Jesse Berman

Jesse Berman, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. His work focuses on environmental epidemiology, investigating the complex relationships between environmental exposures and human health outcomes.

Dr. Berman's educational background includes:

• PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• MHS in Environmental Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• BA in Environmental Biology/English Literature from Colgate University
• Post-Doctoral training at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
• Post-Doctoral training in Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

As an environmental epidemiologist, Dr. Berman's research investigates the relationship between human health and complex environmental exposures, with particular interest in extreme weather events (drought, heat, precipitation), air pollution, and climate change. He frequently employs spatial analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to improve exposure assessment and better understand environmental influences on disease outcomes, including spatial and neighborhood disparities in risk. His work emphasizes policy-relevant findings that can inform decision-making to better protect public health, often analyzing large data sources such as electronic health records while also evaluating smaller datasets and personal exposure data.

Dr. Berman's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on air pollution health effects, drought impacts, and vector-borne diseases, with increasing attention to climate change implications for public health. His work spans multiple disciplines including environmental health, epidemiology, spatial analysis, and climate science, with applications to respiratory health, cardiovascular outcomes, and infectious disease patterns. The geographic scope of his research ranges from local Minnesota studies to international investigations in Vietnam and beyond.

Among his notable recognitions are:

• Charles N Hewitt Creative Teaching Award (2023) from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health
• Best Environmental Epidemiology Paper (2019) from the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology
• Selected Extramural Publication (2017) by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• Gaylord Donnelley Postdoctoral Environmental Fellowship from Yale University Institute for Biospheric Studies
• David L Swift Award for Aerosol Research in Environmental Health Engineering

Dr. Berman is an active member of several professional organizations including the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES), International Society of Exposure Epidemiology (ISEE), and Society of Epidemiologic Research (SER). His research has been supported by various funding sources that enable his investigations into environmental health impacts and the development of methods for exposure assessment.

His work involves collaboration with interdisciplinary teams across environmental science, geography, medicine, and public health to address complex questions at the intersection of environment and human health. Dr. Berman's research group utilizes advanced spatial analysis techniques and large-scale data systems to identify environmental health risks and inform protective strategies.