Written by Jessica Bloomer

The annual Pilot Research Project (PRP) Symposium was held on October 20-21, 2022 in the University of Cincinnati’s Procter Hall and Graduate Cincinnati Hotel. The symposium highlights pilot research projects in various fields of occupational safety and health. Dr. Alex Lentsch, Acting Chair of the Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, attended and welcomed the attendees to the 23rd symposium.

The lobby of the Graduate Hotel set up and ready for symposium attendees

The keynote speaker was Dr. Tiina Reponen, Professor Emerita Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences and Former Director of the University of Cincinnati Education and Research Center. Her presentation was called “Bioaerosol Research in the Nexus of Public and Occupational Health.” Dr. Reponen’s research has focused on exposure assessment of biological and non-biological aerosols in indoor, industrial, and agricultural environments, respiratory protection against bioaerosols and dust, and effects of environmental exposures on children’s health. The keynote presentation was also live on Zoom to reach others who could not attend the symposium.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Tiina Reponen

2021-22 PRP awardees presented their final project results. Topics included;

- Synthesis and Fabrication of Group III-V Doped Carbon Nanotube-Based Biosensors
- Workplace Violence among Young Black Workers Ages 18-24 in Southcentral Kentucky
- Work Stress, Poor Recovery and Burnout in Nurses
- Occupational Safety and Health in the Wake of Drones
- Carbon Nanotube based Chemical Deactivation Membrane for Air Filtration


Attendees viewing posters on day 1 of the PRP Symposium

2022-23 PRP awardees presented their project plans in the form of posters. The first poster session took place in the afternoon of day one and included the following topics;

- Factors and Strategies Influencing Chemotherapy Safety among Oncology Nurses
- Evaluating Stress and Wellbeing Trends in U.S. Correctional Nurses
- Real-time Lifting Risk Prediction Using Tactile Gloves
- Carbon Nanotube-based Thermoelectric Fabrics Providing Thermal Comfort and Power Generation for Firefighters
- Flexible and Wearable Supercapacitors for Fire Fighters and First Responders
- Nitrogen-doped Three-dimensional Graphene as Sensor for Heavy Metals
- Multi-sensor Occupation Specific Energy Expenditure Models for Race Riders
- Evaluating Microbiome as Biomarkers in Firefighting Associated Stress
- Cool Helmet for First Responders Based on Nano Carbon Composite and Thermoelectrics
- Needs and Capacity of the Open Access Withdrawal Management Model: Occupational Perspectives on Clinically Managed Residential Detox in southern Ohio

After the first day concluded, the attendees attended a Networking Dinner provided by Ollie’s Trolley. Thank you to the PRP Steering Committee members for your donations! Without generous donations, the networking dinner would not be possible.

On day two, the rest of the 2021-22 PRP awardees presented on their topics;

- Assessment of Phase Change Material based Enhanced Cooling Helmets for the Firefighters
- Investigation of Occupationally-Related Stress of At-Risk Workers During COVID-19  
- Pressure to Attend Work when Unwell: Health and Safety Consequences among Nurses


Poster presenters discuss their project plans during the day 2 poster session

The second poster session included 2022-23 PRP awardees as well as one poster from a student in the Education and Research Center Targeted Research Training Program, focusing on withdrawal management and opioid detoxification service models.


Panelists discuss topics presented at the symposium and address audience questions

The symposium concluded with a panel discussion among experts in the field; Dr. Ellen Wells from Purdue University, Drs. Kermit Davis, Aaron Vissman, Tom Huston, and Amit Bhattacharya from the University of Cincinnati. 

Jessica Bloomer, program director at the University of Cincinnati ERC, presented awards; two for people’s choice favorite poster and podium presenters, two that a panel of judges selected for best podium and poster presenters, and the top three attendees that participated the most in the event app.


Jessica Bloomer presenting the poster, podium, and leaderboard award winners

The award winners were:

Award for Distinguished Podium Presentation: Lindsey Freier, Pressure to Attend Work when Unwell: Health and Safety Consequences among Nurses

Award for Distinguished Poster Presentation: Dania Abu-Alhaija, Factors and Strategies Influencing Chemotherapy Safety among Oncology Nurses

Award for People’s Choice Podium Presentation: Edrisa Sanyang and Shwe Win, Workplace Violence Among Young Black Workers Ages 18-24 in Southcentral Kentucky

Award for People’s Choice Poster Presentation: Vamsi Kondapalli, Cool Helmet for First Responders Based on Nano Carbon Composite and Thermoelectrics

The symposium used the Whova event app which allowed for online networking, access to event resources, and a leaderboard contest that all attendees could participate in to win prizes by engaging in the app. The leaderboard winners were Ryan Bellacov (third), Kimberly Tumlin (second), and John Singletary (first). The symposium gave many attendees the opportunity to interact with each other as well as learn about new research areas.


Dr. Amit Bhattacharya, Director of the Pilot Research Project Program, delivers remarks to conclude the 23rd Annual Pilot Research Project Symposium

Thank you to the Ohio Association of Occupational Health Nurses (view website here) and the International Chemical Workers Union (view website here) for sponsoring the symposium this year!