Spotlight: Iman Habib

Describe your experiences in EHE. 

I like the friendly environment in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering. You can always find seniors to help you. Megan Latshaw, PhD ’05, MHS ’01, is always so energetic! 

I chose this program because it is the best in the country, and because of Johns Hopkins' reputation. EHE offers a broad course selection in environmental health: climate change, sustainability, exposure science, environmental epidemiology, occupational health, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), etc., whereas some of the other environmental health programs I looked into were limited to occupational health. I chose the ScM program because I wanted to get a background in environmental health while also getting hands-on research experience, which I've been able to do.

What are some of your favorite courses?  

I have had an enriching experience during my time as an EHE student. Some of my favorite courses were Public Health Toxicology and the Risk Series, which earned me my Risk Sciences and Public Policy certificate. I appreciate that EHE faculty put a lot of time into their classes despite working on research projects and having other responsibilities outside of academia. They sincerely care about their students and are always supportive of academic and professional development. The certificates are also a chance for us to venture outside of the realm of our department and develop interdepartmental skills and competencies which I did not observe in other program offerings. 

I have gained a multitude of skills including scientific writing, systematic searching, inductive reasoning, and deductive reasoning.

What advice would you give a prospective student who's considering enrolling in this program?

Research, research, research. If you are attending Johns Hopkins University, you are probably aware that we are the No. 1 grantees of NIH funding, which means that the research opportunities here are endless. I have had the pleasure of working under Keeve Nachman, PhD ’06, MHS ’01, and Sara Lupolt, PhD ’21, MPH, in the past year-and-a-half and was able to understand the real-world implications of theoretical exposure science concepts. I have gained a multitude of skills including scientific writing, systematic searching, inductive reasoning, and deductive reasoning, among others. Even if you are in the one-year MHS program, try to contribute to a research project for at least a couple of months during your degree.

What is your favorite thing about living in Baltimore? 

My favorite thing about living in Baltimore is my daily run in Patterson Park. Amid the hustle and bustle of the city, this vast green space forces me out of the Hopkins bubble and reminds me why I chose to study environmental health in the first place.  

Environmental Health and Engineering is a cross-divisional department spanning the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Whiting School of Engineering. This hybrid department is uniquely designed to lead pioneering research and prepare the next generation of scholars and professionals to solve critical and complex environmental issues. Learn more about our programs.