Dr. Kai Zhang

Professor, Population & Community Health

Education & Experience:
I received my PhD in Environmental Health Science and MA in Statistics from the University of Michigan and MS in Environmental Engineering from Tsinghua University, China. Prior to joining the UNT Health Science Center, I held positions as Assistant and Associate Professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health and as Empire Innovation Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY).

Teaching Areas & Public Health Interests:
I have extensive experience teaching college-level courses, including environmental health, air quality, and GIS. My classes integrate contemporary environmental health topics such as urban flooding, hurricanes, extreme heat and cold, air quality and exercise, aging, and green space, among others.

Professional Activities & Awards:
I have actively participated in several international or national societies, including the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES), the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE),American Heart Association (AHA), among others. I currently serve as the Secretary of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES). I am also an Associate Editor for Science of the Total Environment and the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology.

Scholarly Interests:
My research explores emerging topics in urban environmental pollution including disasters, air pollution, green space, exposome, and health.  My expertise includes exposure science, environmental and occupational epidemiology, environmental epigenetics, risk assessment, GIS, environmental statistics, and AI.

Currently, my research interests focus on: 1) exploring the human health effects associated with disasters as well as building resilient cities; 2) assessing health impacts of environmental exposures (air pollution, green space, and exposome) and their underlying biological mechanisms, particularly focusing on aging-related diseases such as CVD and ADRD; 3) investigating housing, transportation, and sustainability; and 4) applying GIS and AI approaches in epidemiological studies and precision medicine.

My research has been supported by federal agencies and foundations and has been featured in prestigious international journals, including Nature Medicine, Nature Climate Change, Nature Communication, Science Advances, Circulation, Circulation Research, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Environmental Health Perspectives, and Environmental Science & Technology, among others.

Link to Dr. Zhang’s Curriculum Vitae:

Link to Dr. Zhang’s University Profile: