My Expertise

Dr. Forté (she/they) is an expert in computational engineering, scientific and statistical methodologies, and bioinformatics, with a specialty in occupational health, environmental exposure assessment, health outcomes, and advanced biomedical and climate modeling. Her work and research experiences spans public health, the pharmaceutical industry (pharmacovigilance and drug safety), clinical analytics, federal government and US military decision making.

With a deep knowledge of computational toxicology and environmental epidemiology, Dr. Forte's current research interests currently focus on nuclear weapons risk and human health in the United States. They also collaborate directly with community, traditional ecological knowledge, and scientific experts, to best approach applying pressure to nuclear policymakers.

Dr. Forté is also a subject matter expert on human health and pesticide exposure, chronic disease associated with radiation, and pharmacovigilance and regulatory science protections.

Dr. Forté received a dual philosophical doctorate from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in Environmental Health Sciences and Scientific Computing. Her Master of Public Health degrees are from the University of Georgia, Athens, in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Additionally, she boasts a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, and an Associate of Arts degree from Bard College, Annandale-On-Hudson.

Work Experience

  • In this work, I spearhead research pertaining to the humanitarian costs of maintaining a national nuclear weapons program. My work at UCS focuses on US nuclear policy and includes direct engagement with community members. You can read more here and here.

  • Co-led the development of a systematic evidence map and creation of a protocol for researching conflicts of interests in research funding. Coordinated coding and build of the evidence map in Tableau; required developer certification in Salesforce Tableau which I achieved prior to the project starting.

  • During my dual doctorate degrees, I achieved as an award winning mentor, a graduate researcher, started a student ran organization focused on the visibility and social support of LGBTQ+ public health students, served as a Graduate School Student Government Representative, and also led and completed all of my research for my dissertation. And even in the face of a global pandemic, I graduated on time and with honors. More on June 2020 here.

  • (formerly The US Navy & Marine Corps Public Health Center) I managed all Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and sleep disorder predictors and symptoms reporting amongst deployed Sailors and Marines in order to better inform US Navy standards and procedures for prevention and treatment of combat related illness. My mission was to ensure the deployable fleet was maintaining statistical deployability. I was a member of the EpiData Center.

  • I developed new company reports and branded products label updates, such as creating validated claims data algorithms and benefit risk analyses briefs through core company data sheets, meta-analysis of systematic literature reviews with a focus on pharmacokinetics, population-based health statistics and external automated databases. Also, prepped the company for Food & Drug Administration audit. This work centered pharmacovigilance, Good Manufacturing Practices, quality assurance and regulatory adherence.

  • I have also held more short term positions as a tech startup board advisor; clinical analytics and quality assurance at a regional medical center (Athens, Georgia, USA); residence life and surveying student life; a graduate research assistant at the masters and doctoral level; undergraduate research assistant in mechanistic chemistry & mycology; volunteer and mentor.

Global Health & Community Engagement

  • Collaboration with Navajo Nation to spread research coordinated by and focused on Diné experience and health. Connecting Diné experts to US policymakers, international treaty representatives, activists, and non-researchers. Presented at APHA 2024 as a part of this effort to build knowledge and capacity of Indigenous community to own statistics on their personal risks and health.

  • As a part of my dissertation research, I developed, managed, and assessed environmental pesticide exposure by history of framework. I co-led a team of 15 student researchers and medical staff. The goal of this work was to understand risk to farm workers in Northern Thailand and the United States. Our outcomes showed shocking similarities in internal doses of pesticide concentrations in the US and farmworker exposures in Thailand and the US.

  • Developed a pre- and post- intervention survey alongside a doctoral student in Health Behavior and Education since her work focused on developing an intervention for Black Elders residing in northern Georgia. Collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, East Georgia Cancer Coalition, and more organizations.

  • This research was enrolled through the Council of Graduate Schools. I    drafted and maintained inter-organizational MOU with Council of Graduate Schools and The University of Georgia, The Graduate School. I also completed the  analysis and national reporting on the risk factors associated with underrepresented minority attrition and completion of STEM doctoral programs.

  • I have also worked with uninsured patients, volunteer physicians and nursing staff, medical staff abroad, vulnerable populations like unborn children, children, and pregnant women, and so much more!

Highlighted Research

  • 2022-present In this work, I work closely with communities and Indigenous sovereign nations to understand the lived ramifications of nuclear materials exposure.

  • 2021-2022 In this role, I outlined the methods for systematic review, completed the systematic review and also created a systematic evidence map at a publicly available site.

  • 2018-2021 By connecting multiple publicly available databases, I created cohort study comparisons across chemical exposure calculations and dosing and chronic disease health outcomes related to cancer and cellular alterations.

  • 2016-2019 This wet and dry laboratory research involved collaboration across Wayne State University Chemistry Department, University of Michigan Departments of Pathology and Environmental Health Sciences, and the Michigan Institute of Computational Discovery & Engineering. This work involved both human cell plating (2D) and organoid growth (3D), honing the cell painting methods outlined by the Hans Clever laboratory, and exposing patient-derived samples to a myriad of pesticides and other chemicals to determine possible alterations to normal cell growth and structure. This work used both colorectal cells and organoids as well as breast cells and organic structures. I collected more than 4TB of data and began analysis of the work. Part of this work was explored in my doctoral dissertation, and would be great work to develop and pick up in the future.

  • 2014-2016 This work involved computationally assessing over 5 million active duty service members in the US Navy medical, psychological, and physical readiness test records as well.

  • 2013-2014 By focusing on pharmacovigilance and good manufacturing practices, I focused on benefit risk analyses of proposed research and development, branded products label updates, and adverse events reporting and trend analysis.

  • 2012-2013 This project took place at a large regional medical center to understand recidivism of inpatient admissions, breast cancer patient health dashboard, and community needs assessment across the 17 county purview of the formerly Athens Regional Medical Center (now Piedmont Medicine).

  • Throughout my years as a consultant, I have also worked on research related to operationalizing language, assessing client and customer needs and satisfaction, financial projections, and project management and outlining. I have also collaborated with activists and artists for decades.

    I have also worked in a mycology laboratory for 4 years I which I learned pivotal skills like elemental extraction, materials identification (ELISA, HPLC, Mass Spectroscopy, and more).

Awards & Recognitions

  • Participant of the 2025 Fellowship Retreat. This work focuses on support leaders in the environmental and climate spaced focused on liberation and freedom of vulnerable populations. The farm that hosts the retreat is located in Vermont.

  • This is a national honor society, started at Yale University, in honor of Edward A. Bouchet. The Bouchet society presents folks excelling in their field of study and centering freedom and liberation of all through academic rigor.

  • This program honors outstanding mentors each year and I was a recipient for my mentoring of a student from the their freshman to junior year. We still maintain a relationship and am always available for mentoring support.

  • Throughout my doctoral education, I achieved the Rackham Merit Fellowship, NIH T32 Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology and NIEHS Occupational Health grants.

  • I have been recognized for writing and story telling awards in the past, other scientific grants, and philanthropic donations.

Education

  • Received a dual-PhD in environmental health sciences & toxicology and scientific computing. Enrolled in the School of Public Health and the Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery & Engineering. Dissertation explored, Global Health, Environmental Toxicology, and computational innovation in analysis. Go Blue!

  • As a non-degree seeking part-time day student at Kennesaw State University, I received top marks in pathophysiology, anatomy, and biochemistry geared toward educating nursing students and medical practitioners.

  • Achieved my Masters of Public Health degree with a dual major in Epidemiology & Bioastatistics. Go Dawgs!

  • Achieved bachelor of science degree (biological sciences) from Bard College (Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, USA).

    I completed the majority of coursework, Bachelor of Arts degree (Chemistry and Cognitive Psychology), and an Associates of Arts degree at Bard College at Simon’s Rock (formerly Great Barrington, MA campus).

    This is the nation’s early college intended for exceptional students to become full-time undergraduate students, so yes, I started my higher education journey at 15 years of age after dropping out of high school.