Dr. Morland's research focuses on the relationships that exist between the physical, social and built environments, and human health. She has received national recognition for her work developing methods to evaluate the relationship between the aspects of the built environment (the local food environment) and health behaviors and outcomes. As an environmental epidemiologist, Dr. Morland has a strong interest in applied public health research and develops studies to measure multi-level relationships between individual and environmental risk factors associated with health. In addition, she partners with community groups to develop community driven research. She has received awards for her research from the American Public Health Association and has also been distinguished for her teaching. Dr. Morland has served on the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network Committee and the East Harlem Community Health Committee. Dr. Morland has developed a number of research projects described below.

Funded by the Superfund Basic Science Program, this project aims to measure the association between known pollutants found in the Hudson River and New York/New Jersey Harbor and body burden of these contaminants among anglers fishing from these waters. Serum levels of mercury, PBDEs, PCBs, DDT, DDE, and other organochlorines were measured as well as fishing practices and fish intake.

Funded by the National Institute of Aging, this study aims to measure (a) the food environment in terms of access to fruits and vegetables and (b) the association between access to fruits and vegetables and reported intake among seniors in two racially/economically diverse Brooklyn, New York neighborhoods.

Funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, this study is a community based research project addressing the environmental justice issue of food access in East New York, New York. An intervention of starting a food co-operative in East New York will be evaluated for its impact on diet, health and quality of life for the East New York Community.

Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, this study aims to measure the pulmonary and cardiovascular health associated with exposure to coarse particles and endotoxins among Eastern North Carolina residents living near confined animal feed operations.