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Atmospheric Science ✖️ Public Health

Our research focuses on three interconnected themes: (1) using satellite remote sensing and machine learning to study climate change, air pollution, and extreme weather events; (2) developing community co-designed environmental exposure models to capture spatiotemporal variations and assess health impacts; (3) working with stakeholders to enhance community resilience to climate change and inform decision-making on health equity and environmental justice. Our work has been successful in publishing in high-quality peer-reviewed journals and attracting extramural funding.

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Interdisciplinary research themes

In conclusion, we aim to better understand the impact of air pollution and extreme weather with a focus on vulnerable populations, minority communities, and low and middle-income countries. Our projects are interdisciplinary in scope because collaborations with atmospheric scientists, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, clinical doctors, and community leaders are essential to their success. We hope to contribute new knowledge about the adverse impacts of environmental exposures to support decision-making and improve public health.

Background of the group leader

Dr. Hang earned her BS in Atmospheric Science (AS) from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (renamed from Nanjing Institute of Meteorology), one of the top AS universities in the world (1). She completed her graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, renowned as the birthplace of satellite meteorology (2), where she gained expertise in modern satellite remote sensing, radar and LiDAR systems, and interdisciplinary research. She holds an MS in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, a PhD in Environment and Resources, and a Graduate Certificate in Energy Analysis and Policy. Additionally, she was selected by NASA for satellite observations and climate model training at the California Institute of Technology and received support from NSF for education in sustainable climate risk management at Pennsylvania State University.

During COVID-19, Dr. Hang was determined to apply AS approaches to address public health (PH) challenges. She was selected by Emory University as the first Climate and Health Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Rollins School of Public Health, one of the top PH schools in the U.S. (3). Since then, her research has expanded beyond climate science to encompass environmental health. During her postdoc, she obtained the first-ever NASA Applied Sciences Equity & Environmental Justice Grant as a sole PI. After completing all these professional preparations, Dr. Hang joined the University of Texas School of Public Health, the No. 1 PH school in Texas, located in the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world (4, 5). She was awarded the NIH DR2 fellowship and received training at the University of Washington to advance research on natural disasters and health.

References

1. 2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities for Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/meteorology-atmospheric-sciences

2. Verner Suomi, the Father of Satellite Meteorology: https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/celebrating-verner-suomi-the-father-of-satellite-meteorology

3. 2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Public Health Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/public-health-rankings

4. UTHealth Houston School of Public Health: https://sph.uth.edu/campuses/houston

5. About Texas Medical Center: https://www.tmc.edu/about-tmc/

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