Eva Schernhammer

Eva Schernhammer is a Full Professor of Epidemiology and Head of the Department of Epidemiology at the Medical University of Vienna, where she has held these positions since 2015. She also maintains active research programs as an Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a Lecturer on Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Education:

• MD (1992), University of Vienna Medical School
• MPH (2000), Harvard School of Public Health
• DrPH (2003), Harvard School of Public Health
• MPhil (2003), University of Vienna
• Habilitation in Public Health (2005), Medical University of Vienna

Research Interests:
Her work focuses on the interplay between lifestyle factors (e.g., diet), environmental exposures, and chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. She investigates circadian rhythms, sleep patterns, and hormonal pathways (e.g., IGFs) in relation to aging-related outcomes and cancer prevention. Her research also spans chemoprevention strategies for gastrointestinal tumors and multidisciplinary approaches in One Health.

Scientific Awards:

• 2002 Harvey Fineberg Fellowship in Cancer Prevention
• 2005 Elected President of Austrian Scientists in North America (ASciNA)
• 2007 Professional Lighting Design Recognition Award
• 2009 Alois Sonnleitner Award, Austrian Academy of Sciences
• 2015 Teisinger Medal of Honor, Czech Medical Association
• 2022 European Academy of Sciences and Arts induction
• 2023 Gold Medal for Special Merits, Republic of Austria
• 2024 Election to Austrian Academy of Sciences, Class II (Medicine)

Leadership and Impact:
As Head of the Department of Epidemiology at Medical University of Vienna, she leads large-scale longitudinal studies, including collaborations on the Nurses’ Health Studies (NHS) and Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Her career spans clinical oncology in Vienna and academic roles at Harvard, UCLA, and Denmark. With over 340 publications and an h-index of 68, her work has shaped understanding of lifestyle and environmental influences on human health.