Ciencia Puerto Rico

Dr. Estrada-Martínez is a social epidemiologist and Assistant Professor of Environment and Public Health in the Department of Urban Planning and Community Development at the University of Massachusetts Boston School for the Environment. Her research uses life-course and ecological frameworks to understand racial and ethnic health inequities. Dr. Estrada-Martínez’ research focuses on the impact of cultural and structural dimensions of family and neighborhood factors on health inequities from adolescence through adulthood. Her studies examine racial disparities in trajectories of violent behaviors, mood disorders, and sexual behaviors among Latinos and the mechanisms by which racial discrimination impacts health. She has extensive experience in data management and analysis using national, longitudinal, and multi-site studies.

Currently, she is the Principal Investigator of Vieques, Ambiente, Salud, y Acción Comunitaria, an EPA-funded transdisciplinary team that will study the health impacts of the US Navy’s operations in Vieques, an island municipality of Puerto Rico, and develop novel ways to reduce contamination levels. She is also the co-PI of an NSF-funded study that examines the political, moral discourse, and mental health implications of relocation decisions among Puerto Ricans in the wake of Hurricane María. A study funded by the Barr Foundation examines how communities of color understand and experience climate change. Dr. Estrada-Martínez has also participated in NIH-funded research teams examining environmental determinants of cardiovascular risk, and Latino adolescents’ sex communication with extended family.