The Duke University Program in Environmental Health (UPEH) is a pre-doctoral training program that rigorously prepares students for the complexity of research careers in environmental health. The UPEH is an interdepartmental, transdisciplinary program in which PhD degrees are awarded jointly by a Department within Duke University and the UPEH. Fellows receive high-quality training including: (1) classroom instruction for content mastery in core topical areas (Environmental Health, Toxicology, Exposure Science, Epidemiology, etc), and quantitative methods used in cutting-edge research (Biostatistics, Exposure Science Modelling, Big Data Analytics, etc); (2) seminars and symposia that include literature analysis and presentation of primary research; (3) instruction in Responsible Conduct of Research; (4) laboratory research; and (5) professional development, including communication and matrix management of scientific teams. Research strengths include: (1) human environmental health with specific strengths in cardiopulmonary health and disease, developmental and children?s health, neurological health, cancer and the environment, and global health; (2) Exposure science with a focus on endocrine disrupters, pharmaceuticals, flame retardants, other organic pollutants including hydrocarbons, nanomaterials and inorganic pollutants including metals and metalloids, and (3) Environmental toxicology, focused on molecular mechanisms of action that affect health. UPEH programming is supported by the outstanding research environment of Duke's Medical Center, the Nicholas School of the Environment, the Pratt School of Engineering, the Global Health Institute, and Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, and provides a uniquely integrated educational environment with access to shared facilities, support cores, and resources to support the fellows training in cutting-edge research. Core Duke faculty members in the UPEH serve as primary advisors for pre-doctoral students. The Program is further enriched by adjunct faculty and external advisors from our neighboring Research Triangle Park-based institutions such as the NIEHS, US EPA, and RTI, in addition to our sister triangle universities (North Carolina Central University, NC State University, and UNC Chapel Hill). These faculty members provide seminars, lectures, serve on student committees, and provide technical expertise, research facilities and career guidance. Our recruiting and admissions efforts have consistently provided us with outstanding trainees who are eager to embark upon careers in environmental health and related sub-disciplines, with a particular emphasis on recruiting and retaining underrepresented minorities. The success of our students post- graduation is a reflection of the quality of the students, faculty, and broader environment of the UPEH.
Environmental health research has clearly defined environmental chemicals and stressors as major contributors in the etiology of chronic diseases such as cancer, degenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders; however, true delineation of environmental factors as causative agents in disease requires a stronger interdisciplinary approach to research and training. Through integration of transdisciplinary expertise in Duke University?s Nicholas School of the Environment, School of Medicine, and Environmental Engineering, the Duke University Program in Environmental Health (UPEH) will provide pre-doctoral fellows with the unique scientific content mastery, laboratory training and critical communication skills necessary for leadership roles in Environmental Health research. Trainees will emerge proficient in how to best delineate environmental exposures, characterize the mechanisms underlying molecular and cellular responses, and define the associated health outcomes.
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