Joseph M Zmuda

PhD
  • Associate Professor and Director, Heinz Nutrition Laboratory
  • Faculty in Epidemiology and Human Genetics

My research primarily focuses on the epidemiology and genetics of osteoporosis. A long-term goal is to identify and characterize the genetic factors underlying osteoporosis susceptibility in different ethnic/racial groups. To achieve these goals, we have used several strategies including: population-based candidate gene methods; genome-wide admixture, linkage and association mapping; and most recently, an in vitro cellular model. This later approach is enabling us to translate discoveries made at the cellular level to the “population” and vice versa to gain insight into the molecular genetic mechanisms underlying osteoporosis susceptibility.
epidnwg

Education

1984-1989 | University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI; B.S. 1989, Nutrition

1989-1991 | University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI; M.S. 1991, Exercise Physiology

1993-1996 | University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA; MPH, 1996, Epidemiology (Chronic Disease)

1995-2000 | University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA; PhD, 2000, Epidemiology (Genetics)

Teaching

My teaching experience in the Department of Epidemiology has focused on molecular epidemiology. Over the course of my career I have been the instructor for Epidemiology 2600 (Introduction to Molecular Epidemiology) and Epidemiology 2601 (Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory).