Nikita Bharati
Project Title: The Human Tissue Project: Ex-vivo characterization of Hirschsprung’s Disease and the Enteric Nervous System (ENS)
Krishna Chandrasekhara
Project Title: Effects of Phthalate Exposure on Placenta Epigenetics and Morphology
Sophia Jarrar
Project Title: Nanopore: An E-fish-ent way of DNA Sequencing
Zane Pasha
Project Title: Disparities in Mercury Exposure from Dental Amalgams
Madison Rhodes
Project Title: Nanopore: An E-fish-ent way of DNA Sequencing
Ryan Turlip
My name is Ryan Turlip, and I am a rising Senior at the University of Pennsylvania. I am originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania, and I study Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Health Services Management. I have always been interested in how environmental and social factors affect health. Following graduation, I plan to attend medical school where I will continue conducting interdisciplinary research studying how the social determinants of health influence patient outcomes.
This Summer, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Jianghong Liu who specializes in environmental health and neurocognitive disorders. Combining her specialty with my interest in Neuroscience, I conducted a systematic review studying the association between toxic heavy metal exposure and Alzheimer’s Disease. I am incredibly thankful to STEER for allowing me to learn more about environmental health and contribute to informative research elucidating the connection between environmental exposures and neurodegenerative diseases.
Shane Schechter
As a high school student, I attended the Marine Academy of Science and Technology in Gateway National Recreation Area where marine science and the environmental well-being of the ocean was the primary academic focus. In 2019, I volunteered in the Navajo Nation and learned how centuries of rich cultural history intersected with modern-day public health challenges from a turbulent legacy of colonialism and oppression. Immersing myself in their community, I learned not only about the chronic diseases present in the population but also the lingering health defects of uranium mining. Influenced by my experiences, as an undergraduate here at Penn, I am studying Health and Societies to understand how environmental hazards, historical events, cultural practices, and biology impact health outcomes in communities.
Sean O’Connor
My name is Sean O’Connor, and I am a rising senior at Franklin and Marshall College. I am majoring in environmental science and after I graduate, I plan to apply to law schools to eventually pursue a career in environmental policy. Through my studies at Franklin and Marshall, and my internship at CEET, I have become increasingly passionate about the environment and how it affects public health.
Isabelle Bonita
Hello, my name is Isabelle Bonita, but I go by Izzy! I am a rising sophomore studying public health and emergency health sciences at George Washington University. Following undergrad, I hope to pursue medical school while continuing research in environmental health. I am extremely passionate about mental health and understanding how our occupations influence our exposures to physical, chemical, and psychological hazards.
This summer, alongside my mentor Dr. Jianghong Liu, who is a renowned researcher in cognitive neuroscience and environmental exposures, I worked on a systematic review focusing on the mental health outcomes of first responders after disastrous wildfires.
As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, I feel that it is imperative that we understand the effects of these events on vulnerable populations like first responders. First responders are trained to be selfless and risk their lives for the safety of others, and I believe there needs to be a stronger emphasis on first responder health, especially mental health. I hope that this project leads to more research on the ways that shareholders can support and take accountability for the mental health of first responders.
I am so grateful for all of the opportunities and mentorship STEER provided this past summer. I will bring my intense curiosity and passion for environmental health that I’ve gained through STEER, wherever I go in academia and in my future career.