Saturday, November 8, 2014

Messages from EHS students

Department of Environmental Health Science offers the following degrees: 
MS/ MPH/ PhD/ DrPH.
Studying here will give you the wonderful experience both in study and in life. 
Want to hear the voice from our students?



Meredith Praamsma

Mentor: Dr. Patrick Parsons
The EHS Department in the SPH at SUNY-Albany is truly a unique place. I chose to come here because of the collaboration that the SPH has with the New York State Department of Health. For the past 4 years, I have been able to conduct my research at the state health labs with many resources at my disposal. My research has focused on developing and validating analytical methods for the determination of manganese in blood, urine, and teeth, which is important for occupational monitoring and biomonitoring. I have gotten to use many techniques including GFAAS, Q-ICP-MS, SF-ICP-MS, and LA-ICP-MS. Being able to use such a broad range of techniques within my own lab has allowed me to be well-trained for future employment and to produce quality research as a student.

Aubrey Galusha

Mentor: Dr. Patrick Parsons
The best thing about the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany is the real-world feel. I am doing research in the same labs, on the same equipment as Department of Health scientists, and my mentor and peers are government scientists rather than pure academics. Projects we work on are typically partnerships between the DOH and SPH, which provide a level of practicality that is unmatched in academic institutions.I am working in a clinical lab headed by Dr. Patrick Parsons. My project deals with strontium in bones. Strontium tends to accumulate in bones because it shares much of its chemistry with calcium, and it is only slightly larger than calcium which allows it to replace calcium in the body. There are two forms of strontium; radioactive isotopes and stable isotopes. Stable strontium is found in all human bones and has been shown to help increase bone density in patients with osteoporosis. Radioactive strontium in the form of strontium-90 is harmful to bones and can cause bone pain. Strontium-90 is also used to monitor nuclear power plants because nuclear fallout is its only source. Strontium isotope ratios (especially strontium 87/strontium 86) are used primarily by archeologists to trace artifacts back to their origins; this is possible because the ratio of strontium 87 to strontium 86 is unique to regions throughout the world and has been well established. More recently this relationship is being used by forensic scientists to help identify bodies where DNA has been lost.My project involves developing, optimizing and validating methods to look at these various types of strontium in bones and then using these methods to look at the accumulation and spatial distribution of the strontium within a bone and between bones. By doing so we may be able to learn more about how to effectively give osteoporosis patients treatment with strontium and where and what bones to monitor to determine if nuclear power plants have a leak as well as to what extent.


Keewan Kim

Mentor: Dr. Michael S. Bloom 
I started my career with the School of Public Health in the Epidemiology department where I earned my MPH.  As part of MPH internship, I worked with my current advisor, Dr. Michael Bloom from the EHS department who gave me the opportunity to experience environmental/reproductive epidemiology.  After my internship experience, I realized that this subject area was of great interest to me and I decided to continue my academic career in the Environmental and Occupational Health track in the EHS department. In the Environmental and Occupational Health track, I’m able to study how to investigate the associations between environmental contaminants and adverse health outcomes.  Although my research area is focused on epidemiology, I was able to learn how environmental contaminants are actually analyzed in the laboratories.  Such direct experience was available through the unique collaboration with the New York State Department of Health laboratories and the School of Public Health. There is a wide variety of opportunities for EHS students during/after graduation.  Students receive the preparation they need to be part of environmental health research programs, academia, state/local health departments, or any other environmental health related agencies through the EHS program and the opportunities and experiences it offers.

Austin Roberts

Mentor: Dr. Patrick Parsons
I'm interest in becoming a PH worker as well as a researcher, and the location is very affordable.
I wanted to obtain PhD at institution that was in a location that was significantly different from where I obtain my Undergraduate degree. The following experiences has being in the EHS exposed me to opportunities: the ability to learn/work alongside researchers that are on the frontlines of increasing awareness to Environmental issues as well as conducting research to help improve our Environmental condition; exposure to ideas and project from a wide range of professionals. What I like most are the close knit community of students and faculty, wonderful course selections, and amazing opportunities to work in the PH sector as a consequence of being closely tied with NYDOH. If you are passionate about making changes and want to the opportunity to learn from faculty who are deeply involved in the fight to make the world a better/healthier place then EHS department is for you.


Xiaoyu Fan

Mentor: Dr. Qing-Yu Zhang
EHS is a joint program which provides more sources from both sides. The course arrangement is reasonable and effective for us to prepare for the career in the Public Health. The faculty and staff here are great, and are always willing to help, and we have full access to the facilities. From my experience, the academic advisor and thesis committee members are highly supportive in my academic study, and they have abundant experience in training students in research. In addition, the seminar from both students and Wadsworth Center give us more opportunities to learn about the Environmental Health. I would like to recommend EHS to any prospective students.





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