Research Trainees of 2026
Cebastian Blot
- Faculty Mentor: Diane Re
- School: Columbia University
Project: Investigating Neurotoxicity of Lithium and Uranium Exposure and Implications on Neurological Health
During my summer in PrIMER, I investigated the potential neurotoxic effects of lithium (Li) and uranium (U), two metals of growing environmental health concern. Lithium and uranium can enter groundwater through natural or human-driven processes, such as mining. Lithium mining is rapidly expanding due to increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries. Both lithium and uranium can contaminate private drinking-water wells. These exposures are particularly relevant to Indigenous communities living near mining operations or relying on unregulated drinking water sources, such as private wells. Despite growing concern surrounding metal exposure and neurological health, the effects of Li and U on the human brain, particularly when individuals are exposed to both metals simultaneously, remain poorly understood.
My research used human brain organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as an experimental model for investigating the neurological effects of Li and U exposure. Brain organoids provide a three-dimensional model of human neural tissue that allows us to examine how environmental contaminants may affect the brain under controlled laboratory conditions. Organoids were exposed to varying concentrations of Li and U, both individually and as a mixture, allowing us to evaluate dose-dependent toxicity and determine whether co-exposure produces different biological effects than exposure to either metal alone. I assisted with preparing and applying these treatment conditions across experimental wells and assessing cellular responses following metal exposure. In addition to evaluating cell viability, I also used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to investigate molecular changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). Specifically, our work examines biomarkers including amyloid-beta (Aβ40/42), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and GSK3-β, a signaling protein involved in pathways relevant to Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
Together, these experiments aim to characterize how different concentrations and combinations of Li and U affect neuronal health and AD/ADRD-related pathways. Ultimately, this work may improve our understanding of the neurological consequences of environmentally relevant metal exposures and help identify biological pathways through which these exposures may contribute to neurotoxicity.
Analisa Brown-Beebe
- Faculty Mentor: Marcela Tamayo
- School: Fordham University
Project: Investigating Midlife Women's Sleep and Bone Density
Located at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH), my research project focuses on examining the relationship between sleep and bone density using data from the Pregnancy to Aging Through Health and Wellbeing Assessment across the Years–PATHWAYs study. Sleep is a fundamental component of overall health, yet poor sleep quality and duration have been associated with reduced bone density amongst midlife women. My research investigates how sleep quality and duration relate to trabecular and cortical bone density in midlife women. I will include data on demographic, physiological, and lifestyle factors to better understand these relations.
My role in this project involves cleaning, organizing, and analyzing participant data using R to evaluate sleep and bone density variables alongside demographic and health characteristics. I am developing descriptive statistics, summary tables, and data visualizations to identify patterns and relationships within the dataset while collaborating with faculty mentors to interpret findings and refine statistical analyses. My research aims to improve the understanding of midlife women’s sleep and bone density and to translate the results into meaningful and accessible information for study participants and the general public.
Brianna Castillo
- Faculty Mentor: Allison Kupsco
- School: Fordham University
Project: Environmental Metal Exposures and Diabetes Risk: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Urinary Metal Mixtures and Baseline HOMA-IR
Previous research has shown that exposure to environmental metals may contribute to the development of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) due to a disruption in glucose metabolism or insulin resistance. This work has primarily focused on single metals; however, individuals are exposed to multiple metals simultaneously through sources such as drinking water, food, and the environment, making it important to study these metal exposures as mixtures. My project focused on investigating the relationship between environmental metal exposures and insulin resistance as part of a broader research project to understand how metal mixtures may contribute to the development of T2D. I examined whether urinary concentrations of cadmium, lead, molybdenum, antimony, selenium, tungsten, uranium, zinc, and the sum of inorganic arsenic species were associated with baseline HOMA-IR, a measure of insulin resistance in the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS). We prepared the dataset by addressing missing data, identifying extreme outliers, recoding covariates, and creating summary tables of participant characteristics and metal exposures. Using the cleaned dataset, I evaluated correlations among the metals and fit single-metal, multi-metal, and mixed-effects regression models, while adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates. This project aims to determine which environmental metals may be independently associated with insulin resistance as a first step into a better understanding of how metal mixtures may influence the early development of T2D.
Ann Dai
- Faculty Mentor: Robbie Parks
- School: Barnard College
Project: Identification and Spatial Analysis of Storm-Resistant Tree Species in New York City
Street trees provide countless benefits to urban environments and residents. These benefits include lowering air and surface temperatures to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses, purifying air pollutants from industrial sites and automobiles to alleviate respiratory ailments and reduce airborne toxins, and absorbing rainwater and floodwater to reduce the effects of severe storms. As climate change worsens, street trees are more important than ever. However, climate change also harms tree health and consequently their ability to provide these ecosystem services.
My project investigates which tree species are most and least susceptible to physical damage from severe weather events: repeated limb breakage and split trunks can impact tree regrowth, and replantation of completely uprooted trees has varied success. I combined data on over 700,000 street trees and 200 storm events from 2015 to 2026, using public resources from the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and the Office of Emergency Management. My analysis focuses on 20 of the most common tree species that are approved for future planting.
My next step will be to identify key characteristics and map the distribution of storm-resistant and storm-susceptible trees compared to pre-designated Environmental Justice Areas. Disparities in tree canopy coverage and species diversity between NYC neighborhoods are known to be associated with historical redlining practices and racial discrimination. However, it is unknown if there are differences in the specific species planted across neighborhoods. I aim for this research to inform future decisions on what trees to plant in different neighborhoods as we work towards tree canopy equity and balanced relationships between biodiversity and public health.
Amelia Tejada
- Faculty Mentor: Julie Herbstman
- School: SUNY Maritime College
Project: Menstrual Cycle Phase and Breast Cancer Screening, and Community Education Around a South Bronx Superfund Site.
My summer research experience involved two projects focused on women’s health and community-based environmental health. Through the Menstrual Cycles for Enhanced Screening (MENSES) study, I am examining how menstrual cycle phase and ovarian hormone fluctuations may influence breast cancer screening. Using steroid hormone metabolites from single-spot urine samples, this study will map menstrual cycle phases and examine their relationship with mammographic breast tissue density and clinical screening outcomes.
In a separate community-based environmental health project, I worked with the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health Community Outreach and Translation Core and the Melrose Environmental Awareness Committee (MEAC) to increase community awareness of a nearby New York State Superfund site in the South Bronx. As the primary student point of contact, I helped to develop trilingual educational materials in English, Spanish, and French about the site’s environmental history, contamination, and ongoing cleanup. I also supported MEAC’s community engagement efforts by developing digital outreach tools, coordinating meetings, and helping to plan a community teach-in to connect residents with information about the site and its remediation. Together, these projects allowed me to explore research in women’s health and the role of community engagement in addressing environmental health concerns.
