Dr Amanda Wheeler

Dr Amanda Wheeler is a Principal Research Scientist within the Environment Unit. Dr Wheeler completed her PhD in 2003 and has authored over 125 peer reviewed journal publications on exposures to air pollution and health.

Amanda completed her PhD in Environmental Health at Middlesex University, London. She then moved to Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, USA to complete a Research Fellowship investigating the cardiovascular health effects of personal exposures to airborne particulate matter. Amanda then moved to Canada to work as a Research Scientist with Health Canada. She was tasked with creating a new Exposure Assessment section within the Water, Air and Climate Change Bureau to support the development of air quality guidelines, risk assessments and for risk management of air pollutants.

In 2013, Amanda moved to Australia where she has held positions with Edith Cowan University, University of Tasmania, Curtin University and Australian Catholic University. She was funded through a Research Fellowship from the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence - Centre for Air pollution, energy and health Research (CAR). Her research activities have primarily focussed on understanding exposures from biomass emissions and interventions to protect vulnerable populations.

Amanda was part of the research team investigating children's exposure to the Hazelwood coal mine fire in 2014 - the Early Life Follow-up (ELF study) led out of the University of Tasmania. She was also part of the original development team for AirRater, a smartphone App to track individual's exposures to environmental hazards and the effects on their respiratory health. In collaboration with the University of Tasmania, Amanda has been evaluating a range of mitigation strategies to reduce exposures to biomass smoke. Whilst at Australian Catholic University, Amanda conducted research with EPA Victoria to evaluate the use of HEPA cleaners to improve residential indoor air quality during planned burn events. She also worked with the Department of Transport to conduct mobile measurements to evaluate cleaner, safer commuting routes to school.

Amanda is the co-lead of the Air Quality Impact Priority under the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Sustainable Communities and Waste (SCaW) Hub.