Jeremy M. Gernand

Jeremy M. Gernand is an Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Safety Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the John and Willie Leone Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. With expertise spanning environmental health and safety risk analysis, nanoparticle exposure assessment, and engineering decision-making under uncertainty, Dr. Gernand contributes significantly to both academic research and practical applications in safety engineering.

Dr. Gernand earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University (1998), followed by an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University (2007), and completed his Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. His educational journey was complemented by eight years of professional experience as a Safety and Reliability Engineer in the aerospace and defense industries, where he worked on projects ranging from astronaut exercise equipment to aircraft radar systems.

Dr. Gernand's research focuses on improving how engineers and policymakers understand and manage environmental health and safety risks associated with technology. His work spans three primary initiatives: characterizing real-world pollutant exposures and evaluating relevant policy; understanding the characteristics influencing nano- and ultrafine particle toxicity; and assessing the efficiency and efficacy of policies aimed at protecting worker and public health and safety. He employs quantitative risk analysis, probabilistic models, and data informatics, increasingly incorporating machine learning approaches to make the most of available data.

Analysis of Dr. Gernand's recent publications reveals consistent themes across environmental health, safety engineering, and risk analysis. His work bridges fundamental research on nanoparticle toxicity with practical applications in occupational safety and policy evaluation. Notably, there's a growing emphasis on cognitive aspects of risk assessment, examining how engineers' biases affect their decision-making processes regarding risk. His research also shows increasing engagement with contemporary energy transition issues, particularly regarding hydrogen economy development and solar energy safety implications.

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)

Dr. Gernand actively mentors numerous students across various levels, from undergraduate researchers to postdoctoral scholars. His research group has secured significant funding from organizations including the Health Effects Institute, Penn State Institute for Energy and the Environment, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Current projects include "Trends in Marcellus-Utica Shale Regional Air Quality due to Unconventional Oil and Gas Development" and "Investigating Indoor Air Pollutant Variability, Source Contributions, and Respiratory Health in Senegal." His teaching portfolio includes courses on Safety Engineering, Engineering Risk Analysis, and Machine Learning for Engineering Problems.

Dr. Gernand leads a vibrant research laboratory focused on environmental health and safety risk analysis. His team employs both experimental and computational approaches to characterize exposures, assess risks, and evaluate policy effectiveness. Notably, his personal experience with vision impairment following a stroke in 2017 has informed his understanding of accessibility challenges and reinforced his commitment to inclusive research practices.