Undergraduate Diversity Program
Colorado Undergraduate Research in Environmental Health Sciences
If you’re an undergrad who is interested in environmental health, come join us for unique mentorship and research experiences.
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Research Program in Environmental Health Sciences is a paid year-long research and mentorship opportunity specifically for junior or senior level undergraduate science majors from an underrepresented minority population, with disabilities or disadvantaged backgrounds. This program is funded by NIEHS Grant R25 ES025476.
Our program includes:
- Full summer research and mentorship program (40 hours/week) and a school year research opportunity (10 hours/week)
- Research opportunities include: biomonitoring of environmental exposures, genetics of environmental lung disease, Nanotoxicology, environmental causes of cancer, effects of chemical warfare agents and inhaled pollutants
- Mentoring on careers in environmental health, applying to graduate or professional schools, responsible conduct in research
The following selection criteria will be used to select the diversity students who will become trainees for our program:
(a) Individuals who are underrepresented in health-related sciences.
The following racial and ethnic groups are underrepresented in biomedical research and will be candidates for our program:
African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Hawaiian Natives, and U.S. Pacific Islands Natives.
Individuals with disabilities including a physical or mental impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities, and/or
Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who come from a family with an annual income that is below established low-income thresholds and/or from a social, cultural, or educational environment have demonstrably and recently directly inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop and participate in a research career.
(b) Individuals who are currently undergraduate science majors in their Junior or Senior year at the DTC or other local undergraduate institutions. There will be no preference on prior research experience, rather, we will base selection upon their interest in environmental health sciences.
(c) Individuals who have an exceptional academic record and potential as evidenced by:
(i) High School and College GPA ≥ 3.0,
(ii) SAT ≥ 30,
(iii) Stellar non-academic achievements records, and
(iv) Additional criteria - We recognize that some attractive candidates might not exactly meet all of the aforementioned substantial credentials. Therefore, each applicant will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the selection committee with a consultation. For example, some underrepresented and diverse individuals may be the first in their family to pursue this type of higher education and where appropriate that information will be considered as part of the application. Regardless, of this latter consideration, we will only enroll individuals who will be competitive for acceptance into a high-quality EHS graduate programs or professional schools and have a clear interest and aptitude for conducting research in the future.
(d) Individuals who have a desire to pursue a career in environmental health sciences research as evidenced by their application, the assessment of their teachers and advisors and/or any prior research experience.
(e) Individuals who are United States Citizens, non-citizen nationals of the United States or individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e. in possession of a currently valid Alien Registration Card I-55 or some other legal verification of such status).
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Download the program application
Lisa McKenzie PhD, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health
Email Address:lisa.mckenzie@cuanschutz.edu
Primary Phone:303-724-5557
Mailing Address:
- CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building
13001 East 17th Place
Aurora, CO 80045
Dr. McKenzie’s research has contributed to the understanding of how air pollutants and other exposures resulting from the unconventional development of petroleum resources may affect the public’s health. Her studies investigating associations between adverse birth outcomes and childhood cancers and proximity to oil and gas development are among the first epidemiological studies on this topic to appear in the published literature. Her sentinel human health risk assessment indicated the potential for respiratory, neurological, and developmental health outcomes resulting from exposure to air pollutants emitted during natural gas development. She has testified before the United States Congress and the Denver Metropolitan Regional Air Quality Council on the public health implications of natural gas development.
Areas of Expertise
- Environmental epidemiology
- Exposure assessment
- Human health risk assessment
Lisa McKenzie PhD, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health
Email Address:lisa.mckenzie@cuanschutz.edu
Primary Phone:303-724-5557
Mailing Address:
- CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building
13001 East 17th Place
Aurora, CO 80045
Dr. McKenzie’s research has contributed to the understanding of how air pollutants and other exposures resulting from the unconventional development of petroleum resources may affect the public’s health. Her studies investigating associations between adverse birth outcomes and childhood cancers and proximity to oil and gas development are among the first epidemiological studies on this topic to appear in the published literature. Her sentinel human health risk assessment indicated the potential for respiratory, neurological, and developmental health outcomes resulting from exposure to air pollutants emitted during natural gas development. She has testified before the United States Congress and the Denver Metropolitan Regional Air Quality Council on the public health implications of natural gas development.
Areas of Expertise
- Environmental epidemiology
- Exposure assessment
- Human health risk assessment
Lisa McKenzie PhD, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health
Email Address:lisa.mckenzie@cuanschutz.edu
Primary Phone:303-724-5557
Mailing Address:
- CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building
13001 East 17th Place
Aurora, CO 80045
Dr. McKenzie’s research has contributed to the understanding of how air pollutants and other exposures resulting from the unconventional development of petroleum resources may affect the public’s health. Her studies investigating associations between adverse birth outcomes and childhood cancers and proximity to oil and gas development are among the first epidemiological studies on this topic to appear in the published literature. Her sentinel human health risk assessment indicated the potential for respiratory, neurological, and developmental health outcomes resulting from exposure to air pollutants emitted during natural gas development. She has testified before the United States Congress and the Denver Metropolitan Regional Air Quality Council on the public health implications of natural gas development.
Areas of Expertise
- Environmental epidemiology
- Exposure assessment
- Human health risk assessment
Program Directors
Lisa McKenzie PhD, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health
Email Address:lisa.mckenzie@cuanschutz.edu
Primary Phone:303-724-5557
Mailing Address:
- CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building
13001 East 17th Place
Aurora, CO 80045
Dr. McKenzie’s research has contributed to the understanding of how air pollutants and other exposures resulting from the unconventional development of petroleum resources may affect the public’s health. Her studies investigating associations between adverse birth outcomes and childhood cancers and proximity to oil and gas development are among the first epidemiological studies on this topic to appear in the published literature. Her sentinel human health risk assessment indicated the potential for respiratory, neurological, and developmental health outcomes resulting from exposure to air pollutants emitted during natural gas development. She has testified before the United States Congress and the Denver Metropolitan Regional Air Quality Council on the public health implications of natural gas development.
Areas of Expertise
- Environmental epidemiology
- Exposure assessment
- Human health risk assessment