Category: Researcher Spotlights

Women in STEM

In honor of Women’s History Month, this blog highlights a few of the talented female researchers working in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at NIOSH. Their varied paths into STEM fields are as interesting as they are inspirational. After reading these stories please pass them along to other women and girls so that they Read More >

Posted on by Asha Brogan; Valerie Coughanour, MA, MFA; Debbie Hornback, MS; Michelle Martin, MS; Katie Shahan, JD; Theodore D. Teske, MA; Julie Tisdale-Pardi, MA; Jennifer Tyrawski, PhD; Sydney Webb, PhD; and Rachel Wilson, MA5 Comments

NIOSH in Alaska: Improving Worker Safety

This blog is pulled from a story originally posted in the CDC’s “Inside Story: Public Health in Action” on 2/8/18 Before he became an epidemiologist, Devin Lucas grew up in a fishing family. His grandfather moved to Anchorage in 1953 and purchased a commercial fishing vessel. Then his dad grew up in the business. So Read More >

Posted on by Kathy Chastney3 Comments

Naomi Swanson, PhD: Advancing Worker Health Through Improved Organization of Work and Ergonomic Design

During Women’s History Month, NIOSH will highlight several female researchers and their contributions to NIOSH and America’s workers.   Naomi Swanson has served as the Chief of the Organizational Science and Human Factors Branch (OSHFB) in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology since May 2008. She received her M.A. in Experimental Psychology (specializing Read More >

Posted on by Julie Tisdale-Pardi, MA3 Comments

Chia-Chia Chang, MBA, MPH; Adele Childress, PhD; and Sara Tamers, PhD: Advancing Total Worker Health initiatives through Partnerships, Workforce Development, and Research

During Women’s History Month, NIOSH will highlight several female researchers and their contributions to NIOSH and America’s workers.   Chia-Chia Chang, MBA, MPH, is the Coordinator for Partnership and New Opportunity Development in the NIOSH Office for Total Worker Health® .  In this capacity she has helped bring on over 30 partners for Total Worker Health Read More >

Posted on by Reid Richards1 Comment

Amy Chambers, MS, and Lauren Chubb, DrPH: Advancing Safety and Health for Miners

During Women’s History Month, NIOSH will highlight several female researchers and their contributions to NIOSH and America’s workers.   Amy Chambers, MS Amy Chambers, MS, is a research engineer working in the NIOSH Spokane Mining Research Division. She joined NIOSH in July 2015. Ms. Chambers seeks to ensure underground miners have a stable roof to Read More >

Posted on by Valerie Coughanour, MA, MFA2 Comments

Lee Greenawald, PhD: An up and coming leader in PPE

During Women’s History Month, NIOSH will highlight several female researchers and their contributions to NIOSH and America’s workers. Lee Greenawald, PhD, is a NIOSH career development success story. While working on her B.S. in Forensic Chemistry from Ohio University, Lee began her career at NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) as a summer student Read More >

Posted on by Jaclyn Krah Cichowicz, MA

HeeSun Choi, PhD, and Christina Socias-Morales, DrPh: Creating Safer Workplaces

During Women’s History Month, NIOSH will highlight several female researchers and their contributions to NIOSH and America’s workers.   HeeSun Choi, PhD HeeSun Choi, PhD, is a psychologist working in the Protective Technology Branch in the NIOSH Division of Safety Research. Dr. Choi started with the Institute in 2016. Dr. Choi’s research is helping to Read More >

Posted on by Sydney Webb, PhD2 Comments

Christine M. Branche, PhD, Protecting America’s Construction Workers

During Women’s History Month, NIOSH will highlight several female researchers and their contributions to NIOSH and America’s workers. Christine M. Branche, Ph.D., is the Director of the NIOSH Office of Construction Safety and Health. Dr. Branche began her career at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1996 as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Read More >

Posted on by Jenise Brassell, MS4 Comments

Young Mechanical Engineer Learns the Ropes on Fishing Boats

This week is National Engineers Week which is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) employs over 200 engineers and engineering technicians who identify, evaluate, develop, and implement engineering control technology to Read More >

Posted on by Theodore D. Teske, MA7 Comments

The Engineers behind the Respirator Approval Process

This week is National Engineers Week which is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) employs over 200 engineers and engineering technicians who identify, evaluate, develop, and implement engineering control technology to Read More >

Posted on by Jaclyn Krah Cichowicz, MA1 Comment

Coming Soon to a Workplace Near You: Field-based respirable crystalline silica monitoring

This week is National Engineers Week which is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) employs over 200 engineers and engineering technicians who identify, evaluate, develop, and implement engineering control technology to Read More >

Posted on by Emanuele Cauda, PhD; Lauren Chubb, DrPH; and Valerie Coughanour, MA, MFA 1 CommentTags

Young NIOSH Engineer Helps Solve Invisible Problems

This week is National Engineers Week which is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) employs over 200 engineers and engineering technicians who identify, evaluate, develop, and implement engineering control technology to Read More >

Posted on by Trudi McCleery, MPH1 Comment

Engineering in the Division of Safety Research

This week is National Engineers Week which is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) employs over 200 engineers and engineering technicians who identify, evaluate, develop, and implement engineering control technology to Read More >

Posted on by Sydney Webb, PhD2 Comments

Women’s History Month: NIOSH Recognizes Female Leaders

  March is Women’s History month and last week was International Women’s Day. In honor of women throughout the world, this blog post will highlight five female Division Directors at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Currently, women lead five of the 12 divisions at NIOSH, as well as serving in leadership Read More >

Posted on by Judi Coyne, MBA, MA; Chris Ellison ; Trudi McCleery, MPH; Jennifer Tyrawski, Ph.D., and Sydney Webb, Ph.D. 2 Comments

Black History Month: Recognizing Two Young NIOSH Researchers

During Black History Month, NIOSH is proud to recognize two young African American women who are paving the way for other minorities in the field of safety and health research. At NIOSH, we recognize the importance of a diverse scientific workforce that mirrors the diversity of today’s workforce and society as a whole. LCDR Deborah Read More >

Posted on by Jenise Brassell, M.S.11 Comments

Black History Month: Saluting Two NIOSH Pioneers of Diversity

  During Black History Month, we celebrate the men and women of African-American heritage who have contributed so much to our nation’s leadership in the global community. At NIOSH, we recognize the importance of a diverse scientific workforce that mirrors the diversity of today’s workforce as a whole.  As we approach the third decade of Read More >

Posted on by Jenise Brassell, B.S. and Constance C. Franklin, MPA 7 Comments

Women in Science

“When I grow up, I want to be an industrial hygienist.” Hearing a ten-year-old girl say those words would probably warrant a double take. While there might be some little girls out there dreaming about one day conducting research and working in a laboratory, studies suggest that more often, it’s a ten-year-old boy who will Read More >

Posted on by Alyssa Llamas14 Comments