Maria Harris

Maria Harris is an environmental epidemiologist in Environmental Defense Fund’s Office of the Chief Scientist, supporting the work of EDF’s Global Clean Air initiative to reduce disparities in air pollution exposure and health impacts. Maria leads research on air pollution exposure and associated health burdens and collaborates with EDF science and policy colleagues, community-based organization partners, and other stakeholders to inform the development of equitable, science-based pollution mitigation strategies. Maria’s understanding of the principles of environmental justice is deeply influenced by her ongoing work with West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP), a resident-led, community-based environmental justice organization in West Oakland, California. Since 2017, Maria has collaborated with WOEIP on leveraging air pollution research findings in support of advocacy for health-protective policy changes. Maria received her PhD in Environmental Health from Boston University School of Public Health and completed postdoctoral training at the Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH) at UC Berkeley, where her research examined the influence of early life environmental exposures, including traffic-related pollution, on child health and development.