Dr. Ajay Pillarisetti is a prominent scholar specializing in environmental health impacts with a distinguished academic career at one of the world's leading public health institutions. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, where he leads pioneering research on household energy systems and their implications for human health. Dr. Pillarisetti earned his PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from UC Berkeley after completing his MPH in Global Environmental Health and BS in Biology at Emory University. His academic trajectory reflects a dedicated commitment to addressing global environmental health challenges through rigorous scientific inquiry and interdisciplinary collaboration across diverse cultural contexts.
Dr. Pillarisetti's groundbreaking research program focuses on measuring and modeling the health, climate, and economic impacts of air pollution, with particular emphasis on household energy use in low- and middle-income countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. His methodological innovations in exposure assessment have advanced the field's understanding of pollution sources and health outcomes, including the development of novel measurement techniques for household air pollution and cleaner energy interventions. With 98 publications to his credit and a substantial scholarly impact reflected in a predicted h-index of 33 with over 3,954 citations, his work has established critical evidence for clean energy transitions. His research has been instrumental in quantifying the health benefits of improved cooking technologies and providing science-backed policy recommendations for sustainable energy solutions at scale.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Pillarisetti plays a vital role in shaping global environmental health policy through strategic partnerships with major international organizations including the World Health Organization, US National Institutes of Health, and Environmental Protection Agency. His community-engaged research approach emphasizes social justice and meaningful partnerships with local communities to ensure culturally appropriate and sustainable energy solutions that address health disparities. Currently, he is advancing critical work on clean cooking interventions, including participation in the Multi-Country Household Air Pollution Intervention Network examining health impacts of liquefied petroleum gas stove adoption during pregnancy. Dr. Pillarisetti continues to pioneer integrated analytical approaches that bridge environmental science, public health, and climate policy, positioning his work at the forefront of efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals related to clean energy and health equity worldwide.
