Neighborhoods, Environments, and Systems Collaborative

Led by Tamara Dubowitz and Christina Mair, NEST launched in 2025 with a mission to enhance research, collaboration, and action around social determinants of health at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. Our emphasis is on upstream determinants of health with a particular interest in policy, systems, and environments. We aim to push, innovate, and expand methods within the School of Public Health and across the University. 

What We're Working On
Student Small Grants Funding Program

We are excited to invite applications for our inaugural year of the Student Small Grants Funding Program. The purpose of this program is to support Pitt graduate student projects and build collaborations that align with NEST's mission. For more information, see our funding announcement and application materials linked.

Aarohee Fulay
Trainees

Our Postdoctoral Associate Aarohee Fulay has a PhD in Nutritional Epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health Nutritional Sciences Department. Her research focuses on food and nutrition security across the lifespan, spanning from childhood to older adulthood. Her research interests include nutrition security, dietary intake, and aging outcomes in older adults. As a part of NEST, she is interested in how neighborhood environments and local food systems shape food and nutrition security status. 

Social Epidemiology Curriculum

We are launching a new course in the Fall of 2026, EPIDEM 2130 Foundations in Social Epidemiology, taught by Tamara Dubowitz. We are also in the process of developing a social epidemiology methods course with an estimated launch date of Spring 2028. 

What's to Come
Pitt's Cathedral of Learning
  • Pre/postdoctoral positions
  • Pilot grant applications
  • Research collaborations across disciplines
  • Additional social epidemiology coursework
  • Recent press, publications, policy briefs
  • Methods trainings, workshops, support
  • Translation of findings, development of relationships with policymakers and local advocacy groups
person taking survey on laptop
Suggestions?

If you have other suggestions for work that NEST should be doing, please complete this short survey.

Events

A NEST brown bag series and journal club take place on select Mondays during fall and spring terms, from noon-1 p.m. in A521 Public Health. Reach out to Kate for the Zoom option if needed. Upcoming events listed below. 

NEST Logo - Colorful abstract lines in a circle depicting a bird's nest

Affiliates

We are recruiting interested faculty to join NEST. We would also like to collaborate with staff, students, and community groups. Reach out if this work interests you. 

Collaborate with NEST

Contact

Kate Walrath
NEST Project Coordinator
kaw561@pitt.edu

The Team
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Tamara Dubowitz

Co-Director

Prior to my position at the University, I was a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Trained in social epidemiology, my research focuses on the role of place, or geography, and the health of marginalized and minoritized populations. 

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Stina Mair

Co-Director

I am a social epidemiologist who uses innovative and collaborative methods to understand the social mechanisms that link community environments to alcohol-related harms. I incorporate methods throughout my research that allow me to understand mechanisms rather than simply assessing correlates. 

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Kate Walrath

Project Coordinator

With experience in grant administration and project management, I'm looking forward to helping NEST realize its mission by developing systems, bridging collaborations, and sustaining this important work. I have a particular interest in research on social determinants of health, climate and access to outdoor spaces. 

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