Faculty Profile
Jennifer Head, PhD, MPH
John G. Searle Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
Dr. Head examines the epidemiology of infectious diseases in response to climate variability,
environmental disturbance, and host behavior, with a focus on emerging and zoonotic
diseases. She uses a combination of mathematical and statistical models and field
work to examine 1) how climate and other environmental factors determine the distribution
of pathogens in the environment; 2) how natural and anthropogenic environmental disturbances
mobilize and increase human exposure to pathogens; 3) how pathogen presence and exposure
pathways interact with individual-level factors (e.g., susceptibility) to produce
population-level disease patterns. Her current research focuses on understanding these
pathways for environmentally-acquired primary fungal infections (i.e., those that
cause disease in otherwise healthy individuals). This focus is aligned with the priorities
of national and international health agencies. She collaborates widely with public
health agencies, and specializes in the analysis of time series, spatial, or surveillance
data.
- PhD Epidemiology, University of California at Berkeley, 2022
- MPH Global Environmental Health, Emory University 2016
- BS Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 2013
The emergence of fungal pathogens in a changing climate
We seek to understand how environmental changes - including hydroclimate swings, wildfire, and dust emissions - affect Valley fever incidence in the southwestern US. We are also examining links between climate and blastomycosis in the Great Lakes Region.
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/tpo2N1YQMES-z18xQhpTQQ/project-details/9865174
Environmental distribution of human-pathogenic fungi
We are examining how rodent hosts, soil conditions, and landcover affects presence of the Coccidioides pathogen in soils. We are also using uncrewed aircraft systems and portable air samplers to examine aerosolization of fungal spores under environmental disturbance. Finally, we are examining prevalence of Histoplasma spp. in bats found in Michigan.
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/VG-X6wAokEyko4Y00vx4zQ/project-details/10216947
Population immunity to Valley fever and other endemic mycoses
We are estimating population immunity to endemic mycoses using model-based estimation and population-based surveys.
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/VG-X6wAokEyko4Y00vx4zQ/project-details/10740731
We seek to understand how environmental changes - including hydroclimate swings, wildfire, and dust emissions - affect Valley fever incidence in the southwestern US. We are also examining links between climate and blastomycosis in the Great Lakes Region.
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/tpo2N1YQMES-z18xQhpTQQ/project-details/9865174
Environmental distribution of human-pathogenic fungi
We are examining how rodent hosts, soil conditions, and landcover affects presence of the Coccidioides pathogen in soils. We are also using uncrewed aircraft systems and portable air samplers to examine aerosolization of fungal spores under environmental disturbance. Finally, we are examining prevalence of Histoplasma spp. in bats found in Michigan.
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/VG-X6wAokEyko4Y00vx4zQ/project-details/10216947
Population immunity to Valley fever and other endemic mycoses
We are estimating population immunity to endemic mycoses using model-based estimation and population-based surveys.
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/VG-X6wAokEyko4Y00vx4zQ/project-details/10740731
Areas of Expertise: Environmental Health, Infectious Disease, Modeling