Faculty Profile

J. Tim Dvonch

J. Tim Dvonch, PhD

  • Associate Professor, Environmental Health Sciences
  • Associate Chair, Environmental Health Sciences
Dr. Dvonch's research interests and experience broadly reside in the assessment, characterization, source identification, and risk communication of human exposures and health effects of environmental pollutants. Additional well-designed studies which further elucidate and refine exposures and health effects relationships are needed in order to identify the most effective and efficient ways to improve human health through the reduction of these exposures. Such studies will better inform policy-makers and the regulatory process, as well as allow for more effective and accurate communication of these risks to a wide range of audiences. For exposure assessment, Dr. Dvonch’s specific interests are in the laboratory development and 'real-world' field-evaluation and application of methodologies and techniques for improved exposure assessment to air pollutants. These primarily include the mass, number, as well as biological and chemical composition of ambient particles for exposure assessment at the community, micro-environmental, and personal level. Dr. Dvonch has contributed to numerous community-based human population studies and animal model studies of exposure addressing synergies between quantitatively defined pollution exposures and other variables in the causation of adverse health effects. His research has addressed differing risks of air pollution exposure and health impacts related to disparities in socio-economic status, disease (or pre- disease)-status, geographic location of residence, chemical and biological composition, and specific emission sources of pollutants. Several of these studies have identified adverse health outcomes in both vulnerable sub-populations as well as healthy people due to exposure to specific chemical components of air pollution, as well as specific emission sources of pollution.

  • PhD, Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 1998
  • MS, Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 1994
  • BS, Chemistry, University of Michigan, 1992

Research Interests:
Exposure assessment and health effects of environmental pollution, with a focus on chemical composition of airborne particulates and source identification. Atmospheric transport and fate of toxicants across a wide array of environmental systems.

Projects:
Dvonch's project on 'Wearable Microsystem for Continuous Personalized Aerosol Exposure Assessment', with collaborators at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and University of Missouri, aims to develop, evaluate, and apply cost-effective and wearable sensors for the detection and quantification of size-fractionated airborne particulate matter and it's toxic components for both ambient and personal exposure assessment.

Dvonch also collaborates on another project with several of his colleagues within the School of Public Health, 'SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology - Wastewater Evaluation and Reporting (SEWER) Network', to use localized wastewater-based epidemiology for the early detection and early intervention of pathogens in on- and off campus University of Michigan student housing buildings.

Dvonch is also a member of the 'Michigan Center for Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease', whose mission is to accelerate research that defines impacts of environmental exposures during vulnerable stages of life, and to promote translation of these findings to improve medical and public health interventions for the mitigation of chronic disease. As a center member, Dvonch actively contributes to the center's 'Community Engagement Core' to increase awareness and understanding of environmental health research, and to further scientific collaboration among University of Michigan environmental health researchers and the communities involved.

Xiao Y, Goderis D, Reilly K, Severud T, Pratt K, Dvonch J, Mason A, Ault A. Aerosol capture for coupling to microfluidics: A miniaturized low-cost device for size-resolved collection. Anal. Chem., 97:6222−6229 (2025).

Goderis D, Xiao Y, Alotbi A, Ahtsham A, Dvonch JT, Mason AJ, Ault AP. 3D printed micro-cyclones with improved geometries for low-cost aerosol size separation. Aerosol Sci. Tech., 59(2):238–251 (2025).

Craig NA, Berens J, Deng F, Scruggs AM, Chen Y, Dvonch JT, Huang SK.  Promotion of myofibroblast differentiation through repeated treatment of fibroblasts to low concentrations of PM2.5. Environ. Tox. & Pharm., 105(104329):1-11 (2024). 

Lynam MM, Oriol L, Mann T, Dvonch JT, Barres JA, Gratz L, White EM, Landis MS, Mahowald N, Xi C, Steiner AL. Atmospheric dry and wet deposition of total phosphorus to the Great Lakes. Atmos. Environ., 313(120049):1-14 (2023).

Nkhama E, Ndhlovu MM, Dvonch JT, Lynam M, Kaira C, Mbewe A, Siulapwa Y, Siziya S, Voyi K. Exposure to cement dust and respiratory health for communities residing near cement factories: A systematic review of the literature. Med. Res. Arch., 10(12):1-21 (2022).

Zhang X, Wu J, Smith LM, Li X, Yancey O, Franzblau A, Dvonch JT, Xi C, Neitzel RL. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in air and on surfaces and estimating infection risk in buildings and buses on a university campus. J. Expo. Sci. Environ. Epidemiol. 32:751-758 (2022).

Email: dvonch@umich.edu
Office: 734-615-3484
Fax: 734-936-7283
Address: M6017 SPH II
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

For media inquiries: sph.media@umich.edu 

Areas of Expertise: Air Quality,  Environmental Health,  Global Public Health,  Water Quality