My research focusses on investigating the associations between environmental and occupational exposures and a number of adverse health outcomes including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and dementia. Specific projects that are ongoing include evaluating the health effects due short and long term increases in air pollution. I also study the health benefits of urban greenness which include how these features of the built environment help promote physical activity, and reduces the risk of mortality, and adverse birth outcomes. My research activities have also investigated the impacts of urban greenness in reducing harmful exposures of air pollution, noise, and urban heat island.
More recently, I have developed an emerging research program around the health effects of exposure to radiation. This includes studies that have assessed whether cell phones increase the risk of developing brain cancer. I am also leading a number of studies that evaluate the human health effects of low dose radiation. These studies include examining the cancer and mortality risks among workers in the Canadian National Dose Registry, and examining exposure to radon progeny and lung cancer risk among the Newfoundland Fluorspar miners. In 2020, I was awarded CIHR funding to examine patterns of mortality and cancer incidence among Canadians who live near the five nuclear power plants, while in 2023, CIHR awarded funding to evaluate cancer risk among workers exposed to ionizing radiation among workers in the National Dose Registry.
I have also provided scientific expertise for ongoing litigation related to the evaluation of health effects of air pollution from public transit disruptions, industrial emissions, and the carcinogenicity of pesticides.
My substantive area of expertise is in the fields of epidemiology, biostatistics and environmental health. I am currently a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University. I am also an Affiliate Scientist at the Ontario Occupational Cancer Research Centre in Toronto, and an Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Public Health. I hold adjunct appointments in the Department of Public Health at Queen’s University (Kingston, Canada), the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McGill University (Montreal, Canada), and at Dalhousie University (Halifax, Canada). I serve on the Advisory Committee for the Canadian Health Adaptations, Innovations, and Mobilization (CHAIM) Centre at Carleton (https://carleton.ca/chaimcentre/).
Students with an interest in biostatistics and environmental and occupational health are encouraged to contact me about training opportunities. At this time, I am considering applications to MSc/PhD training programs in Neuroscience or Data Science and Statistics at Carleton University, and epidemiology programs at McGill and Queen’s Universities where I hold adjunct appointments and am able to supervise students. To be considered at a PhD level, applicants must have advanced training in either epidemiology or biostatistics or experience in radiation health effects.
I welcome applications from student who wish to join my lab. Those who have an interest in joining my research team are encouraged to provide me with a single PDF document that outlines their specific research interests, a current curriculum vitae, as well as a writing sample.
