Linda Nie

Courtesy Appointments

School of Nuclear Engineering

Areas of Expertise

• Radiation Sciences, Applied Nuclear Physics, Metal /Trace Elements and Human Health

HHS Signature Research Area(s)

• Healthy Lifestyles and Vital Longevity

School of Health Sciences Research Area(s)

• Health Physics (Radiation Protection)
• Medical Physics

Biography

Linda H. Nie is a Professor in School of Health Sciences at Purdue University. She received her B.S. in Physics from Zhongnan University of Technology in China, a M.S. and a Ph.D. in Medical Physics from McMaster University in Canada. She did her postdoctoral training in Nuclear Instrumentation, Exposure Assessment, and Epidemiology at Harvard University before joining Purdue in 2009. She teaches courses in Medical Physics, Health Physics, and Radiation Sciences. Her research focuses on x-ray and neutron technology development and the application of these technologies in the field of human health and medicine. Specifically, her group develops x-ray fluorescence, neutron activation analysis, and synchrotron x-ray technologies to quantify metals and trace elements in human body and in animals in vivo and in vitro. Her research goal is to build a bridge between novel technologies for metal/trace element quantification and mapping and the application of these technologies in human health.

Education

• PhD, 2005, McMaster University

Current Courses

• HSCI514, HSCI534 - Radiation Instrumentation Laboratory, Applied Health Physics

Selected Publications

• 1. Webb AN, Spiers KM, Falkenberg G, Gu H, Dwibhashyam SS, Du Y, Zheng W, Nie LH* (2022). Distribution of Pb and Se in Mouse Brain following Subchronic Pb Exposure by using Synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). Neurotoxicology. 88: 106-115
• 2. Zhang X, Specht AJ, Wells E, Weisskopf MG*, Weuve J*, Nie LH* (2021). Evaluation of a Portable XRF Device for In Vivo Quantification of Lead in Bone among a US Population. Sci Total Environ. 753: 142351
• 3. Tabbassum S, Nie LH* (2020). In Vivo Neutron Activation Assembly Design for Quantification of Trace Elements Using MCNP. Physiological Measurement, E-Pub ahead of print, doi: 10.1088/1361-6579/abc322; PMID: 33080584
• 4. Specht AJ, Weisskopf M, Nie LH*. Childhood Lead Biokinetics and Associations with Age among a Group of Lead-poisoned Children in China. J Expo, Sci Environ Epidemiol. 29(2019)416-423
• 5. Liu Y, Rolle-McFarland D, Mostafaei F, Zhou Y, Li Y, Zheng W, Wells EM*, Nie LH*. In Vivo Neutron Activation Analysis (IVNAA) of Bone Manganese (Mn) in Workers, Physiological Measurement, 39(2018)035003

Selected Honors/Awards

• HHS Early Career Research Achievement Award, Purdue University - 2015
• Seed for Success Award, Purdue University - 2019
• Fulbright Global Scholar Award - 2019
• HHS Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor Award, Purdue University - 2021

Selected Grants

• Co-Investigator, Lead Exposure on Beta-Amyloid Transport by Brain Barrier. National Institute of Environmental Health (R01 ES027078). Wei Zheng (PI). Period: 07/01/17-06/30/22. Total: 2,230,934
• Co-Investigator, Sodium Regulation in Individuals on Known Dietary Sodium Intake. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01 HL1408488). Cheryl Anderson (PI). Period: 07/01/2018-06/30/2023. Total: $2,957,456
• Co-Investigator, Imaging Biomarkers of Neurotoxicity in Welders. National Institute of Environmental Health (R01 ES021488). Brad Racette (PI). Period: 07/01/2021-06/30/2026.
• Multi-PI, Portable XRF for In-vivo Measurement of Heavy Metal Exposures. National Institute of Environmental Health (R21/R21S ES024700). Nie, Weisskopf, Weuve (multi-PI). Period: 08/01/2016-07/31/2020. Total: $712,183