Current Fellows in the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch

Ms. Ammons, predoctoral fellow in OEEB, works on projects evaluating the relationship between environmental exposures in drinking water and air pollution and cancer risk, under the mentorship of Rena Jones, Ph.D.

Dr. Blechter, postdoctoral fellow in OEEB, assesses gene-environment interactions, integrating genetic and environmental risk factors to build risk models for lung cancer. She also investigates various biomarkers relating to carcinogenic exposures. Her mentors are Qing Lan, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., and Nathaniel Rothman, M.D., M.P.H., M.H.S.

Dr. Breeze, postdoctoral fellow in OEEB, is focusing on genome-wide association studies and epigenome-wide association studies. His mentor is Sonja Berndt, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Chang, research fellow in OEEB, works on projects examining the biologic effects and cancer risks related to pesticide exposures among farmers, as well as molecular epidemiologic studies of cancer risk in relation to environmental chemical contaminants. Her research mentor is Jonathan Hofmann, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Mr. Ezennia, postbaccalaureate fellow in OEEB, works on investigations of multiple myeloma and its precursor, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and on projects within the Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect in Agriculture (BEEA) Study and the Agricultural Health Study, under the mentorship of Jonathan Hofmann, Ph.D.

Dr. He, postdoctoral fellow in OEEB, works on projects examining genetic and occupational risk factors for lymphoid malignancies and second cancers. Her mentor is Dr. Sonja Berndt.

Dr. Jung, postdoctoral fellow in OEEB, is working on projects investigating cancer risks associated with diverse environmental exposures, in particular per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and air pollution, as well as molecular epidemiologic studies exploring cancer risk through genetic factors. Her mentor is Mark Purdue, Ph.D.

Dr. Kamenetsky, postdoctoral fellow in OEEB, is developing methodology to explore spatial and causal aspects of environmental mixtures, under the mentorship of Alexander Keil, Ph.D., and Paul Albert, Ph.D.

Dr. Madrigal, Independent Research Scholar and research fellow in OEEB, conducts studies using geographic information systems (GIS) for environmental exposure assessment and to identify determinants of environmental exposures that are related to cancers, and cancer risk, in adults and children. Her mentor is Rena Jones, Ph.D., M.S.

Dr. Post, postdoctoral fellow in OEEB, works on projects evaluating associations between environmental pollutants and cancer risk in adults and children under the mentorship of Rena Jones, Ph.D., M.S.

Ms. Pruitt, postbaccalaureate fellow in OEEB, is developing epidemiological expertise in the areas of environmental exposures, health disparities, and cancer with an emphasis on using geographic information systems (GIS) for exposure assessment and conducting analyses of cancer risk, under the mentorship of Jessica Madrigal, Ph.D., Independent Research Scholar, and Rena Jones, Ph.D., senior investigator.

Dr. Remigio, a postdoctoral fellow in OEEB, is evaluating pesticide-cancer risks in applicants and spouses in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) cohort, under the mentorship of Laura Beane Freeman, Ph.D. He is also researching climate-driven exposures such as extreme rainfall, flooding, wildfires, and cancer-related outcomes with Dr. Beane Freeman and Dr. Rena Jones.

Dr. Rhee, research fellow in OEEB, investigates cancer risks associated with diverse environmental exposures including chlorinated solvents, persistent organic pollutants and air pollution, and conducts molecular epidemiologic studies of kidney cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma etiology. Her mentor is Mark Purdue, Ph.D., senior investigator.

Dr. Spaur, postdoctoral fellow in OEEB, is studying drinking water exposures to metals/metalloids, disinfection byproducts, and inorganic contaminants and associated cancer risk in the Agricultural Health Study and the California Teachers Study, under the mentorship of Rena Jones, Ph.D.

Ms. Tadesse, postbaccalaureate fellow in OEEB, works on projects related to evaluating the health effects of pesticides and risk of prostate cancer in diverse populations and on occupational and environmental factors associated with bladder cancer, under the mentorship of Stella Koutros, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Xie, research fellow in OEEB, develops and evaluates occupational and environmental exposure assessment methods, including validating an algorithm to estimate non-occupational pesticide exposure developed for spouses in the Agricultural Health Study. Her mentor is Melissa Friesen, Ph.D.