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Graduate Programs in Environmental Toxicology
UC Irvine's Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine provides training in Environmental Toxicology, culminating with the award of the master's degrees of science or doctor of philosophy degrees in one of two tracks, Environmental Toxicology and Exposure Science and Risk Assessment
The Environmental Toxicology program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary and appropriate to teach and/or conduct basic and applied research programs in inhalation/pulmonary toxicology, biochemical neurotoxicology, reproductive and developmental toxicology, chemical pathology, toxicokinetics, radiation toxicology, molecular carcinogenesis, exposure sciences and risk assessment.
Toxicology involves the scientific study of the entry, distribution, biotransformation and mechanism of the action of chemical agents that are harmful to the body. The graduate program interprets environmental toxicology as the study of the effects and mechanisms of action of hazardous chemicals in food, air, water and soil in the home, the workplace and the community. It also considers experimentally and theoretically such diverse research problems as:
- New scientific approaches to toxicological evaluation of environmental chemicals such as air and water pollutants, food additives, industrial wastes and agricultural adjuvants at the molecular, cellular and organism levels;
- New approaches to the evaluation of human exposures to environmental chemicals;
- Mechanisms of action in chemical toxicity;
- The molecular pathology of tissue injury in acute toxicity;
- Scientific principles involved in evaluating risks to human health from environmental exposures.
The application deadline is Jan. 15, 2012. Admission offers will be made no later than June 30. The program begins in the fall quarter of 2012.
The are two sets of requirements for admission into graduate programs in the University of California: university requirements and program requirements.
General university requirements for admission to graduate study are available in the online UC Irvine General Catalog in the section titled "Graduate Division" and also in the Graduate Division bulletin, "UC Irvine Graduate Application for Admission."
The Program/Department Code for submitting your GRE scores to the Environmental Toxicology Program is 0219. The UC Irvine Institution Code is R4859. The Institution Code for submitting your TOEFL scores is 4859.
For more information about applying to UC Irvine for graduate studies, please visit the Graduate Division website: http://www.grad.uci.edu/admissions/applying-to-uci/index.html.
Entrance requirements for graduate students in Environmental Toxicology are:
|
Subject |
Suggested UC Irvine equivalent |
|
Calculus |
Math 2A-B-D Calculus |
|
Physics |
Physics 3A-B-C Basic Physics |
|
General Chemistry |
Chem 1 A-B-C General Chemistry |
|
Organic Chemistry |
Chem 51 A-B-C; laboratory recommended |
|
Biochemistry |
BioSci 98 Biochemistry; laboratory recommended |
|
General Biology |
BioSci 96 Ecology |
|
Physical Chemistry |
Any two of the following three courses: |
Students with deficiencies in certain areas may be admitted to the graduate program, but the deficiencies must be made up within the first year of residence in the program. The student will be notified of any apparent deficiency at the time of acceptance into the graduate program.
Luderer's research on reproductive and developmental toxicology is currently focused on understanding the role(s) of oxidative stress and antioxidants in ovarian toxicity, ovarian aging and ovarian cancer. A second area of focus is developmental toxicology of the reproductive system, specifically the developmental basis of premature ovarian failure and ovarian cancer. Dean B. Baker, MD — Director, Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Baker's epidemiologic research is focused on environmental studies of hazardous waste sites, childhood exposure to environmental pollutants, asthma among inner-city children, the role of irritant exposure in occupational asthma, occupational stress, indoor air pollution and the use of biological markers of exposure for subclinical effects. Bartell's research in exposure sciences and risk assessment focuses on probabilistic models and statistical methods for exposure assessment, environmental epidemiology and risk decision analysis. Bondy's research in molecular neurotoxicology focuses on the potential role of toxic agents in the promotion of brain aging and neurological disease. Studies include evaluation of agents that accelerate or retard the aging process. Endpoints range from behavioral tests to assay of gene expression. In addition, the properties of aluminum that relate to neurotoxicity and its possible contribution to Alzheimer's disease are being investigated. Caiozzo's expertise is in structure and function of muscle with an emphasis on exercise physiology. He has a special interest in the role of environmental toxicants in modulating physiological responses in human muscle. Chan's research in chemical pathology focuses on the oxidative stress response in cells exposed to toxic xenobiotics.' Delfino's research is focused on air pollution exposure assessment and health effects, chronic disease and environmental epidemiology, and gene-environment interactions. Dunn-Rankin's major research focus is on laser and optical diagnostics in practical systems, optical particle sizing, droplet formation and vaporization and their application to human exposures. Edwards' research in exposure sciences and risk assessment focuses on air pollution, particles, volatile organic compounds, greenhouse gases and environmental epidemiology in the developing world and European cities. Jiang's research focus is in coastal water quality microbiology and the application of molecular techniques to detect human pathogenic bacteria and viruses in aquatic environments. Kimonis is a Clinical Geneticist-Scientist with a strong
interest in the genetics of neuromuscular diseases. Her laboratory
focuses on the genetic causes of muscle disease. She is particularly
interested in inherited muscle disorders that occur in combination with
diseases of bone. Michael T. Kleinman, PhD — Co-director, Air Pollution Health Effects Laboratory Kleinman's research focuses on the mechanisms of cardiopulmonary injury following inhalation of toxic compounds. His laboratory uses state-of-the-art methods to evaluate the roles of free radicals and oxidative stress in sensitive human volunteers and laboratory animals. In vitro methods are used to evaluate specific mechanisms. Other interests include analytical and atmospheric chemistry, environmental sampling and analysis, and the application of mathematical and statistical methods to environmental and occupational assessments of exposure and risk. Charles E. Lambert, PhD Lambert's research is in industrial and regulatory toxicology, pharmaceutical toxicology as it relates to impurities and degradants, green chemistry and life cycle evaluations, risk assessment and risk communication. Limoli studies the mechanisms by which cells perpetuate genomic instability in response to radiation and environmental toxicants and the role of oxidative stress in these processes. He also explores how DNA damage and oxidative stress may drive the progression of normal multipotent cells in the central nervous system to brain tumor stem cell. Oladele A. Ogunseitan, PhD — Chair, Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention Ogunseitan's research is focused on microbial diversity and ecology, environmental pollution, industrial ecology, health and development. Osann's specialty is in cancer epidemiology and applied biostastics. Robert F. Phalen, PhD — Co-director, Air Pollution Health Effects Laboratory Phalen's research focus is on the aerodynamics of particle deposition in the developing lung and in the adult lung. Another area of interest is in the assessment of lung defense mechanisms using radio-labeled aerosol inhalation challenges. His lab uses quantitative morphometry to study the mechanism of interference with organogenesis and possible long-term consequences for chronic lung disease due to toxic inhalation exposure. Additional studies include evaluating the tolerance of animals to air pollution mixtures as a mechanism that may protect humans against ambient pollutants. Redpath studies into the chemical and physical modification of radiation damage are aimed at basic research in carcinogenesis. His recent work is focused on radiation-induced neoplastic transformation and tumor suppression gene inactivation. The principal thrust of Shank's research is to elucidate mechanisms
of action of environmental toxicants, especially carcinogens. The
current focus is on the mechanisms in DNA adduct formation by multiple
carcinogens and maintenance methylation of DNA in defined sequences
using various tools of molecular biology. Of special interest are
molecular mechanisms in the competition for binding sites on DNA. Wu's research focus is on air pollution exposure assessment and air pollution epidemiology.
Scott M. Bartell, PhD
Stephen C. Bondy, PhD
Graduate Courses in Environmental Toxicology
201 — Principles of Toxicology (4) Spring. Problem solving to demonstrate principles of toxicology; quantitative dose-response relationship; toxicant-target (receptor) interaction emphasizing interspecies differences in Ah receptor and dioxins; complete in vivo metabolism of xenobiotics by mammalian systems: integration of organ responses to toxic agents. Prerequisite: TOX 206A-B, or consent of instructor. (Staff)
202 — Environmental Toxicology (4) Fall. Analysis of real problems involving toxic chemicals and the human food, air and water supplies, occupational exposures, and life styles. Formal problems will be considered by small groups of students and discussed by the class. (Staff)
204 —Neurotoxicology (4) Winter. The effects of various harmful chemicals upon nervous system function. Emphasis given to the molecular events underlying neurological damage and to the relation of such processes to basic mechanisms of neurobiology. (Bondy)
206A,B — Target Organ Toxicology (6,6) Fall, Winter. Analysis of the responses occurring in individual organs of man and animals exposed to environmental chemicals at toxic levels; distinctive structural and functional features of ten organ systems are presented in terms of phenomena, mechanisms of action, and methods of study. (Staff)
207 — Experimental Design and Interpretation of Toxicology Studies (2) F or W. Introduction to methods of structuring toxicology experiments and analyzing data including experimental design, data distributions, sample sizes, hypothesis testing, linear regression, analysis of variance, multiple comparison testing and non-parametric tests. (Kleinman)
212 — Inhalation Toxicology (4) Spring, odd years. The principles and practice of laboratory inhalation toxicology. Topics include aerosols, gases, respiratory tract structure and function, lung defenses, aerosol deposition exposure techniques, characterization of exposure atmospheres, experimental designs, animal models, research ethics, and regulations and guidelines. (Phalen)
220 — Industrial Toxicology (4) S. Analysis of responsibilities toxicologists have in industry, including product safety generating material safety, data sheets, animal testing, ecotoxicological testing, risk/hazard communication, and assisting industrial hygienists and occupational physicians; emphasis on interdisciplinary nature of industrial toxicology and communication skills. Prerequisite: TOX 206A,B. (Lambert)
264 — Environmental Health Sciences I: Introduction to Environmental Health Science (4). Convergence of agents (chemical, physical, biological, or psychosocial) in the environment can emerge as diseases influenced by social, political, and economic factors, allowing them to become rooted in society. How these agents from various spheres come together and impact human health. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor. Same as Public Health 264/ Environmental Health, Science, and Policy E224/Epidemiology 264. (Wu)
269 Air Pollution, Climate, and Health (4). Emission of air pollutants into the atmosphere, physical and meteorological processes that affect transport, and influence on global warming. Concepts of how and where people are most exposed, and how exposures and health effects differ in developed and developing regions. Same as Epidemiology 270/Public Health 269 and Environmental Health, Science, and Policy E247. (Wu)
270 — Human Exposure to Environmental Contaminants (4). Introduces founders of conceptual thought that environmental contaminants can impact health. Theory and principles of exposure assessment, the continuum from emissions of a contaminant into the environment to evidence of health effects in a population. Same as Epidemiology 270/Environmental Health, Science, and Policy E248/Public Health 270. (Edwards)
275 — Exposure Modeling and Risk Assessment (4). This course surveys the general principles, basic mathematical methods, and practices of environmental modeling and human health risk assessment. Topics include advection-dispersion models for contaminants in air and water, uptake by plants and animals, dose-response modeling, risk management, and risk perception. Although the emphasis is on environmental toxicants, infectious disease transmission models are are briefly introduced. Students conduct an original risk assessment as a final group project. Same as Public Health 275 (Bartell).
290 — Independent Study in Environmental Toxicology (4) Fall, Winter, Spring. With consent from a faculty member who will supervise the program, a student may receive credit for individual study in some area of toxicology, culminating in the completion of a scholarly paper on the subject. May be repeated for credit. (Staff)
297 — Advanced Topics in Occupational Toxicology (2) F,W,S. Discussions with clinical and research faculty in environmental toxicology and occupational medical on current toxicology problems in the workplace and critical review of current publications in the field. Journal club/seminar format. (Bondy).
298A,B,C — Environmental Toxicology Seminar (2) Fall, Winter, Spring. Presentation and discussion of current research problems and issues by students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and guests, covering the broad research and policy areas of environmental toxicology. (Bondy)
299 A,B,C — Research Problems (1 to 12) Fall, Winter, Spring. Research work for the M.S. thesis or Ph.D. dissertation. (Staff)
Graduate Courses in Statistics
201 — Statistical Methods for Data Analysis I (4). Introduction to statistical methods for analyzing data from experiments and surveys. Methods covered include two-sample procedures, analysis of variance, simple and multiple linear regression. May not be taken for graduate credit by Statistics graduate students. Prerequisite: knowledge of basic statistics (at level of Statistics 7). Concurrent with Statistics 110.
202 — Statistical Methods for Data Analysis II (4). Introduction to statistical methods for analyzing data from surveys or experiments. Emphasizes application and understanding of methods for categorical data including contingency tables, logistic and Poisson regression, loglinear models. May not be taken for graduate credit by Statistics graduate students. Prerequisite: Statistics 201 or equivalent. Concurrent with Statistics 111.
203 — Statistical Methods for Data Analysis III (4). Introduction to statistical methods for analyzing longitudinal data from experiments and cohort studies. Topics covered include survival methods for censored time-to-event data, linear mixed models, non-linear mixed effects models, and generalized estimating equations. May not be taken for graduate credit by Statistics graduate students. Prerequisite: Statistics 202 or equivalent. Concurrent with Statistics 112.
Graduate Courses in Epidemiology
200 — Principles of Epidemiology (4). Presents descriptive and experimental approaches to the recognition of the causal association of disease in the general population, as these approaches apply to populations using different student designs and models from the literature. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor.
204 — Biostatistics (4). Designed to help students develop an appreciation for the statistician's view of the research process, emphasizing biomedical research. Instills an understanding of how statistical models are used to yield insights about the data that form evidence-based understanding of the world around us. Same as Public Health 204.
205 — Environmental Epidemiology (4). Concentrates on epidemiological approaches to the assessment of community environmental hazards; issues involved in environmental exposure estimation; interdisciplinary approaches to environmental epidemiology, including the use of biomarkers of exposures and susceptibility; epidemiological studies within the context of risk assessment. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor.
269 — Air Pollution, Climate, and Health (4). Emission of air pollutants into the atmosphere, physical and meteorological processes that affect transport, and influence on global warming. Concepts of how and where people are most exposed, and how exposures and health effects differ in developed and developing regions. Same as Public Health 269 and Environmental Health, Science, and Policy E247/Environmental Toxicology 269.
270 — Human Exposure to Environmental Contaminants (4). Introduces founders of conceptual thought that environmental contaminants can impact health. Theory and principles of exposure assessment, the continuum from emissions of a contaminant into the environment to evidence of health effects in a population. Same as Environmental Health, Science, and Policy E248/Public Health 270/Environmental Toxicology 270.
Graduate Courses in Public Health
207 — Public Health Statistics (4). Surveys statistical methods for public health. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability models, likelihood functions, estimation, and hypothesis testing for categorical and continuous data. Students learn to use statistical software to perform epidemiologic data analysis. Prerequisites: Public Health 203 or similar introductory epidemiology course and Mathematics 2A or similar introductory calculus course; graduate standing or consent of instructor.
235 — Geographic Information Systems (4). Basic geographic, cartographic, and GIS concepts including computer representation of physical, political, statistical, and social aspects of space using vector and grid-based maps. Experience with extensive geographic base map files and databases.
276 — Toxic Chemicals in the Environment (4). Industrial ecology of toxicants and their impacts on environmental quality and human health. Explores theoretical basis of toxicity thresholds and regulatory issues. Uses classic and contemporary research articles to understand the legacy of traditional toxicants, and to identify emerging threats. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor. Same as Epidemiology 244.
264 — Environmental Health Sciences I: Introduction to Environmental Health Science (4). Convergence of agents (chemical, physical, biological, or psychosocial) in the environment can emerge as diseases influenced by social, political, and economic factors, allowing them to become rooted in society. How these agents from various spheres come together and impact human health. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor. Same as Environmental Health, Science, and Policy E224/Epidemiology 264/Environmental Toxicology 264.
265 — Environmental Health Sciences II: Advanced Environmental Health Science (4). Explores the complex relationships among exposure processes and adverse health effects of environmental toxins focusing on specific chemicals, sources, transport media, exposure pathways, and human behaviors. Techniques of environmental sampling for exposure assessment are discussed. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor. Same as Environmental Health, Science, and Policy E225/Epidemiology 265.
Graduate Courses in Criminology Law and Society
C248 — Geographic Information Systems (4). Prepares students to become proficient in the basic GIS functionality including visualization, data management, and spatial analysis. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor.
View the Environmental Toxicology Student Handbook» For questions and additional information on UC Irvine's graduate programs in Environmental Toxicology, please contact: Mr. Armando Villalpando For questions about academic aspects of the program, please contact: Ulrike Luderer, MD, PhD, MPH at
Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program Telephone: 949.824.9013 You may also apply to the graduate program online at http://www.grad.uci.edu.
View our 2011-12 Seminar Schedule »
View more information on the Master's Programs »
View more information on the Doctoral Programs»
Graduate Coordinator, Graduate Program in Environmental Toxicology
Afvillal@uci.edu
949-824-9013
Director, Graduate Program in Environmental Toxicology
uluderer@uci.edu
Center for Occupational and Environmental Health
Zotcode 1830
5201 California Avenue, Suite 100
Irvine, CA 92617
Fax: 949.824.2345