Departmental Affiliations
Aisha Dickerson, PhD, MSPH, studies environmental exposures and their disproportionate impact on autism and dementia risks in underserved communities across the lifespan.
Contact Info
615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E7638
Baltimore
Maryland
21205
US
Research Interests
Environmental epidemiology; Neuroepidemiology; Metals; Occupation; Air pollution; Exposure mixtures; Autism spectrum disorder; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Dementia; Life course exposures; Environmental justice
Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
PhD
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
2014
MSPH
University of Alabama at Birmingham
2009
BS
University of Alabama at Birmingham
2005
Overview
I am an environmental neuroepidemiologist with primary research interests in environmental risk factors for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Specifically, I study combined environmental and occupational exposures to metals over the life course and subsequent individual and transgenerational neurological outcomes, including autism spectrum disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and dementia. Additionally, I continue to investigate the influence of disparities in autism assessment and service provision along with environmental justice issues in underserved communities.
Honors & Awards
2020 American Journal of Epidemiology Reviewer of the Year
2020 Bloomberg American Health Initiative Spark Award
2019 Society for Research in Child Development Victoria S. Levin Award
2018-2019 NIEHS Environmental Epidemiology of Autism Network Meeting Travel Award
2018 Rose Traveling Fellowship, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
2017-2019 NIMHD Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program
2017-2019 Alonzo Smythe Yerby Fellowship, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
2016-2019 NIEHS Environmental Epidemiology Postdoctoral Training Grant, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
2013-2014 International Society for Autism Research Diversity Travel Award
2010-2014 HRSA Predoctoral Public Health Traineeship
2010 Education Advancement Foundation Graduate Scholarship
2020 Bloomberg American Health Initiative Spark Award
2019 Society for Research in Child Development Victoria S. Levin Award
2018-2019 NIEHS Environmental Epidemiology of Autism Network Meeting Travel Award
2018 Rose Traveling Fellowship, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
2017-2019 NIMHD Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program
2017-2019 Alonzo Smythe Yerby Fellowship, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
2016-2019 NIEHS Environmental Epidemiology Postdoctoral Training Grant, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
2013-2014 International Society for Autism Research Diversity Travel Award
2010-2014 HRSA Predoctoral Public Health Traineeship
2010 Education Advancement Foundation Graduate Scholarship
Select Publications
Publications highlighting my research interests:
- Dickerson AS and Dickerson AS. (2020) Brief Report: Texas School District Autism Prevalence in Children from Non-English-Speaking Homes. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities. 50(4):1411-1417
- Dickerson AS, Hansen J, Gredal O, Weisskopf MG. (2018) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Exposure to Diesel Exhaust in a Danish Cohort. American Journal of Epidemiology. 187(8):1613-1622
- Dickerson AS, Rotem R, Christian MA, Nguyen VY, Specht AJ. (2017) Potential sex differences relative to autism spectrum disorder and metals. Current Environmental Health Reports. 4(4):405-414.
- Dickerson AS, Rahbar MH, Pearson DA, Kirby RS, Bakian A, Bilder D, Pettygrove S, Harrington R, Moyé L, Zahorodny W, Wingate MS, Durkin M. (2017) Autism Spectrum Disorder reporting in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 21(4): 470-480.
- Dickerson AS, Rahbar MH, Bakian A, Bilder D, Harrington R, Pettygrove S, Kirby R, Durkin M, Han I, Moyé L, Pearson DA, Wingate MS, Zahorodny W. (2016) Autism Spectrum Disorder prevalence and associations with ambient air concentrations of lead, mercury and arsenic. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 188(7): 407
Projects
Environmental Exposures and Cognitive Decline, Dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease Among Middle to Old Age Black Men in the United States
Investigation of environmental justice in a diverse longitudinal sample of older adults in the United States
Leadership and Education in Academic Research and Networking for Enhancing Diversity (LEARNED)
Parental lifetime occupational exposures and risk of autism spectrum disorder in offspring