David Welch, PhD

  • Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at CUMC
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Overview

Dr. David Welch is an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology and a faculty member at the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University. He holds a BSE in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University.

Dr. Welch’s research focuses on ultraviolet radiation, particularly wavelengths from 200-235 nm known as the far-UVC range. His research explores both antimicrobial efficacy and human health hazards from exposure to far-UVC radiation. Studies in far-UVC efficacy range from laboratory studies, where microbe susceptibility to far-UVC exposure is determined on surfaces, in liquids, or while aerosolized, to the evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy within the first real-world installations of far-UVC. Dr. Welch is also active in the development of novel methods of spectroscopy and dosimetry for UV experiments, including the use of radiation sensitive film for individual exposure monitoring.

Academic Appointments

  • Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at CUMC

Credentials & Experience

Committees, Societies, Councils

- 2015 – present Radiation Research Society

- 2022 – present American Society of Photobiology

Honors & Awards

  • NASA Planetary Science Early Career Award 2023
  • Radiation Research Society Travel Award 2022
  • National Science Foundation (NSF) GK-12 Fellowship 2010-2011
  • Science Foundation Arizona Grand Challenges Conference, Poster Session First Prize 2010
  • STIMESI MEMS Design Contest Advanced Category Winner 2008
  • Science Foundation Arizona Graduate Fellowship 2007-2009\
  • Arizona State University Biodesign Institute, Graduate Research Fellowship 2007
  • Tulane University Biomedical Engineering Team Design Contest, Third Place 2007
  • Tulane University Academic Honors
    • School of Engineering Dean’s List
    • Distinguished Scholar Award, Troy-Wheeler Scholarship

Research

Research Interests:

- Ultraviolet radiation for preventing disease transmission

- Health hazards from ultraviolet radiation

- Ultraviolet radiation spectroscopy and dosimetry

- Planetary protection for space missions

Selected Publications

  1. Welch, David, Manuela Buonanno, Zheng Tang, Igor Shuryak, Raabia Hashmi, Vivian Belenky, Camryn Petersen, Steven Erde, and David J. Brenner. "222 nm far-UVC to inactivate airborne bacteria in an occupied dental clinic." Journal of Hospital Infection 168 (2026): 105-113.
  2. Petersen, Camryn, Joshua Urbano, Akemi Hinzer, Igor Shuryak, Eric Wang, Raabia Hashmi, Lisa Guan, Manuela Buonanno, and David Welch. "Susceptibility of microbes to far-UVC light (222 nm) on spacecraft and cleanroom surfaces." Microbiology Spectrum 13, no. 12 (2025): e02276-25.
  3. Gutierrez-Bayona, Natalia E., Camryn Petersen, Raabia H. Hashmi, Manuela Buonanno, Igor Shuryak, Brian Ponnaiya, Norman J. Kleiman, David J. Brenner, David Welch. “Extending the Acute Skin Response Spectrum to Include the Far-UVC” Photochemistry and Photobiology (2024).
  4. Welch, David, Raabia Hashmi, Camryn Petersen, Steven Erde, David J. Brenner, and Edward Nardell. "Film dosimetry for occupant exposure monitoring within Far‐UVC installations." Photochemistry and Photobiology 101(2025):157-166.
  5. Buonanno, Manuela, Norman J. Kleiman, David Welch, Raabia Hashmi, Igor Shuryak, and David J. Brenner. "222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied room." Scientific Reports 14, no. 1 (2024): 6722.
  6. Petersen, Camryn, Manuela Buonanno, Lisa Guan, Akemi Hinzer, Joshua Urbano, Raabia Hashmi, Igor Shuryak, Ceth Parker, and David Welch. "Susceptibility of extremophiles to far-UVC light for bioburden reduction in spacecraft assembly facilities." Life Sciences in Space Research 41 (2024): 56-63.
  7. Welch, David, Norman J. Kleiman, Peter C. Arden, Christine L. Kuryla, Manuela Buonanno, Brian Ponnaiya, Xuefeng Wu, and David J. Brenner. "No Evidence of Induced Skin Cancer or Other Skin Abnormalities after Long Term (66 week) Chronic Exposure to 222‐nm Far‐UVC Radiation." Photochemistry and Photobiology 99, no. 1 (2023): 168-175.
  8. Welch, David, Manuela Buonanno, Andrew G. Buchan, Liang Yang, Kirk D. Atkinson, Igor Shuryak, and David J. Brenner. "Inactivation Rates for Airborne Human Coronavirus by Low Doses of 222 nm Far-UVC Radiation." Viruses 14, no. 4 (2022): 684.
  9. Welch, David, and David J. Brenner. "Improved Ultraviolet Radiation Film Dosimetry Using OrthoChromic OC‐1 Film." Photochemistry and photobiology 97, no. 3 (2021).
  10. Buonanno, Manuela, David Welch, Igor Shuryak, and David J. Brenner. "Far-UVC light (222 nm) efficiently and safely inactivates airborne human coronaviruses." Scientific Reports 10, no. 1 (2020): 1-8.
  11. Welch, David, Manuela Buonanno, Veljko Grilj, Igor Shuryak, Connor Crickmore, Alan W. Bigelow, Gerhard Randers-Pehrson, Gary W. Johnson, David J. Brenner. “Far-UVC light: A new tool to control the spread of airborne-mediated microbial diseases”. Scientific Reports 8, no. 1 (2018): 2752.

For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov

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