معرفی
Joseph Okeme is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at McMaster University. His research focuses on environmental chemistry and its health implications, particularly regarding persistent organic pollutants like PFAS. He develops novel analytical methods for exposure assessment and biomonitoring, including wearable samplers and tear fluid analysis. Okeme holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Toxicology from Federal University of Agriculture (2004), M.Sc. in Analytical Sciences from Robert Gordon University (2010), and Ph.D. in Physical and Environmental Sciences from the University of Toronto (2017). He completed a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at Yale University (2021–2022).
Education:
- B.Sc. Environmental Toxicology, Federal University of Agriculture (2004)
- M.Sc. Instrumental Analytical Sciences, Robert Gordon University (2010)
- Ph.D. in Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto (2017)
- Banting Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale University (2021–2022)
Research Interests: Okeme’s work bridges environmental chemistry and public health, emphasizing the development of tools for assessing chemical exposure risks. Key areas include:
- PFAS transformation and human health impacts
- Passive air samplers for indoor/outdoor environments
- Biomonitoring via novel matrices like tear fluid
- Physicochemical property databases for emerging contaminants
- Exposure pathways in occupational (e-waste) and consumer contexts
Labs/Teams: The Okeme Lab at McMaster investigates chemical exposures using cutting-edge analytical techniques. Current projects focus on:
- PFAS fate and transport in ecosystems
- Wearable sensor technology for real-time monitoring
- Environmental justice in waste management contexts
Teaching: Okeme instructs courses on sustainable chemistry, green chemistry principles, and analytical methodologies, including CHEM 4SC3 (Sustainable Chemistry: Analysis and Regulation) and CHEM 2BC3 (Making Chemistry More Sustainable).
