Name: Homero Harari

Country of origin: Ecuador

Degree & Concentration: Doctoral candidate, Occupational & Environmental Hygiene

UMass Lowell Email: Homero_Harari@student.uml.edu

Research:
Research assistant in a project to assess alternatives to control silica exposure in construction workers.
I also collaborate with the Sustainable Hospitals Program of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production in a Project to Eliminate Mercury in Hospitals in Mexico and Ecuador.

Why a student at DWE?:
In occupational and environmental health there are enough problems and we need to work to find solutions! For that reason, I wanted to study in a program where I can combined research to understand problems and actions to solve them.  I learned of DWE (Department of Workforce Education) in conferences I have attended where I met faculty and staff. I was always impressed about the quality of their work as well as their commitment to Occupational Health. I found out that DWE is a very prestigious program and several colleagues recommended me it. Since then,  I always wanted to be part of it.  I was happy to be accepted and I am proud to be a student in this department where I have the opportunity to learn how to conduct research and how to benefit workers from it. 

Other activities/Hobbies:
Work with peer students to strengthen the activities of the Work Environment Student Association – WESA and the Graduate Student Association-GSA at UMass Lowell. Hiking, Sports (soccer, ping pong, racquetball).

Name: Clinton Smith

Country of Origin: USA

Degree & Concentration: Masters of Science, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

UMass Lowell Email:
Clinton_Smith@student.uml.edu

Name: Alicia Kurowski

Country of origin: USA

Degree & Concentration: Doctoral candidate, Occupational Ergonomics/Safety

UMass Lowell E-mail: alicia_kurowski@student.uml.edu

Research:
I am currently working on the evaluation of ergonomic exposures of nursing assistants in nursing homes before and after an intervention.  I am examining changes in postures, manual handling, and equipment use after the introduction of a No-Lift program.  I will also be developing an index of physical workload to evaluate the effects of multiple exposures on nursing assistants over a two-year time period.

Why a student at DWE?:
I graduated from Northeastern University in 2004 with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering.  While there, I took classes in work design and human machine systems, which introduced me to the topics of ergonomics and human factors.  I became more passionate about these topics than traditional Industrial Engineering topics, and in my junior year I became a student member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society so I could learn about graduate programs and careers.  One year after finishing my undergraduate degree, I applied to the Occupational Ergonomics masters program and was accepted.  At the end of my first year I began working on a health-care workers research project, which aligned well with my interests and was fulfilling.  At this point I decided to apply to the doctoral program to continue my work on ergonomic exposure assessment of health care workers.

Hobbies: reading, painting, cooking, traveling, the Red Sox.

Name: Gloria Foley

Country of origin: USA

Degree & Concentration: Masters of Science, Ergonomics and Safety

Student E-mail: Gloria_Foley@student.uml.edu

Why a student at DWE?:
Having been employed for more than 20 years in the industrial and financial work environment, I witnessed many co-workers and colleagues develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Musculoskeletal Disorders. This prompted me to begin exploring a new career path where I could make a difference. In the summer of 2008, I met with Dr. Brunette to learn more about the DWE program and was immediately sold on the Concentration in Ergonomics and Safety.

Hobbies:
Designing/sewing western fashion clothing for my daughter’s horse shows, attending and helping out at horse shows, designing/sewing contemporary quilts, long walks, reading & mentoring high school students.