Dr. Furlong is an environmental epidemiologist who studies the chronic health effects of environmental contaminants, with an emphasis on pesticides and neurological outcomes. She holds a PhD in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master’s in Public Policy from Duke University, and a B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience, also from Duke University. She is the recipient of a Pathway to Independence Award from NIEHS (K99/R00).

Research Synopsis

Dr. Furlong's primary research interests include developing and implementing novel approaches in big data to investigate associations between environmental contaminants and longitudinal chronic health outcomes, particularly neurological health. She uses a variety of methodological approaches to achieve these goals, including the use of -OMICs technologies (particularly metabolomics and epigenomics), as well as developing and linking large exposure databases with state-wide health outcomes databases, including Medicaid. With researchers in Atmospheric Sciences and Geography, she is developing a geo-spatial model of atmospheric dispersions of pesticide applications in the state of Arizona to estimate exposure to pesticide drift during critical windows of development. She also uses metabolomic and epigenetic approaches to study long-term, subclinical health effects of occupational and environmental exposures in firefighters.