Jennifer D. Stowell
Assistant Professor
stowellj@umd.eduSPH2234T
Dr. Jennifer Stowell is an environmental epidemiologist whose research centers on how extreme environmental exposures, such as wildland fire smoke and heat, impact human health. Combining expertise in public health and geoscience, she applies advanced spatial and statistical methods to assess the population-level consequences of these environmental extremes. Dr. Stowell’s work harnesses large-scale health claims datasets and chemical transport modeling to uncover the health effects of climate-related hazards, with a particular focus on the disproportionate impacts experienced by vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and children.
Driven by a commitment to advancing equitable public health policy in a changing climate, Dr. Stowell seeks to inform effective responses to these existential challenges. Dr. Stowell’s research experience spans Emory University, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Boston University, and, currently, the University of Maryland (UMD), where she leads and collaborates on a range of projects with significant public health implications.
Her current research explores the health effects of prescribed fire smoke, overlapping environmental exposures, and the specific risks that wildland fire smoke poses to pregnant people, infants, and children.
Dr. Stowell is accepting new PhD students for 2026.
Department Information
- Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health
Extreme weather events, natural disasters, wildfires, air pollution, compound hazard, climate epidemiology, environmental health, global health
NIH-LRP, 2022-2026: “Characterizing Wildland Fire Vulnerability: multi-pollutant, multi-hazard, and social determinant approaches.”
Research Fellowship Award: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), 4-year paid fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Environmental Health
Boston University, School of Public Health
PhD, Environmental Health
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
MPH, Environmental Health
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
BS, Geography
Brigham Young University
Martin, GK, Stowell JD, et al. “A quantitative health impact assessment of greenspace and all- cause mortality across 1,041 global cities.” Environmental Research Letters, 2025 (in press).
Stowell JD, Maji KJ, Li Z, Hu Y, Vaidyanathan A, Milando C, Russell AG, Kinney PL, Odman MT, Wellenius GA. “Associations between PM2.5 from prescribed burning and emergency department visits in 11 Southeastern US states.” Environment International, 2025.
Stowell JD & Wesselink AK. “Susceptibility and Vulnerability of Children to Wildfire Smoke Exposure: Important Considerations and Remaining Knowledge Gaps.” Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 2025.
Stowell JD, Sue Wing I, Romitti Y, Kinney PL, Wellenius GA. “Emergency Department Visits in California Associated with Wildfire PM2.5: Differing Risk Across Individuals and Communities.” Environmental Research: Health, 2025.
Romanello M, Di Napoli C, Drummond P, et al., “The 2024 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: Facing Record Breaking Threats from Delayed Action.” The Lancet, 2024.