uncnews.unc.edu

Michael Emch, a geography professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will study in New Zealand at the University of Canterbury from February to July.

Emch was awarded a 2010-2011 Fulbright Scholarship for the work.

His research will seek ways to determine what is more important in disease transmission: where one lives or social connections. The approach could apply to many health problems, including infectious diseases such as the flu or more socially connected issues, such as smoking and smoking cessation.

The Fulbright Scholar Program for faculty and professionals is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars under an agreement with the U.S. Department of State. Each year, the core Fulbright Scholar Program sends some 800 U.S. faculty and professionals to 140 countries to lecture, research or participate in seminars. New scholars are named throughout the year.

Emch, who teaches in the College of Arts and Sciences, brings UNC’s total faculty Fulbrights for 2010-2011 to seven. That ties the University with Washington University in St. Louis for fourth in the number of awards nationwide this year, bested only by the universities of Illinois (nine) and Florida (eight) and George Washington University (eight).

Emch’s specialties include medical geography, health and environment, spatial epidemiology and population health.

“Most of my research has been on infectious diseases in the developing world, including cholera, dysentery, dengue fever, avian influenza, HIV, malaria and acute lower respiratory infections,” he said.

For other Carolina faculty Fulbright Scholars for 2010-2011, visit http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/4033/107/.

Note: Emch can be reached at (919) 843-1010 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .