Biography

John R. Nuckols holds BS, MS and PhD degrees in Engineering. He is an Emeritus Professor in Environmental Health Sciences (Colorado State University), and Principal of JRN-Environmental Health Sciences (North Bethesda, Maryland). He continues active affiliation with CSU as an Associate Affiliate Faculty member of the Colorado Water Center, and as a selected Scholar and Affiliate Faculty in the School of Global Environmental Sustainability. Professor Nuckols has 40 years of experience in research and application of environmental sciences in ecological and human health risk assessment, including 11 years private practice in Kentucky (1980-1991). There he conducted studies related to water and health impacts, including landmark lands unsuitable for surface mining designation. In 1992, Dr. Nuckols established the Environmental Health Advanced Systems Laboratory at CSU, with the mission to conduct research on the development and application of computer-based technology, including simulation modeling, geographic information systems, and remote sensing technology, to exposure assessment for environmental health risk assessment. Dr. Nuckols is particularly recognized for his advocacy of collaboration between engineering, earth, and health sciences. His laboratory was instrumental in development of the exposure assessment strategy for the US CDC National Birth Defects and Prevention Study. Through Intergovernmental Personnel Agreements he served as a lead scientist on exposure assessment for epidemiological risk studies in research units of the US National Cancer Institute (2002-2010) and the Fogarty International Center (2009-2011). These studies concerning exposure to fugitive emissions from pesticide use on cultivated agriculture, byproducts of municipal water disinfection, metal and chemical contamination in public and private water supplies, and emissions from combusted fuel sources. Current research interests include interpretation of "big data" (e.g. climate change models) for utility in local and regional health impact assessment and prevention and adoption of a standard protocol for exposure assessment in environmental epidemiological health risk assessment. He has extensive international experience.