Master of Science in Environmental Science and Engineering

Transcription

1 Institute of Environmental Health Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA Master of Science in Environmental Science and Engineering

2 OHSU Institute of Environmental Health believes preventative medicine starts with a healthy environment. Preventative medicine starts with a healthy environment. Human activities and the change in global climate are affecting environmental health and sustainability, causing serious problems for public health. Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Institute of Environmental Health (IEH) is working to develop scientific understanding that uncovers the links between public health and environmental systems. We bring together an exceptional team to: Advance the understanding of contemporary ecosystems Anticipate their evolution under climate change and increasing human stresses Explore strategies to mitigate the impacts of environmental change on the public health The OHSU Institute of Environmental Health includes a leading academic research division, and a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center: Division of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems (EBS) We conduct interdisciplinary research that cuts across the common boundaries between the environmental, biological, and health sciences. EBS offers MS and PhD degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) and in Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE). Center for Coastal Margin Observation & Prediction (CMOP) CMOP is a multi-institutional National Science Foundation Science & Technology Center hosted at OHSU that is advancing the predictive science of coastal margin ecosystems. CMOP s main study area is the intersection of the Columbia River with the coastal Pacific Ocean. 2

3 Environmental Science and Engineering Master Degree Program The Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE) Master of Science (MS) curriculum provides an academic experience that prepares students for a range of careers in academic research, government agencies, industries, consulting firms, and non-profit organizations (e.g. the World Health Organization). The curriculum can also provide a foundation for related Ph.D. degrees. Career emphases include: Bioremediation Water Quality Management Coastal oceanography Ecosystem modeling Over the course of one year, students gain an interdisciplinary understanding of natural and engineered environmental systems, with emphasis on water, soils, sediments, and microbial communities. The program emphasizes fundamental concepts from science and engineering, including chemical equilibrium and kinetics, microbial genomics and proteomics, and computer modeling and simulation. The ESE program includes three tracks of study: Environmental and Biomolecular Systems (EBS), Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE), and Estuary and Ocean Systems (EOS). Students in all tracks take core courses as well as a selection of elective courses for three academic terms (fall, winter, and spring). Students conduct a research internship in an IEH lab or with relevant companies and agencies for the fourth term (summer). Upon completion of the program students will be equipped with: Conceptual knowledge and in-depth understanding of biogeochemical links within Earth systems in environmental and public health contexts, with a particular emphasis on prediction of the effects of a changing climate on river, estuary, and ocean systems. Technical know-how in using systems thinking to solve environmental and public health problems. Enhanced capability and competitiveness in the development of a career related to predicting and mitigating the effects of a changing climate, particularly in health and environmental fields, with a special emphasis on river, estuary, and ocean systems. 3

4 Environmental and Biomolecular Systems (EBS) Track The EBS track is for students interested in a holistic view of the physical, chemical, and biological processes at the molecular, cellular and particle levels. Applications include Core Courses Bioremediation Assessing environmental health effects Multiscale biogeochemistry EBS 515 Environmental and Biomolecular History of the Earth This course explores the origin and evolution of the environment, including physical, chemical and biological contributions and interactions. Topics are taught along a timeline from the origin of the Earth to present day, and includes the biological and chemical evolution of Earth; an introduction to metabolism and microbial energetics; effect of the environment on microbial interactions and evolution of higher organisms. EBS 516 Metals in Environmental and Human Health This course covers bioinorganic chemistry in environmental systems. Topics include oxidation-reduction cycles, metal speciation, receptors and uptake systems, micronutrient requirements and utilization, enzymology and distribution of enzymes in the environment. EBS 517 Environmental Systems and Human Health This course addresses perturbations of Earth s biogeochemical cycles by human activities, and the impacts of resulting environmental hazards on human health and natural ecosystems. Lecture materials provide assessment of molecular to global scale processes in covering the tangible relationships between environmental degradation and human health. Student assignments confront current problems related to nitrogen pollution, climate change, and disease pressures. Faculty Advisors Margo Haygood, Ph.D Environmental Microbiology and Bacterial Physiology Holly Simon, Ph.D. Microbial Ecology Brad Tebo, Ph.D. Geomicrobiology and Microbial Biogeochemistry 4

5 Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE) Track The ESE track is for students who wish to focus their graduate study on the fate and transport of substances in the environment. Applications include: Core Courses Remediation of contaminated soils, sediments, and groundwater Treatment of water and wastewater Disinfection of drinking water Nutrients in surface waters EBS 510 Aquatic Chemistry This course provides students with the advanced knowledge in water chemistry needed to understand aquatic systems. Concepts covered include: acid/base, ; ph; making activity corrections; numerical calculations; titration concepts as applied to natural systems; buffer intensity; dissolved CO2 chemistry; acidity and alkalinity in open CO2 systems; minerals and their role in controlling natural water chemistry; solubility characteristics of oxide and hydroxides; and redox chemistry in natural systems. Prerequisite: One year of physical chemistry EBS 535 Chemistry of Organic Contaminants An overview of the processes that determine the fate of organic substances in the environment and impact on human health. It covers pathways, mechanisms, and kinetics of volatilization, sorption, hydrolysis, oxidation, reduction, elimination, and conjugation; and the application to understanding the environmental fate and remediation of organic chemicals. Media represented include reactor fluids, groundwater, surface water, rain, and fog. Both chemical (abiotic) and microbially-mediated (biotic) processes are included. EBS 575 Chemical Transport Processes in Environmental Health An introduction to chemical mass transport. Students will be introduced to the equations governing mass transport, aerobic biofilm reactors, particle aggregation and settling, dispersion and mass transport in rivers, porous media, and the atmosphere. Familiarity with multivariate calculus and differential equations will be helpful, but not required. Faculty Advisors Rick Johnson, Ph.D Contaminant hydrology Joe Needoba, Ph.D. Aquatic biogeochemistry Brad Tebo, Ph.D. Geomicrobiology Paul Tratnyek, Ph.D. Environmental organic chemistry Karen Watanabe, Ph.D. Modeling metabolism 5

6 Estuary and Ocean Systems (EOS) Track The EOS track is for students interested in a multidisciplinary approach to understanding rivers, estuaries, and marine systems. Applications include Core Courses Biogeochemistry Coastal oceanography Ecosystem modeling Environmental microbiology EBS 565 Estuary and Ocean Systems I This course provides an introduction to marine systems over multiple scales, from cells to ocean basins. It covers marine biogeochemistry and climate-scale ocean circulation, while Estuaries and Ocean Systems II covers marine organisms and estuary-plume-scale circulation. EBS 566 Estuary and Ocean Systems II This course covers marine organisms and estuary-plume-scale circulation, including primary production and photosynthesis, secondary production, phytoplankton, bacteria, and archaea; benthic and pelagic habitats and organisms, fish and fisheries. Also studied are the biology of river plumes, estuarine ecology, and tools and techniques in biological oceanography. EBS 517 Environmental Systems and Human Health This course addresses perturbations of Earth s biogeochemical cycles by human activities, and the impacts of resulting environmental hazards on human health and natural ecosystems. Lecture materials provide assessment of molecular to global scale processes in covering the tangible relationships between environmental degradation and human health. Student assignments confront current problems related to nitrogen pollution, climate change, and disease pressures. Faculty Advisors António Baptista, Ph.D Ecosystem models & forecasts Margo Haygood, Ph.D Marine biotechnology Joseph Needoba, Ph.D Marine biogeochemistry Tawnya Peterson, Ph.D Biological oceanography Holly Simon, Ph.D Microbial ecology Brad Tebo, Ph.D -- Marine microbiology & biotechnology Peter Zuber, Ph.D Gene expression 6

7 Graduate Requirements Students must complete 45 credits with a cumulative GPA at or above 3.0 including: 12 Core Course credits, 16 elective credits, 6 Reading Group credits, 10 Internship credits, and 1 Ethics. Students must also write a report on their internship. Students attending full time can complete these degree requirements in one year. Admissions Most students accepted into the ESE M.S. program have Bachelors (or equivalent) degrees in biology, chemistry, geoscience, physics, engineering, or related disciplines (e.g., computer science). Students can come after working as professionals, or after graduating from their undergraduate universities. To apply, students should follow the instructions on the admissions page of our website at Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Applicants must provide scores for the general test portion of the GRE, unless: (i) the applicant already has a graduate degree from a U.S. university, or (ii) permission is given to substitute scores from the Medical College Aptitude Test (MCAT). Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing GRE scores of 153 (500 old scale), 148 (600 old scale) and 4.5 or above, respectively, will generally be considered acceptable for admission. Scores must be received directly from the Educational Testing Service and therefore must be less than 5 years old. GRE subject scores (e.g., chemistry, biochemistry, or biology) will be considered but are not required. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) All international applicants for whom English is not a native language must provide TOEFL scores, unless the applicant already has an undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S. university. Most successful applicants have TOEFL scores of at least 550 (paper-based test), 250 (computerbased test), or 80 (internet-based test). Application Time Applications are considered year-round, but prospective M.S. students are encouraged to apply by May 15 th to start the following Fall quarter. Tuition Total costs: $8593 per term, $34,720 in full. Dollar amounts for tuition and fees are subject to change by Oregon Health & Science University. 7

8 Faculty Dr. António Baptista Director Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Focus: Ecosystem Models and Forecasts Dr. Joseph Needoba Assistant Ph.D., Botany, University of British Columbia Research Focus: Marine Biogeochemistry Dr. Bradley Tebo Associate Director Ph.D., Marine Biology, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego Research Focus: Geomicrobiology & Microbial Biogeochemistry Dr. Tawnya Peterson Assistant Ph.D., University of British Columbia Research Focus: Biological Oceanography Dr. Ninian Blackburn Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, University of Dundee Research Focus: Biochemistry Dr. Holly Simon Associate Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison Research Focus: Microbial Ecology Dr. Margo Haygood Ph.D., Marine Biology, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego Research Focus: Environmental Microbiology & Bacterial Physiology Dr. Paul Tratnyek Ph.D., Colorado School of Mines Research Focus: Environmental Organic Chemistry Dr. Richard Johnson Ph.D., Environmental Science, Oregon Graduate Center Research Focus: Contaminant Hydrology Dr. Karen Watanabe Assistant Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley Research Focus: Modeling Metabolism Dr. Pierre Moenne Loccoz Associate Ph.D., Biophysics, l'universite Pierre et Marie Curie Research Focus: Proteins/Enzymes Structures and Functions Dr. James Whittaker Associate Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Minnesota Research Focus: Biomolecular Structures Dr. Michiko Nakano Ph. D., Cell Biology, University of Tokyo Research Focus: Gene Regulation Dr. Peter Zuber Ph.D., University of Virginia School of Medicine Research Focus: Gene Expression 8

9 Alumni Profile: Kayce Pierce, 2013 Masters in Environmental Science and Engineering I'm working for CTEH, the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, as an Environmental Scientist on an environmental emergency response team. We respond to environmental disasters and emergencies like plant explosions, train derailments, chemical spills, pipeline leaks, etc. It's a really exciting opportunity to travel and get a lot of hands-on field experience. When I'm not in the field, I spend a lot of office time on safety training and equipment maintenance, so my experience with technical equipment at OHSU is a big help. Enquires Oregon Health & Science University Institute of Environmental Health 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road Mail Code HRC3 Portland, Oregon, USA Tel: (503) greenva@ohsu.edu Website: