Dr. Maria Alvarez Amaya

Principal Investigator
915-747-8583
mamaya@utep.edu

Dr. Amaya is professor of Nursing, Environmental Science & Engineering, & Chicano Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso, and Wakefield Professor of Health Sciences. She is head of the Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Program and a certified women’s health care nurse practitioner. Dr. Amaya provides care for low-income medically underserved women in the border community, and is also a nurse colposcopist. Dr. Amaya has been awarded over 2.34 million research dollars during her career. She has numerous publications in environmental health nursing, Hispanic health, and border health. She is the executive producer of “ Border Communities Declare War Against Lead”. The National Institute of Nursing Research and the University of Maryland have recognized her contributions to environmental health nursing. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Delta Kappa Chapter. She is the Principal Investigator.

Dr. Jorge L. Gardea Torresdey, Ph.D.

Co-Investigator
915-747-5359
jgardea@utep.edu

Dr. Gardea is the Chairman of the Chemistry Department at the University of Texas at El Paso, and Dudley Professor of Chemistry. His work in environmental chemistry includes the development of electrochemical, chromatographic and spectrometric analytical methods for metals and hazardous organic compounds in the environment, investigation of metal binding to bio-materials for remediation of contaminated waters, phytoremediation and air quality in El Paso-Juarez. He has authored numerous publications and is considered a national and international leader in his field. He is Co-principal Investigator.

Dr. Nicholas E. Pingitore, Ph.D.

Co-Investigator
915-747-5754
nick@geo.utep.edu

Dr. Pingitore is an analytic and experimental geochemist with broad interests and experience in the application of geochemistry to problems in geoscience, environmental science, and materials science. Professor Pingitore’s recent environmental work has focused on toxic metals and elements in the soil, water, air, and food of the El Paso-Juarez binational region. These studies have helped to delineate the extent of several known regional environmental problems, as well as to reveal some unexpected problems. In addition to directing nearly $2,000,000 in research grants over the past decade, participation in multidisciplinary team projects is the hallmark of Dr. Pingitore’s approach to environmental research. He has authored numerous publications. He is Co-principal Investigator.

Dr. Juan Clague, Ph.D.

Post-Doctoral Associate
915-747-5267
jclague@utep.edu

 

Dr. Clague is an environmental science engineer with more than nine years of experience in the field supervising and conducting environmental health and science audits, environmental site assessments, remedial investigations, environmental impact statements, and risk analyses in the U.S.-México border region. He has considerable expertise in regulatory compliance with federal agencies on both sides of the border, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) in the U.S., and the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) and Secretería del Trabajo y Prevision Social (STPS) in México, as well as state and local authorities. He is technical project coordinator and investigator.

Dr. Julia Bader, Ph.D.

Biostatistician
915-747-6965
jbader@utep.edu

Dr. Julia Bader has been a statistician at the Statistical Consulting Laboratory at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) since 1997. She has worked on various projects with many researchers at UTEP, including the Binational Community Lead Project. In addition, she has worked with researchers from the William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Texas Tech University, the Center for Border Health Research and the El Paso Municipal Officers' Association. Before coming to UTEP, Dr. Bader's consulting and teaching experiences included working at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, the premier university in the Philippines, and the International Rice Research Institute. Patricia Juarez is bilingual and bicultural, with expertise in coordinating binational programs. She has participated in many binational research and training programs. She has considerable experience in facilitating the community’s participation in research and in developing educational programs for communities, as well as working with community-based organizations. She is well known as a consultant for community-based environmental health. She has worked extensively with local universities, binational agencies, local foundations and environmental health task forces. She is acting Project Coordinator

Project Coordinator
915-747-8306
pjuarez26@hotmail.com
 

Patricia Juarez is bilingual and bicultural, with expertise in coordinating binational programs. She has participated in many binational research and training programs. She has considerable experience in facilitating the community’s participation in research and in developing educational programs for communities, as well as working with community-based organizations. She is well known as a consultant for community-based environmental health. She has worked extensively with local universities, binational agencies, local foundations and environmental health task forces. She is acting Project Coordinator

Dr. Luis Zeballos

Epidemiologist

Dr. Luis Escobedo

Medical Consultant