Christopher K. Uejio
Associate Professor, Florida State University
For the past 17 years, I've researched how the physical environment influences human health and well-being. I am a co-author of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) Framework. This framework comprised a small portion of the President’s Climate Action Plan (2012). I frequently work with health departments to understand and adapt to climate change.
Research
Research Topics
Extreme Heat
Extreme heat events cause more U.S. deaths (12,000) per year than any other weather hazard
Disasters and Health
Climate change raises sea levels, increases extreme rainfall events, the strength of major hurricanes, and threatens public health.
Adapting to Climate Change
Three out of four U.S. health departments state they lack the expertise to understand how climate change will impact health
Mosquitoborne Disease (Dengue, West Nile Virus)
Dengue is the most important virus transmitted by a mosquito.
Waterborne Disease
In the U.S., untreated or minimally treated drinking water is delivered to 20 million people.
Research Group
J.T. Bandzuh
PhD Candidate
Elaina Gonsoroski
PhD Student
Bertram Melix
PhD Student
Social Determinants of Health, Spatial Modeling, Life Expectancy, GIS
Which social determinants of health are most strongly associated with life expectancy rates at the census tract level in Florida?
How do the social determinants of health contribute to the observed variation in life expectancy rates in Florida?
Alumni (Reverse Chronological Order)
Yoonjung Ahn (2022): Currently Postdoctoral Fellow @ CU Boulder
Jihoon Jung (2019): Currently Postdoctoral Fellow @ University of North Carolina
Frank Annie (2019): Currently @ Charleston Area Medical Center
Karen Wertz (2018) ABD: Currently @ the U.S. Department of Defense
Media
Contact ME
Note to Prospective Students
Thank you for your interest!
Understanding how global environmental change may impact public health requires social, physical, and public health knowledge. Geography, which encompasses many of these perspectives, is well-positioned to train the next-generation of leaders.
Graduate students often find it beneficial to study a topic related to my research agenda. Intuitively, I can provide better subject-area advice and access to a broader network of project partners. Every two out of three studies I conduct uses existing data collected by other institutions. The rest of my research relies upon observational field studies and social surveys. My laboratory includes basic equipment for conducting heat exposure and mosquito field studies.
International Students
The FSU Geography Program admits a couple of funded international students per year. There are fewer funded international compared to domestic student positions. That being said, I am currently working with one international student.
Next Steps
Please refer to the FSU Department of Geography webpage for more information on how to apply to the graduate program. Information about degree requirements and transferring credit can be found in the Graduate Student Guide.
If you are interested in working with me, please send me an email before you submit your application that includes:
© 2015