Dr. Gunnar Boysen, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at UAMS, explained that students will receive comprehensive training in a variety of disciplines, including environmental toxicology, cancer exposure science, exposure assessment, nutrition and dietary supplements, public health microbiology, geographical information systems, biomarkers of exposure, and climate change and public health.
“Environmental Health Sciences is an interdisciplinary field that bridges studies of the environment with human healthspecifically population health and behavior,” Boysen said.
A recent survey conducted by the department among academic institutions, government agencies, and public health industries revealed a growing demand for specialized environmental health professionals in Arkansas. Boysen emphasized that no similar doctoral program currently exists in the state, leaving employers to either train personnel in-house or recruit specialists from out of state.
The demand for highly trained professionals in the field is further demonstrated by increased enrollment in UAMS’s undergraduate and master’s level Environmental Health Science programs in recent semesters.
Boysen also highlighted the program’s potential to position students for impactful careers in environmental health while equipping them with the necessary research skills to contribute to the evolving field.
“Our doctoral program will be tailored to meet the needs of the environmental health sciences field, complementing existing Ph.D. programs at UAMS and throughout the state,” he said.
The program is expected to provide new educational opportunities for students in Arkansas, offering a pathway to high-paying careers that will also benefit the state’s public health sector.
For more information about the Environmental Health Sciences doctoral program, visit publichealth.uams.edu/academics/doctoral/phd-in-environmental-health-sciences/.
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