Jose Suarez

Jose Suarez is an Associate Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego. He serves as Division Lead of the Climate and Environmental Sciences Teaching Division and Director of the Climate and Environmental Health Research Program. His research focuses on environmental determinants of health in vulnerable populations, particularly the impact of pesticide exposure on child and adult health in Ecuador and California. He leads the NIH-funded ESPINA study, examining long-term health effects of pesticide exposure, and the NO-POPs clinical trial investigating dietary interventions to reduce persistent pollutants.

Awards include the 2012 Paper of the Year, 2014-2015 Mentorship Award, and the 2016 Carmel Prize for Research Excellence. He is a member of the California Environmental Contaminant Biomonitoring Program's Scientific Guidance Panel since 2017. His work spans environmental health, mental health, and climate change adaptation, with a focus on pesticide exposure biomarkers, geospatial determinants, and community-based participatory research.

Key research initiatives include:

• ESPINA study (2008–present): Tracking health effects of pesticide exposure in Ecuadorian communities
• NO-POPs trial: Evaluating dietary interventions to reduce persistent pollutants in San Diego
• Global health collaborations in Ecuador and Uruguay

Grants and funding include NIH/NIEHS projects, Fogarty International Center grants, and JPB Foundation support. His publications emphasize pesticide exposure's role in mental health, neurodevelopment, and metabolic outcomes.