BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
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NAME
Melissa Gonzales
eRA COMMONS USER NAME
POSITION TITLE
Associate Professor
megonzales
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, and
include postdoctoral training.)
DEGREE
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
YEAR(s)
FIELD OF STUDY
(if applicable)
Interdisciplinary Studies:
University of Arizona
B.A.
1986
Chemistry, Biology, Spanish
University of Arizona College of Pharmacy
M.S.
1992
Toxicology/Industrial Hygiene
University of California at Berkeley
Ph.D.
1998
Environmental Health Sciences
School of Public Health
United States EPA, ORD, NHEER Laboratory,
Post Doctoral
1998-2001
Environmental Epidemiology
Epidemiology and Biomarkers Branch
A. Personal Statement
Dr. Gonzales is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology and
Biostatistics. Her research is devoted to the environmental and genetic basis of disease. She is an
environmental epidemiologist with a master’s degree in toxicology and exposure assessment and a doctoral
degree in environmental health, focusing on epidemiology and biostatistics. Her work includes children’s
respiratory health studies on the US-Mexico border (EPA El Paso Children’s Health Study and El Paso ARCH
study), household smoking, children’s respiratory symptoms and second-hand smoke exposure (the Hispanic
Moms Survey); maternal stress in southwestern Hispanic women (Hispanic Mothers Social Stressor Scale);
work exposures among Native American artisans; and chronic sun exposure and DNA repair in melanoma risk.
Dr. Gonzales’ current gene-environment research involves the profiling of gene methylation and immunophenotypes in melanoma and benign nevi. Her current health disparities research is in colorectal cancer
among Hispanic New Mexicans. Dr. Gonzales teaches environmental health, risk assessment, risk
communication and cultural competency and tutors Genetics and Neoplasia at the UNM Health Sciences
Center. She is currently the Director of the Environmental Health Equities core for NM CARES and a faculty
member in the UNM Preventive Medicine residency program.
B. Positions and Honors
Positions and Employment
1998-2001
2000-2001
2002-2004
2002-2008
2008 -
Research Scientist, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, USEPA
Chapel Hill, NC.
Senior Staff, United States - Mexico Border XXI Program, Office of the Associate Director for
Health Research, USEPA. Research Triangle Park, NC.
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Masters of Public Health
Program, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM.
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology and
Biostatistics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM.
Associate Professor with tenure, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology and
Biostatistics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM.
Other Experience and Professional Memberships
19961996-
Member, International Society for Exposure Science
Member, International Society for Environmental Epidemiology
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2005-2007
20062006-
Chair, Distinguished Lecturer Committee, International Society for Exposure Science
Member, Society for Melanoma Research
Member, American Association for Cancer Research, Molecular Epidemiology Workgroup
Peer Review Experience
2007
External Review Committee, UC Davis Institution Cancer Center Partnerships /NIEHS
Superfund Basic Research and Training Program.
2007Special Emphasis Panel: NCI Comprehensive Minority Institution Cancer Center Partnerships
(U54).
2009Peer Review Committee: NCI Small Grants in Epidemiology (R03)
2009Environmental Health Signature Program core leadership, UNM School of Medicine
Honors
1990
2001
2007
2008
University of Arizona Graduate Centennial Achievement Award
Environmental Defense/ El Paso League of Women Voters, Environmental Research Award
UNM Department of Internal Medicine, Junior Faculty Research Award for Excellence
USEPA National Center for Environmental Research, Level III Scientific and Technological
Achievement Award
C. Selected peer-reviewed publications
Haile R, John EM ,Levine J, Cortessis VK, Unger J, Gonzales M, Ziv EE, et al. A Review of Cancer in
US Hispanics. Cancer Prevention Research, in press.
Svendsen ER, Gonzales M, Ross M, Neas LM. Variability in childhood allergy and asthma across ethnicity,
language, and residency duration in El Paso, Texas. Environ Health 2009, 8:55.
Lauer FT, Mitchell LA, Bedrick E, McDonald J, Lee W-Y, Li W-W, Olvera H, Amaya M, Berwick M,
Gonzales M, Curey B, Pingitore NE, and Burchiel S. (2009) Temporal-spatial analysis of US-Mexico
Border Environmental fine and coarse PM air sample extract activity in human bronchial epithelial
cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol;238(1):1-10.
Goodkind J, Gonzales M, Malcoe L, Espinoza J. The Hispanic Women’s Social Stressor Scale: Understanding
Multiple Sressors of U.S.- and Mexico-born Hispanic Women. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences.
2008. 30(2):200-229.
Gonzales M, Malcoe L, Myers O, Espinoza J. Asthma and Cough in Hispanic Children: Associations
with Social Factors and Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure. Panamerican Journal of Public
Health 2007; 21(5): 274-281.
Gonzales M, Malcoe L, Espinoza J, Kegler MC. Prevalence and predictors of home and automobile smoking
bans and child environmental tobacco smoke exposure: a cross-sectional study of U.S. - and Mexico-born
Hispanic women with young children. BMC Public Health; October 2006, 6:265.
Quandt SA, Hernández-Valero MA, Grzywacz JG, Hovey JD, Gonzales M, Arcury TA. Workplace, Household,
and Personal Predictors of Pesticide Exposure for Farmworkers. Environ Health Perspect 2006; 114:943952.
Smith L.A., Mukerjee S., Gonzales M., Stallings C., Neas L., Norris G., Özkaynak H. Use of GIS and ancillary
variables to predict particulate, volatile organic compound and nitrogen dioxide pollutant levels at
unmonitored locations. Atmos Environ 2006; 40: 3773–3787
Gonzales M, Qualls C, Hudgens E, Neas L. Characterization of a Spatial Gradient of Nitrogen Dioxide Across
a United States-Mexico Border City During Winter. Sci Total Environ 2005; 337:163-173.
Gonzales M, Shah V, Bobelu A, Qualls C, Natachu K, Bobelu J, Jamon E, Neha D, Paine S, Zager P. Metals
in Surface Dust from Jewelry and Non-jewelry Making Homes. Arch Environ Health 2005; 59:245-249.
Mukerjee S, Noris GA, Smith L, Nobel C, Neas LN, Özkaynak AH and Gonzales M. Receptor Model
Comparisons and Wind Direction Analyses of Volatile Organic Compounds and Submicrometer Particles in
an Arid, Binational, Urban Airshed. Environ Sci Technol. 2004; 15;38(8):2317-27.
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Mukerjee S, Smith L.A., Norris GA, Morandi MT, Gonzales M, Noble NA, Neas LM, Özkaynak HA. Field
Method Comparison Between Passive Air Samplers and Continuous Monitors for Volatile Organic
Compounds and NO2 in El Paso, Texas. J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2004;54(3):307-19
Gonzales M, Ngo L, Hammond SK, and Tager IB. Validation of a questionnaire and microenvironmental model
for estimating past exposures to ozone. Intl J Enviorn Health Res. 2003. 13(3): 249-260.
Noble C, Mukerjee S, Gonzales M, Rodes C, Lawless P, Natarajan S, Meyers E, Ozkaynak H, Norris G, Neas
L, Smith L. Continuous Measurements of and Relationship Between Fine and Ultrafine Particulate Matter,
Criteria Air Pollutants and Meteorological Conditions in El Paso, Texas. Atmos Environ. 2003; 37:827-840.
C. Research Support
Ongoing Research Support
Preventative Medicine Residency Program Kesler (PI)
03/01/2010 – 03/30/2012
Funding Organization: DHHS/Health Resources Services Administration
Plan and develop innovative general preventive medicine and public health residency program curriculum
emphasizing the creation of a culturally-competent preventive medicine workforce. Provide academic course
work in environmental and occupational epidemiology focusing on chronic disease and cancer prevention.
Role: Co-Investigator
New Mexico Center for Advancement of Research, Engagement and Science on Health Disparities
NIMHD Revision to Support Environmental Health Disparities Research
09/01/2011 – 08/31/2013
Williams (PI)
Advance environmental health knowledge and interventions that are scientifically-based, culturally centered
and community-partnered. The proposed Environmental Health Core will primarily focus on reducing health
disparities among New Mexico’s large and diverse Hispanic and Native American populations.
Role: Co-PI and Environmental Health Disparities Core Director
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