Helen Suh

Helen Suh is an internationally recognized expert in environmental epidemiology, having led multidisciplinary teams in environmental exposure science and epidemiology for over 25 years. Dr. Suh's research uses traditional and innovative methods to examine the impacts of air pollution and neighborhoods on human health. Her current research studies focus on (1) the impacts of air pollution exposures on life expectancy, aging and the potential for confounding of these impacts, (2) the association of airborne metals on adverse birth outcomes and child development in minority populations, (3) the joint influence of air pollution, neighborhoods and lifestyle on cognitive and cardiac health in US older adults, and (4) identification of biological and social pathways through which air pollution may contribute to dementia. In this effort, Dr. Suh develops novel GIS-based spatio-temporal modeling and hybrid big data-epidemiological methods to further her work. Dr. Suh performs advisory work in environmental health for numerous local, national, and international organizations, for example previously serving as a member of the charter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and numerous National Academy of Science and Institute of Medicine committees.
Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts School of Engineering
Professor, Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University
Director, Population Health Doctoral Program, Northeastern University
Senior Fellow, Department of Public Health, NORC at the University of Chicago
Research Affiliate, Center on the Demography and Economics of Aging at the University of Chicago
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health
Helen Suh's research focuses on three general areas within air pollution health effects: assessment of the impact of lifestyle and neighborhoods on air pollutant exposures and human health; examination of multi-pollutant impacts on human health; and development of GIS-based spatio-temporal modeling tools for epidemiological research.
- 2005-2007: Faculty Council, Harvard School of Public Health
- 1999: Yaglou Award, International Academy of Indoor Air Sciences
- 1998: Scientific and Technological Achievement 2nd Level Award, USEPA
- 1994, 1995: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Center for Indoor Air Research
- 1992, 1993: Research Fellowship, National Research Service Award, NIH
- 1990: Environmental Fellow, Switzer Foundation
- Associate Editor, Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology