Please see below for the 2026 Weathering Change Seminar Series hosted by the Center for Collaboration on Climate & Community for Health (C4H). Most will be virtual, however the local speakers will also offer an in-person option (see location information for each seminar for specifics). For questions regarding this series please email bloomejl@ucmail.uc.edu.

Recordings of past seminars can be viewed here.

All seminars take place on Tuesdays from 12:30pm-1:30pm Eastern Time.

The C4H monthly newsletter is emailed to members that are subscribed to the mailing list. The most recent version is also posted here for the public. The newsletter includes a message from the center director, Dr. Ardythe Morrow, various center highlights and progress from the past months, upcoming events, and additional resources.

View the Fifth Edition Jan - Feb 2026 Newsletter Here

The Community Engagement Core (CEC) supports the mission of C4H through building and supporting the relationship of center members and the greater community. The CEC utilizes community-based research to learn about community members' awareness, perspectives, and priorities regarding environmental and climate health exposures throughout Cincinnati. We work with community and regional partners to create and support the translation of research, relevant interventions, and community education. 

Join the LinkedIn page for additional updates on the C4H and community engagement efforts.

Development Core

The Development Core of the Center for Collaboration on Climate and Community for Health plays a vital role in advancing research, collaboration, and development of the next generation of scientists at the intersection of climate and health. The purpose of the core is to develop new structures that ensure the creation of multidisciplinary research teams and advance the center's mission by enabling career development of early-career scientists in the field. We introduce innovation by offering novel pilot grant mechanisms to catalyze interdisciplinary research and collaboration while spearheading several innovative educational training/mentoring initiatives to cultivate leaders in the field. Our hope is that by bridging disciplinary boundaries we are able to empower a multidisciplinary workforce (students, scientists, clinicians, public health professionals, advocates) to foster a resilient, health-conscious society.

Development Core Leadership

Kelly J. Brunst, PhD

Associate Professor of Epidemiology

Director, Graduate Studies for Environmental and Public Health Sciences

Director, Molecular Epidemiology in Children’s Environmental Health Training Program (T32)

Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences

College of Medicine

University of Cincinnati

Kelly.Brunst@uc.edu

T: (513) 558-1723

F: (513) 558-439

David Stradling, PhD

Zane L. Miller Professor of History

Interim Head of the Department of History

College of Arts & Sciences

University of Cincinnati

513-556-2057

david.stradling@uc.edu

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship for Climate and Health (SURF-CLIMATE)

About SURF-CLIMATE

The Center for Collaboration on Climate & Community for Health sponsored Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF CLIMATE) program at UC is a 10-week hands on program offering undergraduate students the experience and foundation for making career choices in climate change and health research. SURF-CLIMATE fellows will engage in cutting-edge research with experienced faculty to understand and reduce the health impacts of extreme weather events and climate-drivers. Broad research domains include enhancing health resilience through sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies and conducting basic, clinical, population, or behavioral research across several stem disciplines.

Our 2025 SURF-CLIMATE Fellows: Jessea James (Salem College) used remote sensing to evaluate how tree planting affects surface temperatures in Cincinnati. Edmond B. Kollie (Central State) studied how neighborhood environments influence stress responses in children. Riya Patel (University of Cincinnati) examined the health impacts of climate-driven aerosol compounds like smoke particles. Tara Harman (Mount Saint Joseph) explored how climate change messaging affects mental health among college students in the U.S. and India.

Eligibility and Award

The SURF-CLIMATE program is designed for undergraduate students interested in exploring a research career in climate and health. It is a 10-week hands-on experience in research, workshops, and seminars. The fellowship provides a $4000 stipend. Support with travel and housing is also available. Students will present their work at the College of Medicine SURF Capstone Poster Symposium.

How To Apply

The online application opens annually in early November and closes February 1st. We encourage interested students to apply before January 1 for full consideration. Applicants are notified of their status between mid-March and early April. There is a single application for multiple SURF programs. When applying, please specify “SURF-CLIMATE” to be considered for the SURF-CLIMATE program. We encourage you to apply to multiple SURF programs. To learn more about the application requirements, check out the SURF website.

Note: Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application and all supporting materials, including letters of recommendation, have been received by the deadline.

Program Contact

For inquiries and additional information, please contact Dr. Kelly Brunst:

Kelly J. Brunst, PhD
Associate Professor
Co-Director, Development Core, Center for Collaboration on Climate & Community for Health
Environmental and Public Health Sciences | College of Medicine
kelly.brunst@uc.edu

The C4H Pilot Project Program, offered through the Development Core, was developed to support research capable of transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries to promote health through the following three domains:

• Sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies (e.g., urban planning, housing, transportation, air quality management, health services) to reduce exposure to heat, pathogens, or environmental toxicants
• Basic, clinical, population, or behavioral research exploring the role of exposure to excessive heat, pathogens, or environmental toxicants on health
• Community-engaged research that covers locally relevant climate-related exposures or health outcomes of concern to the community. These may include neighborhood level greening/tree cover, hot/cold weather, asthma, air pollution, water quality, or any other areas that are relevant to the work/impact of the community-Grassroots Collaboration Award

Award

Applicants may request up to $25,000 for the pilot project awards ($20,000 for the Grassroots Collaboration Awards). The award cannot be used to support faculty salaries, publication or page charges, or travel. Indirect or F&A costs are not allowed. No extensions or carryover allowed. Any unused funds will be returned to C4H.

Eligibility

Faculty, senior research staff with doctoral-level training, and postdoctoral fellows are eligible to apply for the pilot awards. PIs for the Grassroots Collaboration Award must be members of the community. Community members are defined as students, educators, health care providers, public health professionals and other interested people.

Application Requirements

Applications include the following and should be submitted as a single PDF to Jessica Bloomer bloomejl@ucmail.uc.edu:

• NIH face page| PHS 398 fp1 (required for CCHMC and non-UC applicants)
• C4H cover page with abstract is required of all applicants.
• Proposal narrative (< 3 typed pages, single spaced, Arial font 11, > 0.5” margins)
• Biographical sketches of the PI and all key personnel (current NIH format)
• IRB documentation and PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information (required for those conducting Human Subjects)
• Itemized budget and budget justification

Complete application requirements can be found in the research funding announcement (RFA). Questions regarding the application and review process may be directed to Angelico Mendy (angelico.mendy@uc.edu) for scientific concerns, Michelle Burbage (michelle.burbage@uc.edu) for community-related partnerships, and Jessica Bloomer bloomejl@ucmail.uc.edu for administrative questions.

Deadlines

August 1^st: Application Deadline

September 15^th: Award notification

August 31^st (subsequent year): Budget end date is August 31^st of the subsequent year.  All award funds MUST be invoiced / spent. There is no possibility of carryover.

Former C4H Pilot Awardees