Superfund Research Program

Interdisciplinary Training Core

Project Leader: Nipavan Chiamvimonvat
Co-Investigator: Frank J. Loge
Grant Number: P42ES004699
Funding Period: 1995-2023

Project-Specific Links

Final Progress Reports

Year:   2014  2009  2004 

The overall goal of the Training Core is to produce doctoral level scientists and engineers with the breadth of expertise necessary to address the complex research problems posed by hazardous waste sites. The Training Committee selected recipients of research assistantships, non-resident tuition waivers, enrichment funds and summer undergraduate support. This year eight students received research assistantships and five received non-resident tuition waivers. The awards were spread throughout the disciplines in the program.

The Training Committee selects highly qualified trainees and provides them with substantial enrichment opportunities. Enrichment activities that were supported included a variety of scientific meetings for graduate students to present their ongoing research and to interact with other environmental health scientists working in similar areas. Students attended the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, the Society of Toxicology 2009 Meeting, the 4th International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials, and the 2009 American Association for Aerosol Research Conference. In addition, four trainees benefited from the purchase of supplies for their research. Two trainees were funded to present posters at the Superfund Basic Research Program annual meeting in New York. The trainees attended the monthly Program meetings where project and core leaders took turns updating their research progress. The trainees also attended the Environmental Toxicology Winter Quarter Seminar Series that the Training Core helped support.

Three students were supported in the Distinguished Undergraduate Research Training Program. Their areas of research included:

1. evaluating the role of protease activity in preventing suppression of AhR ligand (dioxin) responsivity in cultured rat epidermal cells
2. characterizing cultured rat endometrial cells for hormonal responsiveness and endocrine disruptor effects of important pollutants
3. a computational model of nanoparticle trapping in nanowells on a chip by using electrical field gradients, and testing of a tuned resonant oscillator for detection of iron nanoparticles

This support was leveraged by having several additional minority students, supported by federal minority funds, and international students, supported by extramural funds, work in various Superfund laboratories. The undergraduate trainees participated in a symposium at the end of the summer where they presented the results of their research projects.