About

Madeline is a PhD Candidate in the Targeted Research Training Program at UCI. 

What are your OSH interests/research focus? 

My primary OSH interest is in how airborne contaminants, specifically fine particulate matter, encountered in indoor and occupational environments disrupt skeletal development and bone health across the life course. My research uses a human embryonic stem cell model to recapitulate osteogenesis, combined with imaging and transcriptomic profiling to define how these exposures impair osteogenesis and bone remodeling. Ultimately, I aim to develop a human-relevant, high-throughput skeletal toxicity assays that align with NIOSH NORA musculoskeletal priorities and the Future of Work initiative, to better inform risk assessment and prevention strategies for workers.

What is your motivation for being in the field of Public Health/Occupational Health?

I am motivated to work in public and occupational health because I have seen how “invisible” environmental exposures, such as air pollution and indoor contaminants, silently shape people’s health long before disease is diagnosed, and how these risks are often concentrated in marginalized communities and workers with the least power to change their environments. My training in environmental health sciences and mechanistic toxicology has shown me that we can now quantitatively link specific exposures to disrupted biology, and I want to translate that science into practical tools, policies, and interventions that prevent harm rather than simply treating its consequences. Working in OSH allows me to connect bench science with real workplaces, helping ensure that people can earn a living without sacrificing their long-term health.

Fun fact or something interesting you'd like to share about yourself: 

Before finding toxicology and public health, I obtained my BS in Psychology and a minor in Communications.