Gauri Desai

Gauri Desai, PhD, MPH, serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the University at Buffalo's School of Public Health and Health Professions. Her expertise bridges environmental epidemiology and global health with a specialized focus on children's health vulnerabilities to environmental toxins.

Her academic foundation includes:

• PhD in Epidemiology from the University at Buffalo
• MPH in Epidemiology from Indiana University Bloomington
• Postgraduate Diploma in Hospital and Healthcare Management from the University of Pune
• BS in Microbiology from the University of Pune

Dr. Desai's research centers on toxic chemical impacts—particularly arsenic and lead—on child growth and neurodevelopment, with innovative investigations into dietary mitigation strategies. Her work frequently employs Uruguayan cohorts and NHANES datasets to analyze exposure-outcome relationships in real-world settings, emphasizing how nutritional interventions might counteract environmental toxicity pathways.

Analysis of her 2020-2025 publications reveals consistent investigation of metal mixtures (arsenic, lead, cadmium) affecting pediatric neurodevelopment, cardiovascular markers, and growth trajectories. A distinctive trend involves examining B-vitamins and dietary patterns as potential buffers against metal toxicity, positioning nutrition as a critical intervention point in environmental health crises.

Her research excellence has been recognized through:

• Dr. Rebecca James Baker Award from the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (2021)
• Saxon Graham Award for Excellence in Epidemiology from University at Buffalo (2020)

As an educator, Dr. Desai teaches undergraduate courses spanning global health, epidemiology, public health fundamentals, and maternal-child health. Her 2021 publication reimagining pandemic-era global health pedagogy demonstrates her commitment to educational innovation. Professional engagement includes the Society of Epidemiologic Research (since 2016) and International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (since 2018), alongside participation in the Lumen Circles Fellowship for Open Educational Resources (2020).