Zhen Cong, Ph.D.

Zhen Cong, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences and director of the Climate and Health Initiative at the UAB School of Public Health, was recently selected as a Climate and Health Scholar by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This inaugural class includes eight scientists from multiple disciplines and universities across the United States who will “join the cross-cutting NIH effort to reduce health threats from climate change across the lifespan and build health resilience in individuals, communities, and nations around the world, especially among those at highest risk.”

Following a competitive application process, scholars selected to join the new NIH Climate and Health Scholars Program required a strong publication record in climate science or climate and health sciences, including basic, clinical, translational, population, social/behavioral, and/or implementation sciences. The scholars in this program will collaborate with staff across NIH to both share knowledge and help build capacity for conducting climate-related and health research. While each scholar is currently employed at a major university or with a research-based organization, they will be hosted by an NIH Institute or Center for the entirety of this program. Cong is hosted by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). She received her Ph.D. in gerontology and currently serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, the top journal in social gerontology. She is also a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. 

This initiative began in February 2023 and will last eight months. During this time, Cong will be involved in several projects, such as reaching out to organizations for discussions on climate and health and conducting a portfolio analysis of funded projects. 

“It is a great honor to be selected. It is wonderful to work with people from NIH, especially NIA, as well as other scholars in this important area,” said Cong. “I look forward to sharing my knowledge, experiences, and passion, and I also look forward to gaining insights and learning from those great people.”

To learn more about the NIH’s Climate Change and Health Initiative and the scholars program, read full announcement from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.