Become an EGH student
The Department of Environmental and Global Health is a great place to be to engage in cutting-edge environmental research and training. Learn why below.
The University of Florida is an institution united for a greater purpose. Our students utilize more than 200 research, service and education centers, bureaus and institutes. With some of the most future-focused facilities led by some of the best minds in their fields, it’s no wonder UF is consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities.
The Department of Environmental and Global Health (EGH), established in 2009, has contributed significantly to excellence in research, teaching, and service to local and global communities. As we continue to grow, our research emphasis areas have expanded to reflect the current need for training and expertise required to tackle current and emerging environmental and global health challenges.
Unlike many traditional environmental health programs, EGH is uniquely positioned to bridge STEM and public health spheres and to explore the contemporary concept of One Health. The tropical environment of Florida serves as a major gateway for emerging infectious disease domestically and internationally and is also a prime site for assessing critical environmental issues associated with climate change, major weather events, and water re-use.
Our Research
EGH faculty is internationally recognized for their expertise in addressing pressing global challenges that are reflected in our areas of emphasis: Exposure Science, Global Environmental Change, Environmental Toxicology, Environmental Infectious Disease, Worker Health and Safety and Global Health Nutrition. Our research is further strengthened by collaborations with world-class faculty across the UF campus, through partnerships with other top research institutions in the U.S. and around the world and through the research contributions of our outstanding students.
Our Curriculum
Our students are trained to become leaders in research or professional practice to help solve complex health problems caused by the global intersection of humans, animals, and the environment. Students take courses that examine a diverse range of issues and learn to develop strategies to measure and control major environmental health problems both locally in Florida and in settings around the globe. Through contemporary teaching that incorporates a One Health approach and one-on-one mentorship, our faculty guide students to develop a deeper understanding through the classroom, the laboratory, and field research helping the student apply what they have learned to solve environmental and global health problems in real-world settings.
Career Paths
Excellent career opportunities are available for our graduates. Students are highly competitive for environmental and global health positions in government, the private sector, and academia across all of our programs. Our graduates go on to careers in environmental protection, toxicology, risk assessment, epidemiologic surveillance, sustainable development, and emerging infectious disease, among others. Graduates of the PhD program have taken positions in top public and private academic institutions where they continue to contribute to cutting-edge research. Many also hold positions at federal and state agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Health (DOH) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), while others work in management for a variety of non-profit government organizations. Graduates of our master's programs (MHS and MPH) often work for similar institutions or track into PhD programs where they contribute to solutions to pressing environmental and global health concerns.