Internationally recognized environmental toxicologist and biomedical scientist, Dr. Paul Bernard Tchounwou currently serves as Presidential Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and International Programs in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) at Jackson State University (JSU), Jackson, Mississippi, USA. He is also the Principal Investigator / Program Director (PI/PD) of RCMI-Center of Environmental Health funded by the National Institutes of Health, and the PI/PD of Center of Excellence in STEM Education funded by the Department of Defense. In addition, he is Adjunct Professor of Global Environmental Health at Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, and Life Member of the scientific faculty of the International Biographical Institute in Cambridge, England. Dr. Tchounwou began his work with JSU in August 1996 as Director of the doctoral program in environmental science and Associate Professor of Biology/Toxicology, and was promoted to the rank of Full Professor with tenure in 2001. Dr. Tchounwou also served as Biology Department Chair (2004-2006), Associate Dean (2006-2011), and CSET Interim Dean (2011-2012). He is a graduate of Tulane University Medical Center where he obtained a MSPH in public health, a Doctor of Science degree in environmental Toxicology, and Post-Doctoral work in Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis.
Since joining JSU, Dr. Tchounwou has graduated over 30 Ph.D. scholars, all of whom have got rewarding environmental science-related careers in academia, government and state agencies, and the booming environmental industry. His research focuses on studies of the health impacts from exposure to environmental agents; with the ultimate goal of understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which these compounds induce toxicity, mutations, and cancers. Dr. Tchounwou is author of 218 publications in peer-reviewed refereed journals, as well as chapters in peer-reviewed books. He is currently Editor-In-Chief of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI, Basel, Switzerland), and of Environmental Toxicology-An International Journal (John Wiley & Sons, New York, USA). Dr. Tchounwou has also served as Session Editor of the newly published Encyclopedia of Environmental Health (Elsevier, BV, Oxford, UK). He has also chaired scientific sessions, and made over 400 presentations at national and international conferences throughout the world.
Dr. Tchounwou has received several awards for excellence in the profession, including the 2003 Millennium Award for Excellence in Research conferred by the Science and Technology Cluster of the White House Initiative on HBCUs; the 2001 National Role Model Award for Exemplary Achievements in Mentoring, Counseling and Guiding Others; the AACR Faculty Scholar Award for Cancer Research; the International Order of Merit for Superb Contributions to Biomedical Sciences; and the Decree of Merit for Outstanding Contributions to Toxicology and Public Health. He has just been selected by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Board as the 2013 AAAS Mentor Award recipient.
Dr. Tchounwou a selected member of Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society, and is affiliated with several professional organizations including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association for Cancer Research, American Public Heath Association, National Environmental Health Association, Society of Toxicology, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and New York Academy of Science. Dr. Tchounwou is a Fellow of the American Biographical Institute, and is listed in many biographical references including: American Registry of Outstanding Professionals; Marquis Who’s Who in American Education; Marquis Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare; Marquis Who’s Who in South and Southwest; Marquis Who’s Who in America; Marquis Who’s Who in the World; and International Who’s Who of Professionals.