MEET OUR STUDENT - JEFF SHIRAI, MS (1995)
Passionate about public health
After completing his master’s degree in Environmental Health in 1995, Jeff Shirai went to work at a local public health consulting firm. After two years in the private sector, he returned to the department, where he is now a research scientist in Professor John Kissel’s laboratory.
"One of the primary reasons I chose this field, and in particular this job, is that it is very satisfying to know that each day I get to work on research projects that provide a societal and public health benefit that goes far beyond my own personal rewards."
Shirai is currently working on in vitro (cadaver skin) and in vivo (human volunteers) dermal absorption studies using the insect repellent DEET, as well as computer modeling projects simulating exposures to pesticides and volatile organic compounds. The Kissel lab is currently conducting projects dealing with dermal exposure to contaminants in the environment, human exposure to contaminated soils or sediments, and pesticide exposures in residential and occupational settings.
As the research scientist/laboratory supervisor in the Kissel lab, Shirai is staff, not faculty, but he interacts with students on a daily basis. "My favorite part of what I do is working with and training students who will be the next generation of environmental health scientists and practitioners. The fact that I have developed very close friendships with many of them is icing on the cake."
He hopes his passion for environmental health, his perseverance, and his perfectionism rub off on the students. "Set the bar high, challenge yourself, work hard, and don’t settle for mediocre work," he tells them. "You will not regret this later on."
Since he moved back from the private sector to the academic, he has developed a new set of skills, which has helped increase his confidence that he can tackle any challenge that comes his way.
Shirai encourages students to take interesting classes and work on a challenging thesis project, but also to find a lab with a tight-knit network of students, staff, and faculty. He believes that working in such an environment enriches the graduate school experience.