulence and air transportation safety
• The impact of stratospheric ozone depletion on atmospheric circulation and climate change
• The role of atmospheric rivers in global water supply and sea-ice formation

Topics & Ideas: Oceanography

• The impact of ocean acidification on kelp forests and biogeochemical cycles
• The role of ocean currents in distributing heat and regulating desert rain
• The impact of carbon monoxide pollution on ocean chemistry and biogeochemical cycles
• Investigating the role of ocean mixing in regulating coastal climates
• The impact of sea level rise on the resource availability of low-income coastal communities
• The impact of ocean warming on the distribution and migration patterns of marine mammals
• The impact of ocean deoxygenation on biogeochemical cycles in the arctic
• The role of ocean-atmosphere interactions in regulating rainfall in arid regions
• The impact of ocean eddies on global ocean circulation and plankton distribution
• The role of ocean-ice interactions in regulating the Earth’s climate and sea level

Tops & Ideas: Hydrology

• The impact of agricultural land-use change on water resources and hydrologic cycles in temperate regions
• The impact of agricultural groundwater availability on irrigation practices in the global south
• The impact of rising sea-surface temperatures on global precipitation patterns and water availability
• Investigating the role of wetlands in regulating water resources for riparian forests
• The impact of tropical ranches on river and stream ecosystems and water quality
• The impact of urbanisation on regional and local hydrologic cycles and water resources for agriculture
• The role of snow cover and mountain hydrology in regulating regional agricultural water resources
• The impact of drought on food security in arid and semi-arid regions
• The role of groundwater recharge in sustaining water resources in arid and semi-arid environments
• The impact of sea level rise on coastal hydrology and the quality of water resources

Topics & Ideas: Geology

• The impact of tectonic activity on the East African rift valley
• The role of mineral deposits in shaping ancient human societies
• The impact of sea-level rise on coastal geomorphology and shoreline evolution
• Investigating the role of erosion in shaping the landscape and impacting desertification
• The impact of mining on soil stability and landslide potential
• The impact of volcanic activity on incoming solar radiation and climate
• The role of geothermal energy in decarbonising the energy mix of megacities
• The impact of Earth’s magnetic field on geological processes and solar wind
• The impact of plate tectonics on the evolution of mammals
• The role of the distribution of mineral resources in shaping human societies and economies, with emphasis on sustainability

Topics & Ideas: Soil Science

• The impact of dam building on soil quality and fertility
• The role of soil organic matter in regulating nutrient cycles in agricultural land
• The impact of climate change on soil erosion and soil organic carbon storage in peatlands
• Investigating the role of above-below-ground interactions in nutrient cycling and soil health
• The impact of deforestation on soil degradation and soil fertility
• The role of soil texture and structure in regulating water and nutrient availability in boreal forests
• The impact of sustainable land management practices on soil health and soil organic matter
• The impact of wetland modification on soil structure and function
• The role of soil-atmosphere exchange and carbon sequestration in regulating regional and global climate
• The impact of salinization on soil health and crop productivity in coastal communities

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Chemistry

• The impact of cobalt mining on water quality and the fate of contaminants in the environment
• The role of atmospheric chemistry in shaping air quality and climate change
• The impact of soil chemistry on nutrient availability and plant growth in wheat monoculture
• Investigating the fate and transport of heavy metal contaminants in the environment
• The impact of climate change on biochemical cycling in tropical rainforests
• The impact of various types of land-use change on biochemical cycling
• The role of soil microbes in mediating contaminant degradation in the environment
• The impact of chemical and oil spills on freshwater and soil chemistry
• The role of atmospheric nitrogen deposition in shaping water and soil chemistry
• The impact of over-irrigation on the cycling and fate of persistent organic pollutants in the environment

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Economics

• The impact of climate change on the economies of developing nations
• The role of market-based mechanisms in promoting sustainable use of forest resources
• The impact of environmental regulations on economic growth and competitiveness
• Investigating the economic benefits and costs of ecosystem services for African countries
• The impact of renewable energy policies on regional and global energy markets
• The role of water markets in promoting sustainable water use in southern Africa
• The impact of land-use change in rural areas on regional and global economies
• The impact of environmental disasters on local and national economies
• The role of green technologies and innovation in shaping the zero-carbon transition and the knock-on effects for local economies
• The impact of environmental and natural resource policies on income distribution and poverty of rural communities

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Ethics

• The ethical foundations of environmentalism and the environmental movement regarding renewable energy
• The role of values and ethics in shaping environmental policy and decision-making in the mining industry
• The impact of cultural and religious beliefs on environmental attitudes and behaviours in first world countries
• Investigating the ethics of biodiversity conservation and the protection of endangered species in palm oil plantations
• The ethical implications of sea-level rise for future generations and vulnerable coastal populations
• The role of ethical considerations in shaping sustainable use of natural forest resources
• The impact of environmental justice on marginalized communities and environmental policies in Asia
• The ethical implications of environmental risks and decision-making under uncertainty
• The role of ethics in shaping the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable future for the construction industry
• The impact of environmental values on consumer behaviour and the marketplace: a case study of the ‘bring your own shopping bag’ policy

Examples: Real Dissertation & Thesis Topics

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various environmental science-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• The physiology of microorganisms in enhanced biological phosphorous removal (Saunders, 2014)
• The influence of the coastal front on heavy rainfall events along the east coast (Henson, 2019)
• Forage production and diversification for climate-smart tropical and temperate silvopastures (Dibala, 2019)
• Advancing spectral induced polarization for near surface geophysical characterization (Wang, 2021)
• Assessment of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter and Thamnocephalus platyurus as Tools to Monitor Cyanobacterial Bloom Development and Toxicity (Hipsher, 2019)
• Evaluating the Removal of Microcystin Variants with Powdered Activated Carbon (Juang, 2020)
• The effect of hydrological restoration on nutrient concentrations, macroinvertebrate communities, and amphibian populations in Lake Erie coastal wetlands (Berg, 2019)
• Utilizing hydrologic soil grouping to estimate corn nitrogen rate recommendations (Bean, 2019)
• Fungal Function in House Dust and Dust from the International Space Station (Bope, 2021)
• Assessing Vulnerability and the Potential for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Sudan’s Blue Nile Basin (Mohamed, 2022)
• A Microbial Water Quality Analysis of the Recreational Zones in the Los Angeles River of Elysian Valley, CA (Nguyen, 2019)
• Dry Season Water Quality Study on Three Recreational Sites in the San Gabriel Mountains (Vallejo, 2019)
• Wastewater Treatment Plan for Unix Packaging Adjustment of the Potential Hydrogen (PH) Evaluation of Enzymatic Activity After the Addition of Cycle Disgestase Enzyme (Miessi, 2020)
• Laying the Genetic Foundation for the Conservation of Longhorn Fairy Shrimp (Kyle, 2021).

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. To create a top-notch research topic, you will need to be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you’ll need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Need more help?

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your environmental science dissertation or research project, be sure to check out our private coaching services below, as well as our Research Topic Kickstarter .

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50 Best Environmental Science Research Topics

May 31, 2023

Environmental science is a varied discipline that encompasses a variety of subjects, including ecology, atmospheric science, and geology among others. Professionals within this field can pursue many occupations from lab technicians and agricultural engineers to park rangers and environmental lawyers. However, what unites these careers is their focus on how the natural world and the human world interact and impact the surrounding environment. There is also one other significant commonality among environmental science careers: virtually all of them either engage in or rely on research on environmental science topics to ensure their work is accurate and up to date.

In this post, we’ll outline some of the best environmental science research topics to help you explore disciplines within environmental science and kickstart your own research. If you are considering majoring in environmental science or perhaps just need help brainstorming for a research paper, this post will give you a broad sense of timely environmental science research topics.

What makes a research topic good?

Before we dive into specific environmental science research topics, let’s first cover the basics: what qualities make for a viable research topic. Research is the process of collecting information to make discoveries and reach new conclusions. We often think of research as something that occurs in academic or scientific settings. However, everyone engages in informal research in everyday life, from reading product reviews to investigating statistics for admitted students at prospective colleges . While we all conduct research in our day-to-day lives, formal academic research is necessary to advance discoveries and scholarly discourses. Therefore, in this setting, good research hinges on a topic in which there are unanswered questions or ongoing debates. In other words, meaningful research focuses on topics where you can say something new.

However, identifying an interesting research topic is only the first step in the research process. Research topics tend to be broad in scope. Strong research is dependent on developing a specific research question, meaning the query your project will seek to answer. While there are no comprehensive guidelines for research questions, most scholars agree that research questions should be:

1) Specific

Research questions need to clearly identify and define the focus of your research. Without sufficient detail, your research will likely be too broad or imprecise in focus to yield meaningful insights. For example, you might initially be interested in addressing this question: How should governments address the effects of climate change? While that is a worthwhile question to investigate, it’s not clear enough to facilitate meaningful research. What level of government is this question referring to? And what specific effects of global warming will this research focus on? You would need to revise this question to provide a clearer focus for your research. A revised version of this question might look like this: How can state government officials in Florida best mitigate the effects of sea-level rise?

Our interest in a given topic often starts quite broad. However, it is difficult to produce meaningful, thorough research on a broad topic. For that reason, it is important that research questions be narrow in scope, focusing on a specific issue or subtopic. For example, one of the more timely environmental science topics is renewable energy. A student who is just learning about this topic might wish to write a research paper on the following question: Which form of renewable energy is best? However, that would be a difficult question to answer in one paper given the various ways in which an energy source could be “best.” Instead, this student might narrow their focus, assessing renewable energy sources through a more specific lens: Which form of renewable energy is best for job creation?

 3) Complex

As we previously discussed, good research leads to new discoveries. These lines of inquiry typically require a complicated and open-ended research question. A question that can be answered with just a “yes” or “no” (or a quick Google search) is likely indicative of a topic in which additional research is unnecessary (i.e. there is no ongoing debate) or a topic that is not well defined. For example, the following question would likely be too simple for academic research: What is environmental justice? You can look up a definition of environmental justice online. You would need to ask a more complex question to sustain a meaningful research project. Instead, you might conduct research on the following query: Which environmental issue(s) disproportionately impact impoverished communities in the Pacific Northwest? This question is narrower and more specific, while also requiring more complex thought and analysis to answer.

4) Debatable

Again, strong research provides new answers and information, which means that they must be situated within topics or discourses where there is ongoing debate. If a research question can only lead to one natural conclusion, that may indicate that it has already been sufficiently addressed in prior research or that the question is leading. For example, Are invasive species bad? is not a very debatable question (the answer is in the term “invasive species”!). A paper that focused on this question would essentially define and provide examples of invasive species (i.e. information that is already well documented). Instead, a researcher might investigate the effects of a specific invasive species. For example: How have Burmese pythons impacted ecosystems in the Everglades, and what mitigation strategies are most effective to reduce Burmese python populations?

Therefore, research topics, including environmental science topics, are those about which there are ample questions yet to be definitively answered. Taking time to develop a thoughtful research question will provide the necessary focus and structure to facilitate meaningful research.

10 Great Environmental Science Research Topics (With Explanations!)

Now that we have a basic understanding of what qualities can make or break a research topic, we can return to our focus on environmental science topics. Although “great” research topics are somewhat subjective, we believe the following topics provide excellent foundations for research due to ongoing debates in these areas, as well as the urgency of the challenges they seek to address.

1) Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Although climate change is now a well-known concept , there is still much to be learned about how humans can best mitigate and adapt to its effects. Mitigation involves reducing the severity of climate change. However, there are a variety of ways mitigation can occur, from switching to electric vehicles to enforcing carbon taxes on corporations that produce the highest carbon emission levels. Many of these environmental science topics intersect with issues of public policy and economics, making them very nuanced and versatile.

In comparison, climate change adaptation considers how humans can adjust to life in an evolving climate where issues such as food insecurity, floods, droughts, and other severe weather events are more frequent. Research on climate change adaptation is particularly fascinating due to the various levels at which it occurs, from federal down to local governments, to help communities anticipate and adjust to the effects of climate change.

Both climate change mitigation and adaptation represent excellent environmental science research topics as there is still much to be learned to address this issue and its varied effects.

2) Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is another fairly mainstream topic in which there is much to learn and research. Although scientists have identified many forms of sustainable energy, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, questions remain about how to best implement these energy sources. How can politicians, world leaders, and communities advance renewable energy through public policy? What impact will renewable energy have on local and national economies? And how can we minimize the environmental impact of renewable energy technologies? While we have identified alternatives to fossil fuels, questions persist about the best way to utilize these technologies, making renewable energy one of the best environmental science topics to research.

3) Conservation

Conservation is a broad topic within environmental science, focusing on issues such as preserving environments and protecting endangered species. However, conservation efforts are more challenging than ever in the face of a growing world population and climate change. In fact, some scientists theorize that we are currently in the middle of a sixth mass extinction event. While these issues might seem dire, we need scientists to conduct research on conservation efforts for specific species, as well as entire ecosystems, to help combat these challenges and preserve the planet’s biodiversity.

4) Deforestation

The Save the Rainforest movement of the 1980s and 90s introduced many people to the issue of deforestation. Today, the problems associated with deforestation, such as reduced biodiversity and soil erosion, are fairly common knowledge. However, these challenges persist due, in part, to construction and agricultural development projects. While we know the effects of deforestation, it is more difficult to identify and implement feasible solutions. This is particularly true in developing countries where deforestation is often more prevalent due to political, environmental, and economic factors. Environmental science research can help reduce deforestation by identifying strategies to help countries sustainably manage their natural resources.

Environmental Science Topics (Continued)

5) urban ecology.

When we think of “the environment,” our brains often conjure up images of majestic mountain ranges and lush green forests. However, less “natural” environments also warrant study: this is where urban ecology comes in. Urban ecology is the study of how organisms interact with one another and their environment in urban settings. Through urban ecology, researchers can address topics such as how greenspaces in cities can reduce air pollution, or how local governments can adopt more effective waste management practices. As one of the newer environmental science topics, urban ecology represents an exciting research area that can help humans live more sustainably.

6) Environmental Justice

While environmental issues such as climate change impact people on a global scale, not all communities are affected equally. For example, wealthy nations tend to contribute more to greenhouse-gas emissions. However, less developed nations are disproportionately bearing the brunt of climate change . Studies within the field of environmental justice seek to understand how issues such as race, national origin, and income impact the degree to which people experience hardships from environmental issues. Researchers in this field not only document these inequities, but also identify ways in which environmental justice can be achieved. As a result, their work helps communities have access to clean, safe environments in which they can thrive.

7) Water Management

Water is, of course, necessary for life, which is why water management is so important within environmental science research topics. Water management research ensures that water resources are appropriately identified and maintained to meet demand. However, climate change has heightened the need for water management research, due to the occurrence of more severe droughts and wildfires. As a result, water management research is necessary to ensure water is clean and accessible.

8) Pollution and Bioremediation

Another impact of the increase in human population and development is heightened air, water, and soil pollution. Environmental scientists study pollutants to understand how they work and where they originate. Through their research, they can identify solutions to help address pollution, such as bioremediation, which is the use of microorganisms to consume and break down pollutants. Collectively, research on pollution and bioremediation helps us restore environments so they are sufficient for human, animal, and plant life.

9) Disease Ecology

While environmental science topics impact the health of humans, we don’t always think of this discipline as intersecting with medicine. But, believe it or not, they can sometimes overlap! Disease ecology examines how ecological processes and interactions impact disease evolution. For example, malaria is a disease that is highly dependent on ecological variables, such as temperature and precipitation. Both of these factors can help or hinder the breeding of mosquitoes and, therefore, the transmission of malaria. The risk of infectious diseases is likely to increase due to climate change , making disease ecology an important research topic.

10) Ecosystems Ecology

If nothing else, the aforementioned topics and their related debates showcase just how interconnected the world is. None of us live in a vacuum: our environment affects us just as we affect it. That makes ecosystems ecology, which examines how ecosystems operate and interact, an evergreen research topic within environmental science.

40 More Environmental Science Research Topics

Still haven’t stumbled upon the right environmental science research topic? The following ideas may help spark some inspiration:

• The effects of agricultural land use on biodiversity and ecosystems.
• The impact of invasive plant species on ecosystems.
• How wildfires and droughts shape ecosystems.
• The role of fire ecology in addressing wildfire threats.
• The impact of coral bleaching on biodiversity.
• Ways to minimize the environmental impact of clean energies.
• The effects of climate change on ocean currents and migration patterns of marine species.

Environmental Justice and Public Policy

• Opportunities to equalize the benefits of greenspaces for impoverished and marginalized communities.
• The impact of natural disasters on human migration patterns.
• The role of national parks and nature reserves in human health.
• How to address inequalities in the impact of air pollution.
• How to prevent and address the looming climate refugee crisis.
• Environmentally and economically sustainable alternatives to deforestation in less developed countries.
• Effects of environmental policies and regulations on impoverished communities.
• The role of pollutants in endocrine disruption.
• The effects of climate change on the emergence of infectious diseases.

AP Environmental Science Research Topics (Continued)

Soil science.

• Effects of climate change on soil erosion.
• The role of land management in maintaining soil health.
• Agricultural effects of salinization in coastal areas.
• The effects of climate change on agriculture.

Urban Ecology

• How road construction impacts biodiversity and ecosystems.
• The effects of urbanization and city planning on water cycles.
• Impacts of noise pollution on human health.
• The role of city planning in reducing light pollution.

Pollution and Bioremediation

• The role of bioremediation in removing “forever” chemicals from the environment.
• Impacts of air pollution on maternal health.
• How to improve plastic recycling processes.
• Individual measures to reduce consumption and creation of microplastics.
• Environmental impacts of and alternatives to fracking.

Environmental Law and Ethics

• Ethical implications of human intervention in the preservation of endangered species.
• The efficacy and impact of single-use plastic laws.
• Effects of religious and cultural values in environmental beliefs.
• The ethics of climate change policy for future generations.
• Ethical implications of international environmental regulations for less developed countries.
• The impact and efficacy of corporate carbon taxes.
• Ethical and environmental implications of fast fashion.
• The ethics and efficacy of green consumerism.
• Impacts of the hospitality and travel industries on pollution and emissions.
• The ethical implications of greenwashing in marketing.
• Effects of “Right to Repair” laws on pollution.

Final Thoughts: Environmental Science Research Topics

Environmental science is a diverse and very important area of study that impacts all aspects of life on Earth. If you’ve found a topic you’d like to pursue, it’s time to hit the books (or online databases)! Begin reading broadly on your chosen topic so you can define a specific research question. If you’re unsure where to begin, contact a research librarian who can connect you with pertinent resources. As you familiarize yourself with the discourse surrounding your topic, consider what questions spring to mind. Those questions may represent gaps around which you can craft a research question.

Interested in conducting academic research? Check out the following resources for information on research opportunities and programs:

• Research Opportunities for High School Students
• Colleges with the Best Undergraduate Research Programs
• College Success
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Emily Smith

Emily earned a BA in English and Communication Studies from UNC Chapel Hill and an MA in English from Wake Forest University. While at UNC and Wake Forest, she served as a tutor and graduate assistant in each school’s writing center, where she worked with undergraduate and graduate students from all academic backgrounds. She also worked as an editorial intern for the Wake Forest University Press as well as a visiting lecturer in the Department of English at WFU, and currently works as a writing center director in western North Carolina.

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Environmental Health Sciences - Transformative Research Undergraduate Experience (EHS-TRUE)

Arsenic in drinking water: colorless, odorless, tasteless, and responsible for one in five deaths in Bangladesh today!  Chemicals in plastics can mimic sex hormones.  Early-life exposure to farm animals prevents childhood asthma.   Environmental health scientists at the University of Arizona work at the cutting edge of understanding the relationships between environmental exposures, altered biological processes, and human disease.  Now you have the opportunity to work with them in researching environmental health problems, through the EHS-TRUE program!

The UArizona Environmental Health Sciences Transformative Research Undergraduate Experience (EHS-TRUE) program is a prestigious, National Institutes of Health-funded, two-year undergraduate research training program for students from backgrounds underrepresented in the sciences, which provides pay for participants to conduct environmental health science research with some of the leading experts in this exciting area.  The program offers each participant two years of paid year-round (15 hours/week during classes and 35 hours/week in summer) training and research experience in EHS-TRUE faculty mentors’ research groups to help develop an understanding of environmental health sciences, to apply classroom learning to research in environmental health, and to aid in deciding on a career path.  Students take a professional development and career exploration course and an environmental health sciences colloquium during their two years in the program, and participate in activities (workshops, retreats, scientific conferences) to expand their research experience.  The goal of EHS-TRUE is to prepare undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds to enter graduate programs in the environmental health sciences.

Because EHS-TRUE is offered under the UBRP umbrella, please be sure to read about UBRP on other parts of this site so that you understand the organization, expectations, and benefits of participation.

Participants in the EHS-TRUE Program will be involved in research for 12 weeks full time in the summer and part time during the academic year.  This level of participation in research should allow participants to develop a scientific project to a level that can be presented at a scientific conference, and in many cases published with the student as a co-author.

Mentors & Projects

The following mentors can serve as research mentors for EHS-TRUE students:

• Paloma Beamer , Community, Environment, & Policy
• Scott Boitano , Physiology
• Jeffrey Burgess , Community, Environment, & Policy
• Eli Chapman , Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Qin Chen , Pharmacogenomics
• Yin Chen , Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Nathan Cherrington , Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Karletta Chief , Environmental Science
• Zelieann Craig , Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences
• Xinxin Ding , Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Bernard Futscher , Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Melissa Furlong , Public Health - Community, Environment, & Policy
• Stefano Guerra , Medicine
• Chris Lim , Public Health - Community, Environment, & Policy
• Raina Maier , Environmental Science
• Fernando Martinez , Pediatrics
• Mark Nelson , Pathology
• Aikseng Ooi , Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Walter Piegorsch , Mathematics
• Patrick Ronaldson , Pharmacology
• Ray Runyan , Environmental Science
• Rick Schnellmann , Pharmacy
• Georg Wondrak , Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Jeong-Yeol Yoon , Biomedical Engineering
• Donna Zhang , Pharmacology & Toxicology

Eligibility

EHS-TRUE is a prestigious opportunity for the highest caliber undergraduates, from backgrounds underrepresented in the sciences, to work with leading experts in environmental health sciences in developing research projects to serve as the focus of a two-year training program in environmental heath science research.  Eligible students can be from any major but must be undergraduates who:

• Are sophomores or juniors,
• Have a minimum 3.0 GPA,
• Are from an underrepresented population (individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, with disabilities, from socially, culturally, economically disadvantaged backgrounds as defined in the  National Institutes of Health's "Populations Underrepresented in the Extramural Scientific Workforce" ), and
• Are American Citizens or Permanent Residents of the United States. 

Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) undergraduates are eligible for EHS-TRUE prior to completion of a Bachelor’s degree.  Upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree and conversion to graduate standing, AMP students are no longer eligible for this program.

Application Process

You will be asked to write a personal statement as a part of the application. Please be sure to include the reasons you want to participate in the EHS-TRUE Program. A good resource for general information regarding environmental health science is the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, www.niehs.nih.gov .

Download an  EHS-TRUE Application Worksheet  and follow the directions on the worksheet to submit your final application online via Qualtrics. Your final online application is due by 5:00 p.m. Arizona Time on February 1, 2024. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

A letter of recommendation is only required if you have prior independent research experience. The letter of recommendation must be from a member of the research group, preferably the primary scientist. Please direct your recommender to e-mail the letter to Jennifer Cubeta, UBRP Director, at  [email protected] . Letters must be received by 5:00 p.m. Arizona Time on February 1, 2024, to be considered.

EHS-TRUE applicants will be screened, and finalists will be interviewed during February.  Those selected for the program will be notified by March 1 and will have the month of March to interview with prospective EHS-TRUE mentors.  Mentor/mentee pairings will be finalized by April 1 and the mentor will complete a commitment form indicating who the student’s immediate supervisor and time approver are.  Applicants selected to participate must attend a full-day UBRP summer orientation on May 13, 2024, and the UBRP Ethics Retreat in June 2024.

If you have questions, please contact Jennifer Cubeta, UBRP Director, at  [email protected] .

• Utility Menu

EH 550. Special Topics in Environmental Health

Semester: .

• Professor: John Spengler , Ramon Sanchez Pina 
• Term: Spring
• Days: T, Th
• Time: 11:30AM-1:00PM
• School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Course ID: 207083

This course will provide an introduction to different techniques to analyze exposure to mixtures in environmental health. Topics will include statistical methods for highly-correlated exposures such as: classical methods (multiple regression) and their limitations; principal component analysis; hierarchical modeling; variable selection techniques (Lasso, ridge regression, elastic net), Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR); Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) Regression. The course will integrate lectures presenting the methods, case-studies from recently published papers, and hands-on data sessions. Lectures will present in a rigorous yet non-theoretical way the methods of interest, discussing when each method presented is appropriate for use and for which research question it can be applied.

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Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Learning Environmental Health in Higher Education Settings

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Environmental health is the branch of public health focused on the relationships of people with their environment. In particular, it encompasses the influence of physical, chemical, biological and psychosocial factors on human health. It is estimated that 25% of the global disease burden is due to ...

Keywords : Environmental health, Environmental health education, Public health, Higher education, Teaching and learning, Innovation, Environmental health workforce, Curriculum

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School of Environmental and Forest Sciences

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Funded Undergraduate Research in Environmental Health

The  Supporting Undergraduate Research Experiences in Environmental Health (SURE-EH)  program provides up to two years of hourly employment to  UW undergraduates from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds  to conduct research in areas relevant to the environmental health sciences and the mission of the  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences .

Students accepted into the program will work alongside faculty and research staff in the School of Public Health’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Science (DEOHS). Student researchers will be eligible for up to 2 years of funding: full-time (up to 40 hours) during summer and part-time (up to 15 hours) during the academic year.

We are currently looking for undergraduate students to work on the following research projects (full descriptions and desired qualifications are on our website):

• Project # 1:   Characterizing the interactions between environmental chemicals and gut microbiome during neurodegenerative diseases
• Project # 2 :  Detecting enteric pathogens for understanding the effects on human health and gut microbiome
• Project #3 : Bilingual Health and Safety Messaging via Mobile Apps and Social Networks
• Project #4:  Heat-related illness prevention for agricultural workers
• Project #5:  Barriers to food security due to COVID-19 and solutions to improve food security and resilience for agricultural communities

Learn more about SURE-EH and eligibility requirements on our website:   http://deohs.washington.edu/funded-research-uw-undergraduates

Learn about our current open positions and gain access to the application here:      http://deohs.washington.edu/apply-sure-eh

SURE-EH will be accepting applications to the program between  April 20, 2021 – May 10, 2021.  

Questions? Please contact  [email protected]

2021-2022 SURE-EH Announcement

Applied Ecology News

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Undergraduate Research Opportunities 2020-2021

Updated: December 15, 2020

Below are research opportunities for undergraduate students looking to gain additional experience in their fields of study.  These opportunities fulfill the AEC 492/493 Learning Experience requirement for Applied Ecology minor students.  All below opportunities are available to any undergraduate students (not just AEC minors).

Topics: Infectious diseases, ecosystem health

Supervisor/Lab: Skylar Hopkins

Email: [email protected]

Human health and ecosystem health are linked in many ways. Due to COVID-19, the world is especially interested in how ecosystem degradation affects human infectious disease. Are you interested in this, too? If you are, chat with Dr. Skylar Hopkins about a systematic literature review project that she’s doing in Spring 2021! With collaborators across the country, she is looking at all the scientific papers ever published about both conservation and human infectious disease to try to understand who does this work, where it is done, how it is done, and what people find. If you want to work on this project, you’d join a weekly Zoom meeting with many other scientists, and you’d get to do your own independent research project using the dataset. Your project would involve reading many scientific papers, analyzing your own data, and presenting your findings at least once at the AEC minor symposium.

Topics: Environmental Health & Risk Assessment

Supervisor/Lab: Khara Grieger

Email: [email protected]  

Project 1. What are the Potential Ecological Risks of Nanofertilizers? A Literature Review  

• Scope: Food and agricultural systems are under enormous pressure to increase crop yields and develop more efficient nutrient uptake by plants, while also minimizing environmental pollution. The use of engineered nanomaterials as fertilizers (nanofertilizers) can help achieve these goals and contribute to smart agriculture by utilizing their nano-size dimensions (i.e. 1 to 100 nm) and unique physical-chemical properties. There are currently several commercially available fertilizers that claim to use nanomaterials and/or nano-scale ingredients, and agrochemical companies are actively investing in and patenting nanofertilizers. However, concerns have been raised regarding the potential impacts of nanomaterials on health and the environment, including adverse effects on ecological systems. If nanofertilizers are to be considered as a viable contribution to more sustainable food and agricultural practices in the United States, additional research is critically needed on their environmental impacts. This undergraduate research project focuses on the conduction of a thorough literature review of peer-reviewed publications and reports of ecological risks and impacts of selected nanofertilizers, such as the use of CuO nanoparticles (NPs), TiO2 NPs, and ZnO NPs. The selection of these NPs is based on literature that has reported on their potential beneficial effects on plant growth and development. In this undergraduate research project, peer-reviewed manuscripts and reports on potential ecological risks and impacts on nanofertilizers (such as the selected three NPs) will be compiled and synthesized in a written report, that includes background information on the use of nanofertilizers, synthesis of peer-reviewed studies and reports on potential ecological risks and impacts, key findings, and research gaps. The undergraduate researcher will also have an option to draft a manuscript for peer-reviewed publication based on the key findings of the report, as well as be able to present key findings at upcoming workshops or conferences focused on ecological risks of nanotechnology/nanomaterials in food and agriculture production. All research and communication will be conducted remotely until further notice due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
• Requirements : All undergraduate researchers on this project will need a computer with internet connection. 

Project 2. What are the Potential Ecological Risks of Gene Drives Used in Agriculture? A Literature Review 

• Scope : Technological advancements have been made in recent years to develop gene drive applications for use in agricultural settings. A gene drive is a genetic engineering technique that relies on gene modifications to intentionally propagate a select suite of genes throughout a population by enhancing the probability that a specific allele will be transmitted to offspring. Gene drives are being developed for use in agriculture to minimize or eliminate insect damage, for example, including gene drive models for Drosophila suzukii or Diaphorina citri that feed on soft-skinned and citrus fruits. However at the same time, potential risks to ecological or environmental systems are not fully understood, especially given the new and novel nature of gene drives for use in field settings. This undergraduate research project focuses on the conduction of a thorough literature review of peer-reviewed publications and reports of ecological risk assessments of two gene drives for agriculture ( Drosophila suzukii or Diaphorina citri ). More specifically, peer-reviewed manuscripts and reports on potential ecological risks and how risk assessment frameworks address potential ecological risks of these gene drives will be compiled and synthesized. Key outcomes from this research project include the development of a written report, with background information on these gene drive case studies, their current development and use, reported or published ecological risk assessments, key findings, and research gaps for conducting ecological risk assessments in future work. The undergraduate researcher will also communicate and collaborate with other students and researchers at NC State on this topic. The undergraduate research project has the option to present key findings at an upcoming stakeholder expert workshop focused on identifying key research gaps to conducting ecological risk assessment of these gene drive case studies, through a USDA/NIFA-funded conference grant (held in mid-2021). All research and communication will be conducted remotely until further notice due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Project 3. What are the Potential Risks to Sediment-Dwelling Organisms to Applying Lanthanum-based Materials to Remove Phosphate in Freshwater Systems? A Literature Review  

• Scope: Freshwater systems and natural water bodies are often recipients of excess agricultural nutrient run-off, leading to the development of harmful algal blooms and hypoxic waters in many cases. This is problematic, since algal blooms can significantly impact our drinking water sources, lakes for swimming and recreation, and larger ecological systems, also impacting wildlife. In response, the use of advanced materials, such as lanthanum-based materials (e.g. Phoslock ®), to capture and remove phosphate from freshwater systems through in situ (in field) applications has been a growing field of research and development. More specifically, researchers and industry are actively developing new materials, such as those that rely on lanthanum to capture phosphate, to essentially remediate freshwater bodies from excess phosphorus pollution in lakes. However at the same time, the potential ecological risks of using these advanced materials are not fully understood, especially on long-term scales and for sediment-dwelling (benthic) freshwater organisms. This undergraduate research project focuses on the conduction of a thorough literature review of peer-reviewed publications and reports of ecological risks and impacts to benthic dwelling organisms from exposure to lanthanum-based materials for phosphate removal in freshwater systems. Key outcomes from this research project will include the development of a written report, with background on the use of lanthanum-based materials for phosphate removal in freshwater systems, potential ecological impacts including impacts on benthic-dwelling organisms, key findings, and research gaps pertaining to ecological risks to benthic-dwelling organisms from exposures to lanthanum-based materials. The undergraduate researcher will also have an option to draft a manuscript for peer-reviewed publication based on the key findings of the report, as well as be able to present key findings at upcoming workshops or conferences focused on ecological risks of advanced materials. All research and communication will be conducted remotely until further notice due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Topics: Population Ecology

Supervisor/Lab: Erin Voigt

Email: [email protected]

Juvenile Blue Crab Recruitment-

The student will help to assess juvenile blue crab habitat usage in Pamlico Sound. The research includes helping sort, intentify, and measure juvenile blue crabs collected over three years in several habitat types found within Pamlico Sound. The student and I will work together to establish a research objective that they are interested in addressing through this data. There is also the possibility of expanding this research to include historical data from 1996-1999 and comparing current blue crab abundances to those 20 years prior. All work will be completed in Jordan Hall (on main campus).

Quantifying Shallow Detrital Habitat (SDH)-

We know that shallow detrital habitat (SDH) or the habitat created by the eroding shoreline of a salt marsh, is an important nursery habitat for juvenile blue crabs. However we do not know much about where the habitat exists, how much area it takes up, or what factors affect its availability. For this project a student researcher will help me process sediment cores taken in 2019 to identify what is and is not SDH we will then use that data to compare what factors such as fringing marsh species, wave exposure, shoreline facing, and near shore topology affect SDH presence or absence. All work will be completed in Jordan Hall (on main campus).

Topics: Distribution of mammals

Supervisor/Lab: Mike Cove

Email: [email protected]

The Mammalogy Unit at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences is looking for motivated students to help contribute to their long-term applied mammal conservation research. AEC minor students will work with Dr. Mike Cove, Research Curator of Mammalogy, to explore patterns of historical and contemporary mammal distributions both locally and internationally to quantify the effects of global change on a variety of species from rodents to bears. Data will come from historical museum specimens and biodiversity databases, as well as contemporary live-trapping or camera trapping surveys. Students will have the opportunities to explore their own research questions under the guidance of Dr. Cove and will gain direct experience in database management and quantitative applications of biodiversity data for conservation gains. Feel free to explore more about the Mammalogy Unit and their research at here or reach out to Dr. Cove directly at [email protected] .  

Topics: Hawksbill sea turtle ecology

Supervisor/Lab: Andy Maurer

Email: [email protected]

Hawksbill sea turtle stable isotope ecology. This project will consist primarily of laboratory work. The student will work to prepare hawksbill skin samples (essentially chop them into a fine dust) and weigh them for stable isotope analysis. We have funding to run hundreds of samples (sending them to a stable isotope laboratory). Stable isotopes can help us address a number of research questions about hawksbill sea turtle dietary and migratory ecology. We will come up with hypotheses to test and analyze data accordingly. If interested, contact PhD student Andy Maurer : [email protected] .

Literature review on hawksbill sea turtle diet. This project will consist of an extensive literature review and may be best suited for someone comfortable extracting information from literary sources, skilled at organizing large amounts of messy data, and motivated to contribute to a peer-reviewed publication. Hawksbills uniquely forage on marine sponges, and sometimes are seemingly represented as obligate spongivores. However, other items always end up in their diets in publications that come out. A seminal paper from the 80s suggested they have a “ diet of glass ,” and through this project we would revisit this idea and present data from reviewed literature on hawksbill diet composition. If interested, contact PhD student Andy Maurer .

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Research in Environmental Health Sciences

The Environmental Health Sciences faculty, staff, and students conduct important research in many areas of occupational and environmental health. Expertise of each faculty member is shown with his/her biography.

Examples of research opportunities include:

Respiratory Health

Faculty at MEZCOPH study occupational & environmental aspects of respiratory health. Approaches include human physiologic studies, occupational pulmonary epidemiology, assessment of exposures, respiratory protection methods, effects of biodiesel and beryllium exposure, and epidemiologic studies of air pollution effects on children’s lung development.

Environment Exposure Science and Risk Assessment Center

The Environment Exposure Science And Risk Assessment Center provides expertise to industry, the community, researchers and collaborates with colleagues across campus in the areas of human exposure science and risk assessment of chemical, biological and physical hazards to workers and communities.

Quantitative Exposure Risk Modeling

Exposure control policy-whether at the level of an individual community or on a national scale-depends on understanding the magnitude of risks. Faculty and students combine empirical exposure measurements and mathematical approaches to quantitatively estimate risk and inform policy decisions.

Mining Safety and Health

The University Of Arizona is a leading center for mining related research. Several EHS faculty members collaborate closely with the Western Mining Health and Safety Training Center .

Occupational Health and Toxicology

The research teams address a broad array of occupational health issues to protect workers from illness and injury and to promote healthy activities.

Environmental Microbiology

The University of Arizona is one of the top institutions for research in environmental microbiology. EHS faculty members are involved in developing methods for measuring microbes in the environment and assessing how multiple factors may affect their presence and the spread of infectious disease.

Global Health and Border Issues

EHS faculty examine environmental health issues around the world and issues specific to our unique location along the US Mexico border, where the developing world intersects with the developed world. Topics that our faculty are involved in are related to infectious disease, children's health and water issues.

Public Health Interventions

One of the goals of environmental health is to reduce the burden of occupational/environmental diseases. EHS faculty are involved in projects aimed at reducing exposures by developing and evaluating interventions in workplaces and at the community level.

Public safety

Public safety employees include firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and other public health service officers. The Public Safety Institute facilitates translation of research into improvements in the health of public safety employees as well as the safety of the general public.

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Environmental Health, Climate, Sustainability

Patricia Fabian

Associate Professor, Environmental Health

Volunteer Basis, Potential for UROP Funding, Potential for Work-Study Funding

Topic: Indoor Environmental Quality in K-12 Schools. This study is a partnership between BU School of Public Health and Boston Public Schools to investigate indoor air, environmental quality, and health. This research opportunity is to work with the BUSPH team and Boston Public Schools staff analyze and translate data and research findings into communications materials for the school community. Topic examples include: indoor environmental quality (IEQ) sensor systems, impact of COVID engineering controls on IEQ and sustainability goals, IEQ and health, IEQ and learning, classroom resilience to current and future climate, greenspace and the built environment in schools. Requirements: science and/or communications background, strong writing skills, creativity, and interest in these topics. Opportunities for data analysis.

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Graduate Student Research, Projects and Practica

Learn about our degrees

Use this tool to explore our department database of student theses, dissertations, projects and practica from our master's and doctoral degree programs. Please note that not all degrees shown on projects currently offered.

You can select multiple categories. Click "Reset" to clear all selections. For a searchable database of all UW DEOHS student theses and dissertations, visit the ResearchWorks Archive . 

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Rothboury Doung

Enhancing Pesticide Exposure Monitoring in Agricultural Workers using Dried Blood Spots and Adductomics

MPH | Environmental and Occupational Hygiene (EOHY) 2023 | Judit Marsillach

Claire Schollaert

Supporting Equitable Land Management Decisions Through the Characterization of Different Sources of Smoke Exposure for At-Risk Communities

PhD | Environmental Public Health (EPH) 2023 | Tania M Busch Isaksen

Alicia Hendrix

Emerging Domoic Acid Concerns: Arctic Food Web Contamination, Age-Associated Susceptibility, and Pathologies Following Chronic, Low-Level Exposure

PhD | Environmental Toxicology (Tox) 2023 | Thomas M. Burbacher

Isabel Nerenberg

Learning About the Health and Wellbeing Impacts of Coastal Planned Relocation in the US and Japan

MS (Thesis) | Environmental Health (EH) 2023 | Nicole Errett

Karla Vega Colon

Military Population Health Outcomes Associated with Hospitalization for COVID-19 Infection Between 1 March 2020 and 31 December 2022

MPH | Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) 2023 | Luke Mease

Thomas Dugan

A Risk Assessment of Coastal Nanoplastic Particles: Enzymatic Pre-Treatment and Analytical Approaches at the Nanoscale

MS (Thesis) | Environmental Toxicology (Tox) 2023 | Elaine M. Faustman

Noah Janzing

Infection Prevention and Control for Animal Farms

MPH | One Health (ONE) 2023 | Jennifer Otten

Hanna Bailey

Community Health Workers’ Perspectives and Needs for Early Childhood Environmental Health Promotion

MPH | Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) 2023 | Esther Min

Elizabeth Grace Rott

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Opinions and Uses in Small and Large Animal Veterinary Practice in Washington State

MS (Thesis) | Environmental Toxicology (Tox) 2023 | Erica Fuhrmeister

The Association between Occupational Toxic Inhalation Injuries to Cleaning and Disinfectant Exposures and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Washington State’s Workers' Compensation Claim Database

MPH | Environmental Public Health (EPH) 2023 | Coralynn Sack

Seattle Street Sink Evaluation

MPH | Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) 2023 | Nicole Errett

Sydney Gerig

K-12 School Environmental Health & Safety in Washington

MS (Thesis) | Environmental Health (EH) 2023 | Tania M Busch Isaksen

Orly Stampfer

Wintertime and Wildfire Smoke pm2.5: Community-Engaged Research and Use of Low-Cost Sensors to Characterize PM2.5 and Mitigate Exposures

PhD | Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) 2023 | Catherine Karr

Elijah Jung

Maternal PCB Exposure Reprogrammed the Drug-processing Transcriptome of Testis in Mouse Offspring Over a Time Course

MS (Thesis) | Environmental Toxicology (Tox) 2023 | Yue Cui

Kwokyan Tsoi

AERMOD Single Source Demonstration Whitman Elementary School Idling Emission Modeling

MPH | Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) 2023 | Lianne Sheppard

Applying Q Methodology to Investigate How U.S. Meat Producers Prioritize Decisions Regarding Environmental Stewardship and Animal Wellbeing

Annie Doubleday

Characterizing Exposure and Health Impacts of Ultrafine Particles and Wildfire Smoke 

PhD | Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) 2023 | Lianne Sheppard

Melissa Anne Herrin

Association Between Maternal Occupational Exposure to Cleaning Chemicals During Pregnancy and Childhood Wheeze and Asthma

MPH | Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) 2023 | Catherine Karr

Health, Safety, and Disaster Preparedness in the Washington State Wine Industry

MS (Thesis) | Environmental and Occupational Hygiene (EOHY) 2023 | Tania M Busch Isaksen

Educational Resources for Families & Clinicians About Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Regarding Potential Exposures and Health Impacts for Children Living in PEHSU Region 10 States

MPH 2023 | Esther Min

Kwokyan William Tsoi

A Prospective Cohort Study to Estimate the Effect of Ultrafine Particulate Matter (UFP) Air Pollution on Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology at Autopsy in Puget Sound

Anisha Azad

The Effects of Extreme Weather Exposure on People Experiencing Homelessness in Seattle 

MS (Thesis) | Environmental Health (EH) 2023 | Edmund Y. W. Seto

Alyssa Suarez

COVID-19 Awareness and Behavior Among Hispanic Dairy Farm Workers and Community Dwellers in the Yakima Valley

MS (Thesis) | Environmental Public Health (EPH) 2023 | Peter Rabinowitz

Brittany Millard-Hasting

Risk Assessment and Follow up for People Exposed to PFAS

MPH | Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) 2023 | Debra Cherry