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December 15, 2023 (Issue 239) |
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2023 Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award
Announced during the 2023 SRP Annual Grant Recipient Meeting, Rollie Mills from the University of Kentucky SRP Center was awarded the Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award. Mills was recognized for his work in removing harmful chemicals from water and air through the development of filtration membranes. Learn more about Mills in his award announcement.
PEPH 2024 Meeting
The Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH) 2024 meeting will be held February 20-22, 2024, on the NIEHS campus in Durham, North Carolina. Registration will open at the end of December. The theme of this year’s meeting is Climate Change and Environmental Justice: Engaging Diverse Teams. We look forward to bringing together grant recipients and partners within the PEPH network for the first time in four years to discuss common issues, approaches, and opportunities.
SOT 2024: New Investigator Session and Funding Insights Room
The annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology (SOT) will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 10-14, 2024. Sessions to be offered during SOT include:
- New Investigator/Funding 101 Session: Grant Opportunities and Tips for Toxicologists, March 11, 2024. This session will feature a Grants 101 presentation by staff from funding agencies and grant writing advice by principal investigators. For more information, contact Anika Dzierlenga.
- Funding Insights Room, March 11-13, 2024. This session will allow grant recipients, applicants, and anyone interested in grants to participate in one-on-one meetings with funding agency staff. For more information, contact Danielle Carlin.
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NIEHS SRP News Stories
Take a moment to read about some of our colleagues' latest activities in this month's Environmental Factor, the NIEHS newsletter:
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For PFAS-polluted sites, forum highlights best research practices: Members of the Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable convened in November to share strategies for sampling and characterizing PFAS-polluted sites and challenges to interpreting data.
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New method generates airborne free radicals for laboratory study: Researchers at the Louisiana State University (LSU) SRP Center developed a new approach to improve how environmentally persistent free radicals are generated and studied in the lab. This strategy addresses a deficiency in methods to simulate realistic environmental exposures in animals.
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Microbial process for PFAS breakdown uncovered: An SRP-funded study at the University of California, Riverside revealed important mechanistic information about how some microbes break down PFAS in the environment. The findings may inspire more cost-effective bioremediation approaches.
Visit the SRP page for more stories about the program.
UNC Researchers Featured in Article About Well Research
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) SRP Center scientists were featured in a UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health article about their research linking preterm birth incidence with exposure to metals in drinking water.
OSU Discusses Zebrafish Research
Robyn Tanguay and Lisa Truong from the Oregon State University (OSU) SRP Center were interviewed by Drug Discovery News about how they expose zebrafish to nanomaterials to study their toxicity.
NCSU Researchers Talk PFAS
Tracy Woodlief, a researcher at the North Carolina State University (NCSU) SRP Center, was interviewed twice about PFAS exposures in firefighters and how experimental models can mimic linkages between PFAS exposure and firefighter health.
Jane Hoppin, a project leader at the center, was featured in an NIEHS podcast about the GenX Exposure study, which was launched in response to North Carolina residents’ concerns following the discovery of PFAS in their drinking water.
UNM Trainee Featured in NIEHS Research Highlight
University of New Mexico (UNM) SRP center trainee Theodros Woldeyohannes was recently featured in an NIEHS research highlight about his work on the spatial modeling of fires at solid waste disposal sites in Tribal lands.
TAMU Researchers Featured in News Articles
Texas A&M University (TAMU) SRP Center researcher Erin Baker was quoted in articles from The Guardian and Chemical & Engineering News about her publication that used novel methods to detect PFAS compounds that may not be detected using conventional methods.
Natalie Johnson, also of the TAMU SRP Center, was recently featured in a news article about her air quality research in Joppa, Texas. Johnson’s research team set up three air monitors in Joppa to share real-time air quality data with residents.
Jayasundara, Ferguson, and Stapleton Present Research and Share Knowledge in Interviews
Nishad Jayasundara, a Duke University SRP Center researcher, was recently highlighted by Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment for his research on climate change and kidney health. Jayasundara was also featured in an article alongside Lee Ferguson, another Duke SRP researcher, about their research on drinking water and kidney disease in Sri Lanka.
In recent interview with Arizona Central, Duke SRP Center Director Heather Stapleton breaks down the science behind PFAS compounds and explains why they are referred to as forever chemicals.
Iowa SRP Director Quoted in Article About PCBs in Fish
Keri Hornbuckle, the director of the University of Iowa SRP Center, was recently interviewed by the New Bedford Light regarding potential polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) contamination in fish from the New Bedford Harbor in Massachusetts. Hornbuckle recommends that fish from the harbor never be eaten based on research results that suggest human health impacts even at low levels of exposure.
MIT Researcher Shares Research Interests on Podcast
Desiree Plata, the deputy director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) SRP Center, was recently interviewed on a podcast by MIT’s president. Plata shared her life stories that inspired her to pursue a career in environmental health, including noticing many illnesses in the town her grandmother lived in and prompting her to suspect that the air or water was contaminated.
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Utilizing Fungi to Degrade Contaminants
This month we spoke with Joshua Crittenden, a trainee at the Duke University SRP Center mentored by Claudia Gunsch.
What is the focus of your research at the Duke SRP Center?
I am developing a strategy that uses fungi and bacteria to remediate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In particular, I am studying how the interactions between fungi and bacteria can help transform PAHs into non-toxic substances.
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How did you become interested in this work?
As an undergraduate at the University of Connecticut, I studied wastewater treatment technologies and developed an interest in environmental microbiology. When I had the opportunity to visit Duke, I met my current advisor, Claudia Gunsch, and I learned more about remediation. Gaining knowledge in the field of mycology — or the study of fungi — and being able to engineer fungi to help degrade contaminants was what really piqued my interest in this work.
Tell us about a recent accomplishment and what it means to you.
I was chosen as a finalist to join the Duke University Board of Trustees earlier in 2023 — I had gone through several rounds of interviews before being chosen as one of four candidates for the position. As an environmental researcher, I had made a concerted effort to be involved on the Duke campus, so receiving this recognition was very meaningful.
What factors have contributed most to your growth as a researcher throughout your time as an SRP trainee?
Mentorship was a key component in my development as a researcher. As an SRP trainee, I've had the opportunity to receive mentorship from fellow Duke scientists David Singleton, Daniel Raudabaugh, Abbey Joyce, and Emina Hodzic, who have all taken the time to address my questions and offer advice. Gaining knowledge about how our research can be translated for a greater impact on society through seminars and workshops has been another factor.
What is one piece of advice that you have for other SRP trainees?
I'd advise other trainees to give themselves enough time to develop into well-rounded researchers. While scientific research remains vital, you should also enroll in courses on science communication, environmental politics, law, and community involvement.
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Climate Vulnerability Assessments at Superfund Sites
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) documented lessons learned in conducting climate vulnerability assessments at sites on the National Priorities List. The goals of a climate vulnerability assessment are to assess future climate changes at a site so they may be factored into site decision making, determine whether adaptation measures are necessary to improve remedy resilience, and ensure that remedy protectiveness is maintained under future changes in climate.
Best Management Practices for Green Remediation
EPA released an updated green remediation fact sheet describing best management practices to reduce the environmental footprint of constructing, maintaining and monitoring a waste cover system. The fact sheet also highlights sites where such integrated planning is anticipated to enhance long-term site sustainability and resilience.
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PCB Compounds Linked to Diabetes Risk
Researchers at the University of Iowa SRP Center identified specific PCB compounds, or congeners, associated with diabetes risk. The authors also calculated the lowest concentration, known as threshold, that resulted in a biological change related to diabetes.
Although PCBs were phased out in 1978, the compounds can still be found in the environment and in old building materials and continue to be manufactured as byproducts of certain industrial processes. PCBs have been associated with a myriad of adverse health effects, including cancer and diabetes.
The team obtained data on PCB concentrations in serum and diabetes status from 1244 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2002 and 2004. Then, they used a machine learning tool called decision tree analysis to identify PCB congeners and their thresholds associated with diabetes. Their analysis showed that PCB 126, at serum concentrations as low as 0.025 nanograms per gram, was the congener that was most consistently associated with diabetes.
Since people are often exposed to multiple PCB congeners at the same time, the scientists also estimated the combined associations of several serum PCB congeners with diabetes. They found that low levels of PCB 101 combined with high levels of PCB 126 decreased diabetes risk and that adding PCB 49 to the mixture increased the risk. The authors suggested that the metabolism of different PCBs may play a role in the interaction between PCB mixtures and diabetes.
According to the research team, these findings provide new insights into the combined association of PCBs and diabetes. However, further research to reveal the mechanisms of disease development is needed.
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HHS Environmental Justice Community Innovator Challenge
What: Community-led strategies and tools to address health disparities in communities disproportionately impacted by environmental risks and hazards including those related to climate change, and the cumulative impacts of other stressors.
Funder: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
When: Applications are due January 30.
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Statistical and Bioinformatic Approaches in Lipidomics
NCSU and TAMU SRP Center researchers collaborated on a review discussing statistical and bioinformatic approaches for exploring the lipidome. They illustrated common statistical approaches for finding patterns in lipidomic datasets, including univariate hypothesis testing, unsupervised clustering, supervised classification modeling, and deep learning approaches. They then describe various bioinformatic tools often used to biologically contextualize results of interest.
Ion Mobility Spectrometry Collision Cross Section Database
An Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) collision cross section (CCS) database, METLIN-CSS, was created in part by researchers at the TAMU SRP Center. METLIN-CSS provides CSS values derived from IMS data for over 27,000 molecular standards, representing 79 chemical classes.
Open-Source Package for Interaction and Effect Modifications in Mixed Exposures
An open-source R package, SuperNOVA, from the University of California, Berkeley SRP Center, uses machine learning methods to identify variable sets that have the most explanatory power on an outcome of interest. The software reduces the risk of model bias and can help drive faster public health decisions by removing human bias due to model selection.
Interlaboratory Comparison for Organofluorine Analysis Method
Research funded by the NCSU and University of Rhode Island (URI) SRP centers aimed to standardize methods for organofluorine analysis through an international interlaboratory comparison. Seven labs compared extractable organofluorine and PFAS concentrations from groundwater and eel using combustion ion chromatography. Based on the results, the authors suggest analysts consider confounding methodological uncertainties such as differences in precision between measurements, data processing steps, and the relative recoveries of PFAS and other fluorine compounds.
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 The OSU and LSU SRP centers co-sponsored a science communication workshop in partnership with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry on September 19. There were 34 participants in attendance, including SRP trainees from 5 different centers. (Photo courtesy of the OSU SRP Center)
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Multiple Opportunities with NIEHS
The NIEHS Reproduction and Developmental Biology Laboratory is recruiting a staff scientist 1 for the Pregnancy and Female Reproduction Group under the leadership of Francesco DeMayo, Ph.D., chief and senior investigator. The Pregnancy and Female Reproduction Group uses molecular genetics, bioinformatics, cell culture, and animal models to the molecular mechanisms governing female reproductive tract function during pregnancy.
The Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch in the Division of Intramural Research is also recruiting a staff scientist to support the research activity in the Applied Statistics Group led by Shanshan Zhao, Ph.D. Successful candidates may be expected to employ statistical methodological developments and collaborative population-based studies to reveal the social and physical determinants of health outcomes.
HHS Environmental Justice and Equity Fellowship
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health seeks applicants for an in-person fellowship in Washington, D.C., though remote candidates may also be considered. This position will focus on protecting the health of disadvantaged and vulnerable communities and addressing the effects of climate change on the health of Americans, while helping to inform an HHS Environmental Justice Strategic Plan. Applications are due December 18.
U.S. EPA Post-Doctoral Researcher Wanted
Within the Watershed and Ecosystem Characterization Division of EPA, the Ecosystem Condition Branch seeks candidates for a post-doctoral researcher position. This position will focus on development, enhancement, and operational transition of national models for forecasting harmful cyanobacteria blooms in freshwater and seagrass habitat change, combined with emerging remote sensing technologies.
University of Michigan Opportunities
The University of Michigan has a research associate opening for a productive chemist, in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Based in East Lansing, Michigan, the role will involve research on recently funded projects of early drug discovery and chemical biology.
URI SRP Center Seeking Postdoctoral Research Associate
The URI SRP Center has an opening for a postdoctoral research associate. The primary responsibility of this position will be to develop and implement data management practices based on the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles for data collected from experiments, simulations, field research, and clinical studies. Inquiries should be directed to Harrison Dekker at hdekker@uri.edu.
Senior Level Position at University of Pennsylvania
The Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology at the University of Pennsylvania has an opening for a senior environmental health scientist. The primary appointment will be in Systems Pharmacology & Translational Therapeutics, but appointments in other departments are possible depending on expertise.
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Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals, PAHs Interact to Increase Toxicity of Particulate Mixtures
Watch the latest Research Brief video!
Past Research Briefs are available on the SRP website. To receive the monthly Research Briefs or to submit ideas, email Brittany Trottier (brittany.trottier@nih.gov).
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TAMU Disaster Research Training Workshop
December 14-15, 2023
College Station, Texas
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USA Exposome Symposium
January 22-24, 2024
Nashville, Tennessee
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Correcting Some Misconceptions about EPA's Superfund Approach for Radiation Risk Assessment
January 31, 2023
Virtual
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PEPH 2024
February 20-22, 2024
Durham, North Carolina
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Microplastics Webinar
February 27, 2024
Virtual
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ITRC PFAS Introductory Training
February 29, 2024
Virtual
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Need to get in touch with an NIEHS SRP staff member? Check out our Contact Staff page. |
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JOIN THE @SRP_NIEHS KNOWLEDGE NETWORK!
NIEHS uses X (formerly Twitter), a popular social media tool, for information sharing through tweets. Many SRP Centers also have accounts, and it would be great if all participated! Follow @SRP_NIEHS to instantly hear news about the program, noteworthy publications, events, and job opportunities for trainees.
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