 | The courses listed below are generally given during the day at NYU's Washington Square location in Manhattan or the Research Laboratories for Environmental Medicine at Sterling Forest, Tuxedo, New York (45 miles from midtown Manhattan). All ERBI courses are conducted in the evening at the NYU/HJD-OIOC, located at 63 Downing Street, just a few blocks southwest of Washington Square. Many of the courses are given in alternate years. Current course information and locations are available in the office of the graduate coordinator, 845-731-3661, or the ERBI program administrator, 212-255-6690.
The following courses are lectures unless otherwise indicated.
Environmental Health
G48.1004 Identical to G23.1004. Lippmann. 4 points.
Discussion of some of the basic concepts of environmental
health science in terms of contaminant sources, transport, fate, and levels in
environmental media (air, water, food, and soil) and occupational settings.
Hazard recognition and control are discussed in terms of toxicology,
epidemiology, exposure assessment, risk assessment, and risk management.
Ecotoxicology: Hudson River Case Study
G48.1005 Identical to G23.1005. Prerequisite: undergraduate biology or chemistry, or permission of
the instructor. Wirgin. 4 points.
Ecosystems throughout the country are polluted with a
variety of toxic chemicals. This course uses the Hudson
River as a model to investigate the sources, transport,
transformation, toxic effects, management strategies, and remediation of
polluted ecosystems. Over 200 miles of the Hudson River estuary has been designated a U.S. federal Superfund site because of contamination from PCBs, dioxins, and metals. As baseline information, this highly interdisciplinary course initially investigates the geological history of the Hudson River, its hydrology, and inventory of species composition. Those chemical, physical, and biological factors impacting the bioavailability of contaminants to the
ecosystem are presented. Efforts to model the trophic transfer of PCBs through the food chain are discussed. Toxic effects (cancer, reproductive disorders, immunological changes, etc.) of these contaminants to Hudson
River fish, bird, and mammalian populations are highlighted. Models of resistance of populations to chemical contaminants are explored. Accumulation of toxicants and possible effects on human consumers of Hudson River resources are introduced. Potential beneficial effects of microbial bioremediation strategies are introduced.
Problems and issues in the management of Hudson River Superfund sites are discussed by regulatory officials as are the strategies of advocacy groups to remediate these sites. Impacts of remediation of one site on its natural
populations are presented.
Toxicology
G48.1006 Identical to G23.1006. Not open to students who have taken G48.2310 or G23.2310. Prerequisite: an introductory course in either biology, physiology, or biochemistry. Gunnison, Jaeger. 4 points.
Introduction to the science of toxicology, stressing basic concepts essential to understanding the action of exogenous chemical agents on biological systems. Principles underlying the absorption, metabolism, and
elimination of chemicals are discussed. Toxicokinetics, specific classes of toxic responses, and experimental methods used to assess toxicity are also examined.
Terrorism: Chemical, Biological, and Psychological Warfare
G48.1007 Prerequisite: undergraduate course in biological science and/or behavioral science. Evans. 4 points.
Survey of the agents of terrorism, their immediate effects, long-term consequences, and emerging research questions. Agents of terrorism include chemical weapons, radioactive materials, infectious agents, torture,
and ethnic conflict. Long-term consequences include stress disorders, respiratory disorders, and sensitization and conditioned responses to noxious stimuli. Students meet with a broad range of experts for help in dealing with
these questions.
An Introduction to Toxicogenomics
G48.1008 Identical to G23.1008. Prerequisite: undergraduate or graduate course covering the basics of cell biology or molecular biology, or permission of instructor. Gunnison. 2 points.
Toxicogenomics is an emerging field of study in which
genomic and bioinformatic techniques are utilized to assess the effects of
toxicants in our environment on living organisms. As currently practiced,
toxicogenomics deals primarily with the measurement and interpretation of
global gene and protein expression in response to exposure to xenobiotics. This
course begins with a comprehensive presentation of various microarray platforms
and describes how they are used to measure global gene expression as mRNA.
Various methods of measuring protein expression are also presented, as well as
methods of data organization and analysis that are necessary for conversion of
the massive volume of information generated by microarray technology into
useful knowledge. Examples from the published literature are presented
throughout that demonstrate both the principles of microarray technology and
the practical applications of toxicogenomics. The latter include the
classification of tumors in human subjects and prediction of their response to
treatment, the identification of biomarkers of disease, the categorization of
toxicants, and the elucidation of mechanisms of toxicity.
Biomarker Applications in Humans with Environmental Exposures
G48.1009 Prerequisite: an introductory
course in either biology or biochemistry. Qu. 2 points.
Application of biomarkers in human populations is a useful
approach that incorporates advanced laboratory technology with epidemiology to
evaluate the health hazards and risk of exposure to environmental pollutants at
low levels. It is increasingly utilized as a tool to understand the
interactions between genes and environmental exposures and to identify
“at-risk” populations and individuals. This course covers both the basic
concepts and the practical issues involved in conducting biomarker studies in
human populations with environmental exposures. Topics include the strengths
and limitations of biomarker applications, criteria for the selection and
validation of commonly used biomarkers, approaches of newly emerging
technologies (e.g., proteomics) relevant to discovery and development of new
biomarkers, issues of quality control, and ethical considerations in biomarker
research. The course also provides students with lectures focusing on specific
environmental carcinogens regarding the current findings and future research
needs of their biomarker applications.
Weather, Air Pollution, and Health G48.1010 Prerequisite: for graduate students, B.S. in
biology, chemistry, or an environmental health science-related field; for
undergraduate students, chemistry/biology course work with instructor’s
permission. Thurston. 4 points.
Global climate change concerns have made clear the need to
better understand the interaction of air pollution and weather. This course
gives the student an appreciation for the scientific bases for the known
effects of weather on air pollution and, conversely, for the known and
hypothesized effects of air pollution on weather and climate change, as well as
their respective interactions with human health. Lecture topics include the
fundamentals of atmospheric motions and weather; air pollution formation and
dispersion in the atmosphere; acidic air pollution and acid rain; the health
effects of air pollution and of extreme weather; global-scale weather and air
pollution; and the effects of air pollution on the ozone layer and climate
change.
Environmental Radioactivity G48.2017
Prerequisite: G48.2017 or permission of the instructor.
Harley. 4 points.
Comprehensive evaluation of the levels, distribution, and
variability of radioactivity in the environment. Sources and transport of
radionuclides in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Health effects of
radioactive pollution from natural sources, nuclear weapons testing, and the
nuclear fuel cycle.
DNA Replication, Damage, and Repair G48.2018 Identical to G23.2018. Prerequisite:
biochemistry. Klein. 4 points.
The basic processes involved in DNA replication, damage
formation, and processing, with an emphasis on eukaryotic cells. Topics include
DNA structure and the chemistry of adduct formation, DNA polymerase structure
and function, DNA replication mechanisms and fidelity, the enzymology of DNA
repair, and mechanisms of mutagenesis.
Communication Skills for Biomedical Scientists G48.2025 Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
M. Cohen. 2 points.
Basic principles of effective scientific communication are
presented in this course. Lectures and hands-on practice sessions cover (1)
poster presentations for scientific meetings, (2) brief verbal presentations,
and (3) writing papers for publication in a scientific journal. Students are
encouraged to use their own data for the various communication formats.
Students are expected to attend and to critique seminars given at Sterling Forest by outside speakers that are
sponsored by the Department of Environmental Medicine; these seminars are given
on the same day as the class.
Tutorials in Environmental Health Sciences G48.2031 1-4 points.
Tutorials arranged on an individual basis with a faculty
member for the advanced study of special subjects in the environmental health
sciences. A short description must be approved in advance of registering for
this tutorial. A comprehensive paper or examination is required.
Aerosol Science G48.2033
Thurston. 4 points.
Comprehensive introduction to the properties, behavior, and
measurement of suspended particles, including background on their underlying
physical and chemical characteristics. Presents the properties of ambient
atmospheric aerosols and their respiratory deposition.
Environmental Hygiene Measurements G48.2035 B. Cohen. 4 points.
Instrumentation, procedures, and strategies for quantitative
evaluation and control of hazardous exposures. Emphasis is on airborne
contaminants, including particles, gases, and bioaerosols, plus physical
agents, including ionizing and nonionizing radiations, noise, and abnormal
temperatures. Decision-making criteria are considered for each agent, as is the
performance of environmental control methods, including ventilation and local
exhaust systems.
Environmental Hygiene Laboratory I, II G48.2037, 2038 Prerequisites: G48.2035 and permission of the
instructor. Laboratory and field trips. Heikkinen. 4 points per term.
Covers the instrumental techniques and procedures for the
subjects covered in G48.2035.
Introduction to Epidemiology G48.2039 Marmor. 4 points.
Epidemiology, one of the key sciences of public health, is
the study of the distribution and determinants of disease in humans. In this
course, principles and methods of epidemiology are developed for students
intending to conduct independent research on health-related issues. Topics
include measures of disease occurrence and risk, designs for observational and
interventional studies, sensitivity and specificity of clinical tests, methods
for epidemiologic analyses, and ethical issues regarding conduct of
epidemiologic studies. Class time is divided among lectures, discussions
evaluating classical and current studies that have used epidemiologic methods,
and development of projects that form the basis of term papers. Grades are
based on class presentations, term papers, pop quizzes, and midterm and final
examinations.
Molecular and Genetic Toxicology G48.2040 Identical to G23.2040. Prerequisite:
biochemistry or permission of the instructor. Klein. 4 points.
Analyzes the modes by which organisms handle damage to DNA
by physical and chemical agents, the mechanisms of converting damage to
mutations, and the theoretical basis for carcinogenesis screening methods
utilizing mutagenesis. Topics include systems for mutagenesis testing,
mutational spectra, and inducible responses to DNA damage.
Genetic Susceptibility/ Toxicogenomics G48.2042 Wirgin, Arslan. 4 points.
Genetic variation at many loci has been described in human
and wildlife populations. Recent studies have explored the relationships
between this variation and susceptibility to diseases. This course examines the
extent of genetic variation in genomes, the techniques by which sensitive genes
and allelic variants are identified, and the consequences of genetic variation
on phenotypic expression. Emphasis is on the relationship between genetic
variation and susceptibility to environmentally induced diseases, such as
cancers, through effects on toxicant metabolism, DNA repair, and signal
transduction genes. The role of genetic adaptations to resistance of natural
populations of wildlife is also presented. In addition, emphasis is on
epidemiological techniques used to explore relationships between polymorphisms
and disease and the moral and legal ramifications of access to this data.
Cell Signaling and Environmental Stress G48.2043 Prerequisite: undergraduate biology or
biochemistry. X. Huang, C. Huang. 4 points.
In the last few years, we have gained extensive knowledge of
how cell surface receptors transmit signals to the nucleus, thereby controlling
the expression of genetic programs involved in many cellular processes,
including normal and aberrant cell growth. Signaling motifs (e.g., nuclear
transcription receptors, kinase/phosphatase cascades, G-coupled protein
receptors, etc.) are components of signaling webs, which are targets of
disruption by environmental pollutants. This course covers various signal
transduction pathways such as cytokine signaling and signal transduction to the
nucleus by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Some of the known detailed
mechanisms, such as regulation of MAPK by phosphatases (removal of
phosphorylation) and dual phosphorylation of MAPK on the relevant threonine and
tyrosine leading to the downstream activator protein-1 (AP-1) activation, are
discussed. The course further illustrates that alteration of the pathways by
environmental pollutants, such as transition metals and airborne particles, may
be implicated in pathological processes, cancer, inflammation, and chronic
obstructive pulmonary diseases. Students gain a basic understanding of
principles emerging in the signaling field and how they serve as guiding tools
for students engaged in basic, clinical, and translational medical research.
Epidemiologic Methods G48.2044 Prerequisite: G48.2039 or G48.2303.
Zeleniuch-Jacquotte. 4 points.
Principles introduced in G48.2039 are further developed.
Methods to design, analyze, and interpret epidemiologic studies concerned with
disease etiology are presented. The main focus is on cohort and case-control
studies. Topics include bias, confounding, measurement error, and sample size
determination.
Methods for Categorical Data Analysis in Health Sciences Research
G48.2045 Prerequisite: G48.2039, G48.2303, or permission of the instructor. Shao. 4 points.
Focuses on statistical techniques for the analysis of
categorical data, with specific applications to epidemiologic and clinical
studies. Methods for the analysis of contingency tables; risk assessment in
retrospective and prospective studies; and adjustment for confounding,
matching, and effect modification are discussed. Analytic techniques include
Mantel-Haenszel summary chi-square procedures, logistic regression, and
log-linear models.
Epidemiology of Cancer G48.2046 Prerequisite: G48.2039, college-level
biology, or permission of the instructor. Toniolo, Arslan. 4 points.
The epidemiology of cancer in its biological context and
illustration of how it could be used in the search for cancer etiology and
control. Role of viruses, radiation, nutrition, hormones, tobacco, occupational
exposures, and genetic factors in the causation of cancer. Strategies for
exposure and risk assessment and for cancer control, including screening.
Issues of study design and statistical analysis in cancer epidemiology.
Introduction to Survival Analysis G48.2047 Prerequisites: G48.2303 or basic statistics
course, and the permission of the instructor. Tseng, Goldberg. 4 points.
This course reviews the basic concept of survival analysis,
including hazard functions, survival functions, types of censoring,
Kaplan-Meier estimates, and log-rank tests. Parametric inference includes the
Exponential and Weibull distribution. The proportional hazard model and its
extension to time-dependent covariates are included. Additional topics include
accelerated failure time model, competing risks and multistate models.
Recurrent event data are also clinical and epidemiological examples used to
illustrate the various statistical procedures.
Radiological Health G48.2301
Harley. 4 points.
Introduction to the physical and biological processes of
radioactivity and health effects from radiation exposure. Current principles
and philosophies of radiation protection, with reference to the commercial and
medical use of radionuclides and electrical sources of radiation.
Radiobiology G48.2302
Burns. 4 points.
The acute and chronic biological effects of ionizing
radiation. Topics include chemical effects and linear energy transfer, target
theory, chromosomal and genetic effects, acute cellular responses,
physiological and hematological effects, carcinogenesis, treatment of radiation
damage, and the biological basis for radiation safety practices.
Introduction to Biostatistics G48.2303 Identical to G23.2303. Liu, Tseng. 4 points.
Introduction to probability and statistical methods utilized
in the analysis and interpretation of experimental and epidemiological data.
Statistical techniques associated with the normal, binomial, Poisson, t, F, and
chi-squared distributions plus an introduction to nonparametric methods.
Applications in biology, medicine, and the health sciences.
Advanced Topics in Biostatistics G48.2304 Prerequisites: G48.2303 or equivalent
background in statistics, and permission of the instructor. Goldberg. 4 points.
Introduction to statistical methods used in medicine and
biology. Topics are selected from the following: survival methods, logistic
regression methods, design of experiments, longitudinal data methods, missing
data methods, statistical genetics, analysis of gene chip data, and other
topics depending on the interests of the participants. Case studies are used to
illustrate the methods. Students are required to submit a project.
Methods of Applied Statistics and Data Mining with
Applications to Biology and Medicine G48.2306
Prerequisites: basic statistics course; some programming experience or
willingness to learn. Prior familiarity with R or S-plus is not required. Belitskaya.
4 points.
Survey of applied statistical and data mining methods,
including principles, applications, and computational tools. Emphasis is on
conceptual understanding and data analysis using the R or S-plus statistical
programming language. Topics may vary and include cluster analysis,
multidimensional scaling, principal components analysis, resampling methods
(e.g., the bootstrap), linear methods for classification and regression, model
selection, bias-variance trade-off, modern classification and regression,
tree-based methods, randomization, and nonparametric statistics.
Molecular Toxicology of Metals and Trace Elements
G48.2307 Costa. 4 points.
Metals represent serious and persistent environmental
contaminants. This course describes the source of this contamination and
examines the toxic effects of metals such as mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead,
vanadium, nickel, beryllium, cobalt, aluminum, chromate, selenium, and others.
Each metal is considered with regard to its major toxic action. Mechanisms are
emphasized.
Toxicology of the Nervous System
G48.2308 Prerequisite: G48.1006, G48.2310, or permission of the instructor. Evans. 4 points.
Topics reflect current research on the nervous system’s
response to toxic chemicals and drugs. Typical toxicants include chemical
warfare agents, metals, solvents, and pesticides. Nervous system functions are
studied using behavioral, physiological, and biochemical responses. Students
learn to critically evaluate research publications in this field.
Environmental Carcinogenesis G48.2309 Burns. 4 points.
Introductory course that emphasizes current understandings
of how environmental agents contribute to human cancer. The approach integrates
information from human and experimental animal studies at the population,
cellular, and molecular levels. Emphasis is on the basic mechanisms of cancer
causation and how these understandings help to mitigate or prevent the disease.
Principles of Toxicology G48.2310 Identical to G23.2310. Prerequisites:
biochemistry and cell biology, or permission of the instructor. Chen. 4 points.
Broad introduction to the science of toxicology, stressing
basic concepts essential to the understanding of the action of exogenous
chemical agents on biological systems. Principles underlying the absorption,
metabolism, and elimination of chemicals are discussed. Toxicokinetics,
specific classes of toxic responses, and experimental methods used to assess
toxicity are reviewed.
Organ System Toxicology
G48.2311 Prerequisite: G48.2310, G48.1006. or permission of the instructor. Zelikoff. 4 points.
Overview of the types of injury that may be produced in specific mammalian organs and organ systems by exposure to chemical toxicants.
Statistical Computing and Database Design
G48.2312 Prerequisite: an introductory course in statistics or permission of the instructor. Lecture and laboratory. Staff. 4 points.
Basic concepts in database design and management as well as statistical programming are discussed. Topics discussed include use of relational databases in clinical and biological sciences, design and management of relational databases, Structured Query Language (SQL), retrieval of data into SAS, and writing SAS programs for statistical analysis.
Statistical Problems in Medicine and Biology G48.2313 Prerequisites: G48.2044, G48.2045, G48.2303, knowledge of regression and survival analysis, categorical data analysis, and
epidemiologic methods. Goldberg and biostatistics faculty. 4 points.
In this course, students participate in the clinical and
translational research process with investigators conducting research in a wide
variety of areas in medicine and biology. These areas range from clinical
trials in cancer, cardiovascular disease, etc., to comparisons of gene
expression profiles resulting from different exposures to potential carcinogens
in animals or people. Researchers present their problems, and the students
develop their skills to (1) find solutions that include appropriate study
designs and statistical considerations, (2) collaborate in the development of
research proposals, (3) collaborate in the planning of the statistical analysis
for a research project, (4) conduct appropriate statistical analysis for a
research project in collaboration with an investigator, and (5) prepare a
report for a research project in collaboration with an investigator. Students
are exposed to realistic statistical and scientific problems as well as the
statistical approaches for solving these problems. This course develops
experience and skills in statistical collaboration. Researchers present their
problems in class sessions (every other week), and students present their
solutions to the class and faculty in alternate weeks.
Environmental Immunotoxicology G48.2315 Prerequisite: general biology, G48.2310, G48.1006, or permission of the instructor. Zelikoff, M. Cohen. 4 points.
Overview of the components and functions of the immune
system in order to set the stage for a discussion of how toxicants impact the
immune response and alter host susceptibility to disease. Provides students
with the opportunity to investigate and discuss a relevant topic in the field
of immunotoxicology.
Advanced Topics in Survival Analysis G48.2330 Prerequisites: advanced training in
biostatistics and statistical methods and permission of the instructor.
Seminar. Goldberg, Tseng. 2 points.
This course provides advanced topics in survival analysis in
a seminar setting. The course includes a review of basic concepts followed by
in-depth study of advanced methods. These methods include study of survival
models with particular reference to time-dependent models, missing data,
interval-censored data, recurrent event and multiple endpoints. Particular
attention is given to interim analyses in the context of survival models in
clinical trials. Bayesian approaches are also considered. Issues of survival
analysis in observational data are also included. Readings include seminal research papers in
survival analysis.
Advanced Topics in Data Mining with Applications to Genomics
G48.2331 Prerequisites: advanced
training in biostatics and statistical methods, and permission of the
instructor. Seminar. Belitskaya-Levy. 2 points.
This course introduces, illustrates, and evaluates a variety
of statistical data mining methods employed in the context of large-scale
genomic experiments, with an emphasis on applications to DNA microarrays.
Techniques covered correspond to commonly encountered research questions and
study designs. Topics may vary and include preprocessing/normalization of
expression array data, exploratory data analysis, hypothesis testing, linear
models, clustering, discrimination, prediction, and bootstrap methods. The
course features extensive discussion and illustration of data mining techniques
covered in the text The Elements of Statistical Learning, by Hastie et al.
(Springer, 2001), and associated computational tools and resources. A brief
overview of micro-array technology is included, as is discussion of recent
array-related developments and extensions.
Methods for the Analysis of Longitudinal Data G48.2332 Prerequisites: some background in
biostatistics and statistical methods; basic knowledge of matrix algebra,
random vectors, multivariate normal distribution, and regression methods; and
permission of the instructor. Seminar. Liu. 2 points.
This course covers statistical methods for analyzing
longitudinal data, which mainly are collected in the form of repeated
measurements over time. Topics include the linear model for longitudinal
continuous data (e.g., multivariate normal model and mixed-effects models) and
methods for analyzing longitudinal categorical data in the form of counts and
binary data (e.g., generalized linear model and generalized estimating
equations). Dropouts, missing mechanisms, and semiparametric methods are also discussed,
with emphasis on newly proposed methods in the literature.
Independent Study: Ergonomics and Biomechanics G48.2100 Prerequisites: G48.2101, G48.2111, G48.2121, and >G48.2131, or permission of adviser. Staff. 1-12 points.
This course is intended to promote original research in the
general fields of ergonomics and biomechanics. Study is carried out under the
supervision of one or more faculty members. Students enrolled in this course
are encouraged to utilize all appropriate laboratory and computer equipment. At
the end of each semester, the student is expected to submit a written report.
Biomechanics G48.2101
Prerequisite: calculus, physics, or permission of the instructor.
Goldsheyder. 4 points.
This course consists of two parts. In the first part, the
basic concepts of mechanics, such as force and torque, are introduced. These
concepts are first applied to analyze relatively simple mechanical systems.
Analogies between basic mechanical elements and human body parts are formed,
and the principles of mechanics are then applied to analyze muscle and joint
reaction forces controlling and coordinating the movements of major joints of
the human musculoskeletal system.
The second part of the course is devoted to the analyses of “moving” systems with applications to human motion analyses and sports mechanics. The topics covered include description and causes of linear and rotational motion, one- and two-dimensional linear and angular kinematics and kinetics motion analysis as well as concepts of work, energy, power, impulse, and momentum and their application for the analysis of bodies in motion. Course lectures are carried out by solving examples and problems on the covered topics.
Physical Biomechanics G48.2111 Prerequisites: calculus and basic anatomy of
the musculoskeletal system, or permission of the instructor. Lis. 4 points.
This course consists of two parts. In the first part, the
laws of physics and basic concepts of biology, physiology, and mechanics are
applied to explain the effect of applied forces and the biomechanical response
of the tissues of the neuromusculoskeletal system.
The second part of the course uses basic biomechanical concepts to describe motion undergone by various body/joint segments and the forces acting on these body parts during normal daily activities. To facilitate the understanding of the basic tissue/joint musculoskeletal biomechanics, selected case studies are used over the course of the semester.
Applied Biomechanics in the Analysis of Human Performance
G48.2112 Prerequisites: G48.2101 and G48.2111, or permission of the instructor. Campello. 4 points.
This course builds on the Physical Biomechanics and
Biomechanics courses. Its primary purpose is to explore the major processes and
mechanisms underlying human motor performance and the pathomechanics of the
most relevant occupation-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Biomechanical principles and their interaction with basic applied sciences are
systemically introduced to produce a meaningful conceptual framework and
facilitate hypothetical-deductive reasoning.
In the first part of the course, specific topics covered include the review of physical biomechanics with increased emphasis on its interaction with other applied sciences, such as neuroscience and energetics physiology. The second part of the course focuses on multisegmental motion analysis and clinical biomechanics of selected case studies on occupation-related MSDs.
Practicum in Ergonomics and Biomechanics G48.2121 Prerequisites: G48.2111, G48.2112, G48.2131,
and >G48.2303, or permission of instructor. Sheikhzadeh. 4 points.
Focuses on methods and instruments for data collection and
analysis of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Uses lectures and hands-on
projects to illustrate theoretical and practical issues with the use of various
instruments. Emphasis is on appropriate methods of data collection and analysis
of risk factors for MSDs—posture, force, and motion—using electromyography
signals. Introduces students to the basic principles underlying the acquisition
of a physiological signal via computer and to statistical methods for analysis
and interpretation.
Research Methods in Ergonomics and Biomechanics
G48.2123 Prerequisite: G48.2303. Weiser
and Hiebert. 4 points.
This course gives graduate-level students an overview of
common study designs in scientific and medical research and specific knowledge
in the application of these research methods to the field of ergonomics and
biomechanics. Students also learn to critically evaluate scientific papers and
draw valid conclusions.
The first part of the course is an overview of the scientific method and various study
designs that can be used to investigate musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The
second part focuses on specific topics relevant to research practice, such as
issues in measurement, measurement instrument validation, statistical analysis,
and the ethical conduct of research. Illustrations of the applications of these
methods are presented in the context of ergonomic and biomechanical approaches
to the evaluation and control of musculoskeletal disorders.
Ergonomics Issues I: Physical Factors in the Workplace
G48.2131 Prerequisites: G48.2101 and G48.2111, or permission of the instructor. Halpern. 4 points.
Ergonomics is the study of fitting the workplace to the
capabilities of the human worker. Ergonomists apply knowledge from
biomechanics, physiology, psychology, and engineering to the design of tasks,
work organization, work environment, workstations, and tools.
Taking a “system approach” to the design of work, this course examines the interactions
between the human worker and the equipment used at work. The course focuses on
the design of the manufacturing process in the context of implementing an
ergonomics program for injury prevention. In the first half, it demonstrates
how the principles of physiology and biomechanics apply to workstation and tool
design. The second half of the course covers industrial ergonomics
applications: controlling cumulative trauma disorders of the upper extremities,
office work, and manual material handling.
Ergonomics Issues II: Environmental Factors in the Workplace
G48.2132 Prerequisites: G48.2101, G48.2111, and G48.2131, or permission of the instructor. Trainor. 4 points.
Covers environmental influences in the workplace that are
relevant to the development of musculoskeletal problems. Emphasis is on
recognizing and designing safe and productive work environments. Includes
sensory-motor processes, temperature, whole-body and segmental vibration,
noise, lighting, indoor air quality, and organizational factors. Enables
students to appreciate environmental issues that affect ergonomic interventions
in the workplace.
Master’s Thesis G48.3001
Supervised by a faculty member. 1-6 points.
Doctorate Research G48.3002
Supervised by a faculty member. 1-12 points.
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