Mohammad Washeem, Ph.D. Candidate in Environmental Engineering – Seeking Research Roles in Aerosol Science and Public Health

MOHAMMAD WASHEEM, Chang-Yu Wu, University of Miami

     Abstract Number: 281
     Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers

Abstract
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Engineering at the University of Miami, planning to graduate in Spring 2026, with research expertise in aerosol science, toxicology, and bioaerosol exposure assessment. I have contributed to several NIH and NIOSH-funded projects combining experimental and computational methods to address airborne virus transmission, sampler performance, and health impacts of inhaled contaminants. My work has included evaluation of the biological collection efficiency of the BioSpot-VIVAS for viable virus sampling and development of machine learning models to optimize collection efficiency across varying environmental conditions. I’ve led occupational exposure studies using personal and stationary samplers (e.g., NIOSH BC-251 and BioSpot-VIVAS) to assess airborne viral risk in clinical environments via PCR and culture analysis. Additionally, I’ve participated in toxicological evaluations of aerosolized air fresheners and fungi on A549 lung cells, analyzing endpoints such as cell viability, ROS/RNS generation, metabolic activity, and cell migration. I’m currently engaged in an interdisciplinary study deploying the BioCascade in occupational settings and identifying pathogens through metagenomics and Nanopore sequencing. My technical skillset includes aerosol instrumentation (SMPS, APS, Spider-Magic, BioCascade, filters, and Collison and SLAG Nebulizers), molecular biology techniques (RT-qPCR, DNA/RNA sequencing, and metagenomics), and bioinformatics tools (ChimeraX, AlphaFold, Biopython, BLAST, HMMER, and Github). I am also proficient in Python, R, and SQL. As Lab Manager of the Aerosol and Particulate Research Lab at the University of Miami, I lead SOP development, safety compliance (OSHA HAZWOPER certified), and field coordination. My goal is to apply this multidisciplinary background in research-focused roles across academia, industry, or government, especially those integrating aerosol exposure and environmental health risks. I am open to positions across the U.S. and internationally starting Summer 2026, and eager to contribute to teams working on translational solutions in air pollution control, disease surveillance, and public health protection.