Sara Grineski

Sara Grineski is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Utah, with a secondary appointment in Environmental Studies. She holds an academic position within the School of Environment, Society and Sustainability. Her career includes prior roles as an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she led the NIH-funded BUILD award's research mentoring programs. She has a BA in Sociology and Biology from Concordia College (Minnesota), an MA and PhD in Sociology from Arizona State University, with a minor in Geography.

Her research focuses on environmental health disparities, children’s health, and environmental justice, with additional expertise in human geography, development studies, and epidemiology. She investigates how race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other social factors intersect to shape exposure to air pollution, flooding, and other environmental hazards, particularly in marginalized communities. Her work also addresses mentorship dynamics in STEM education, including the impact of mentoring relationships on undergraduate researchers.

Grineski’s articles (2023–2025) reveal a focus on disaster inequities (e.g., Hurricane Harvey, Winter Storm Uri), distributional environmental justice in urban cores, and the societal implications of climate change. She emphasizes disparities in access to resources like air conditioning and flood protection, often linking these to historical policies like redlining. Her recent studies also explore how academic mentorship quality influences students’ mental health, graduate school intentions, and research outcomes.

• Scientific Awards:
• National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) Fellowship in Urban Ecology (2001–2006).

In grants and advising, Grineski has secured funding as a PI/Co-PI from NSF, NIH, and EPA. She prioritizes student involvement in research, with over half of her publications including student co-authors. Her research programs aim to bridge academia and community action, such as participatory sensing initiatives to address air quality inequities.