CHHE Newsletter: June 2022

June 2022| Center for Human Health and the Environment

Announcements

Welcome

Zakiyya Brooks, who joins CHHE as a temporary administrative assistant. Zakiyya recently graduated from NC State with a B.A. in Science, Technology and Society. She will be your first point of contact when you email CHHE this summer, and is helping to support our seed funding program, annual reports, and this newsletter.

CHHE holds Mini-retreat

The center held an afternoon mini-retreat on May 18 at the Transfer Co. Food Hall. The lion's share of our membership turned out to catch up on current research, meet new members, and learn about the research support that the center provides. We also raised a glass to former center director Rob Smart and thanked him for his decade of leadership. This was our first fully in-person CHHE event since late 2019; we look forward to seeing everyone again this Fall.

Microplastics? Are you interested in microplastics?

Microplastics are everywhere and there's a growing group of CHHE researchers across disciplines who are interested in microplastics. We're thinking about maybe forming a new Research Interest Group or having a symposium about microplastics... but right now, we'd like to know who is interested. A brainstorming meeting is being scheduled for sometime this summer. If you would like to participate, please contact Sid Mitra or Melissa Pasquinelli.

Kudos

David Collier and colleagues recently published three articles linking obesity to endocrine disrupting chemical exposures.

The work appears in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology and is a collaborative effort of HEEDS, a research and advocacy organization. The foundational research in these papers will shape the agenda of an upcoming workshop on the topic in September.

Obesity I: Overview and molecular and biochemical mechanisms

Obesity II: Establishing causal links between chemical exposures and obesity.

Obesity III: Obesogen assays: Limitations, strengths, and new directions

Research Interest Group Updates

Behavior & Neuroscience Research Interest Group

Leader: Emilie Rissman

The neuro RIG is hosting a virtual seminar by Dr. Adrian Green on June 3rd at noon, entitled "Utilizing Deep Learning and Generative Networks to Predict and Elucidate Neurodevelopmental Toxicity of Untested Environmental Contaminants. Zoom

Summer Research Experiences for high school teachers is back in action!

After a two-summer hiatus, our NIEHS-funded Summer Research Experiences for high school teachers is back in action! This program brings science teachers from underserved classrooms to CHHE labs for a six-week professional development program. The teachers gain hands-on laboratory experiences and resources that they can take back and apply in their classrooms.

Sincere thanks to our members who have agreed to host a high school teacher in their labs for four weeks this summer! If you would like to be involved – for a couple of days or only an afternoon – consider participating in a workshop, presenting a research talk, or giving a tour of your lab. If you think you might be interested or want to learn more, reach out to Katy May.

Cleaning out your lab? Updating your equipment?

Local schools can use your old lab supplies!

The CEC is looking to give lab supplies and equipment a new home with local science teachers to help them implement hands-on EHS activities in their classrooms. If you're ever looking to get rid of items email Katy May! There's a good chance that the teachers we work with in Wake and Durham counties will be able to use them in their classrooms, summer camps, and after school programs.

Employment Opportunities

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!

The CHHE Website posts job openings in the environmental health sciences field. Send us your postings for new jobs, email Michico (MJ) James. It's a great place for students and post-docs to see new available positions.

Career Development: Want some help with your grant?

All investigators, especially Early Stage Investigators, are encouraged to work with the Career Development Core to develop and refine their grants. Email chhe-ncstate@ncsu.edu to set up a chalk talk to help organize ideas for your next proposal.

Reminders

Please remember to cite and acknowledge NIH award support and the CHHE’s P30 grant in future publications and presentations by including this –

“Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P30ES025128. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.”

Publications citing the Center grant in the acknowledgements of a manuscript and in the deposit of the manuscript in NIHMS are the currency for the P30 renewal!

CHHE Resources and Facilities Page for NIH Grants is available on the CHHE website.

PINS: Remember when submitting your grants, be sure to select "Center for Human Health and the Environment" as a center in PINS. Link to Additional Resources

CHHE Cited Publications

Click here to check them out!