Dr. Kalkbrenner uses epidemiologic methods to study how exposures to environmental pollutants during pregnancy cause poor birth outcomes (such as preterm birth) or neurodevelopmental disorders (like autism). She especially focuses on airborne exposures, such as traffic-related pollutants like fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the hundreds of airborne metals and volatile organic compounds known as air toxics or hazardous air pollutants, and tobacco smoke. Dr. Kalkbrenner received her MPH from the University of California, Berkeley, her PhD in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina, and now serves as Associate Professor at the Zilber School of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.