ACS Fall 2025 takes place in Washington, DC, with a concurrent digital experience. Hosted by the American Chemical Society, this meeting brings together thousands of chemistry professionals to share knowledge, explore new research, and advance the chemical sciences. ACS Meetings offer a platform to exchange scientific ideas, discover cutting-edge research, and connect with a wide-reaching community committed to advancing chemistry across academia, industry, and government. These events support professional development and career growth in an ever-evolving scientific landscape.

E-cigarette use, or vaping, is increasingly popular among U.S. youth. According to the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 1.63 million (5.9%) students currently use e-cigarettes, including 410,000 (3.5%) middle school and 1.21 million (7.8%) high school students. Our prior study identified puffing topography metrics—such as puff volume—as key mediators of firsthand and secondhand particle and chemical exposures. This study aims to explore links between vaping behavior, dental hygiene, dietary habits, and periodontal diseases.

Research Scientist, UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights

Xiaojia He is a Research Scientist in the Center for Toxicology and Human Health within UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insight. He primarily works on developing systems toxicology approaches to study the influence of occupational and environmental factors such as heavy metal and VOC exposures on host-microbiome homeostasis and human health. Using immunochemistry and multi-omics approaches, He works to identify potential biomarkers that can help fill knowledge gaps in the exposure-to-disease continuum as well as the exposure-dose-effect continuum and help mitigate adverse effects of those hazardous exposures to protect public health.

He received a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia with a focus on the microbial bioenergetics and redox dynamics. After graduate school, He completed a two and a half year postdoctoral training fellowship at the Emory University School of Medicine within the Department of Medicine’s Pulmonary Division. During that time, He’s work focused on developing systems biology approaches to investigate the roles of heavy metal exposures in the development of gut microbiome dysbiosis, lung inflammation and fibrosis. He has won several competitive awards including the Dissertation Completion Award from the University of Georgia and the Young Investigator Award from the Society of Redox Biology and Medicine. He is an active member of several societies, including the Society of Toxicology and Society for Redox Biology and Medicine. He has published 40 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and served as a reviewer for more than 20 journals, including Environmental Science & Technology and Environmental International. He has served as Topic Coordinator for Frontiers in Microbiology, Review Editor for Frontiers in Environmental Science, and an intern Editor for the Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. He has also served as Session Chair for the Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting and has been actively involved in conference organization and community outreach.

He is joined by fellow UL Research Institutes colleagues Maureen Meister, Ph.D.; Qian Zhang, Ph.D.; Patrick Chepaitis; Joseph Hess, Ph.D.; Marilyn Black, Ph.D.; Jonathan Shannahan, Ph.D.; and Christa Wright, Ph.D.

Melanoma, a form of skin cancer, may be potentially influenced by environmental factors including PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination. Melanoma initiation and progression are linked to melanin content, which varies across racial groups, contributing to differences in melanoma occurrence and severity. This study investigates whether racial differences affect PFAS toxicity and DNA damage, to address disparities in melanoma risk and outcomes.

Research Scientist, UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights

Sharma is joined by fellow Chemical Insights colleagues Maureen Meister, Haylee Young, and Christa Wright.

Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) are emerging health threats to users and bystanders due to secondhand vaping emissions. Secondhand vaping emissions can contain the same hazardous components as ENDS device emissions including carcinogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A major challenge to evaluating secondhand vaping exposure risks is delineating endogenous VOCs versus vaping related VOCs, which may influence health outcomes.

Data Scientist, UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights

Joe Hess is a data scientist at the Center for Toxicology and Human Health within Chemical Insights Research Institute. He develops exposure and risk assessment modeling aimed towards improving and aiding in the evaluation of clinical studies.

Joe is a Ph.D. candidate in Computational Biochemistry at Clemson University and received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Rutgers University. Prior to beginning his academic career, Joe had served in the U.S. Army as a chemical operations specialist that guided his academic and professional career path in scientific research. Through his work history and graduate studies, Joe has mastered various programming languages, machine learning frameworks, and statistical and analytical methods, which aid him in his research endeavors.

Walter E. Washington Convention Center

801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW,

Washington, DC 20001