One way SPHIS advances diversity is by offering opportunities for international visiting students. Dr. Qunwei Zhang, assistant professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, has been hosting visiting scholars from China since 2008. The scholars are supported by Chinese government or university authorities to further their education and research in the United States. In Dr. Zhang's lab, they work on a variety of projects including the study of the potential health effects of engineered nanoparticles and the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the health effects of ambient ultrafine particles. Their length of stay varies from six to twelve months.

Dr. Min Yu, a current visiting scholar in Dr. Zhang’s lab, will return to China on Sept. 30 after completing 13 months of training. New recruits include: Dr. LiJin Zhu, a research scientist in the Department of Hygiene, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, who will begin Oct. 1; and, Dr. Muzi Jiang, professor in the Department of Gastroenterology at Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, who will join the program on Jan. 3 as a senior research scholar.