We are excited to announce the newest additions to the Interfaces of Global Change IGEP, the Rural Environmental Health Program participants!

The Rural Environmental Health predoctoral program at Virginia Tech is a competitive program that provides Ph.D. students with training in environmental health sciences, with a focus on applications in rural landscapes. Participants will complete rural environmental health specific training covering toxicology, epidemiology, exposure science, and community-based methods. REH T32 trainees receive assistantship and tuition support for their first two years of the program. REH scholars receive tuition support and participate in the same valuable academic training.

Those participating in the REH program are also admitted into the  Interfaces of Global Change Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program (IGC IGEP). Through participation in this program, REH T32 trainees and scholars will become part of a campus-wide network of scholars studying diverse facets of global change and will have unique access to visiting scholars, workshops, and other professional development opportunities. 

Welcome to the Interfaces of Global Change

Emily and Mario!

REH Fellow

Emily Thompson

2026 Rural Environmental Health T32 Trainee

Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health

Emily is a Ph.D. student in the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health program, conducting research in Dr. Mengxi Zhang's lab. Her primary research interests center on maternal health, with a focus on how geographic accessibility and environmental risk factors influence maternal health outcomes. She seeks to investigate disparities in maternal healthcare access.

Advised by Dr. Mengxi Zhang.

REH Fellow

Mario Rodriguez

2026 Rural Environmental Health Scholar

Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health

Mario is a Ph.D. student in the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health program, working under the guidance of Dr. Alex DiFeliceantonio. His research aims to better understand the role that components of highly processed foods play in behavior and metabolism. He focuses on investigating the effects of xenobiotic substances present in the modern food environment.

Advised by Dr. Alex DiFeliceantonio.