Yanelli Nunez earned a PhD in environmental health sciences from Columbia University in 2020 after graduating with a Bachelor’s in biological sciences and public health from San Diego State University and serving as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Senegal, West Africa. During her graduate studies, Dr. Nunez examined the effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on the aggravation of neurodegenerative diseases. She also worked on studies evaluating co-exposure to multiple environmental pollutants to more comprehensively characterize the totality of environmental stressors and their impact on health. After her PhD, Dr. Nunez completed a postdoctoral training at Columbia University, analyzing air pollution emissions trends and their implications in environmental justice.
Dr. Nunez, joined PSE in 2022 where she is expanding her scientific work in the areas of climate, energy policy, and environmental justice. Her research evaluates the health and equity impacts of our energy systems, pathways toward clean energy, and climate adaptation and resilience strategies.
Dr. Nunez is the recipient of Columbia University’s, I. Bernard Weinstein Award for outstanding academic achievement and promise in the field of public health. She is also the recipient of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology’s Rebecca James Baker Award for scientific excellence, integrity, and her passion and commitment to using environmental epidemiology to improve public health and quality of life.
