Wellenius, who is also Director of Brown's Center for Environmental Health and Technology, studies the adverse impacts of continued climate change on human health. His recent work contributed to revisions of the criteria for issuing heat advisories across New England and has garnered considerable media interest.

His research also includes investigations of the health effects of the physical and built environment in which we live, including the effects of outdoor and household air pollution, noise pollution, and green space. Dr. Wellenius recently received the Tony McMichael Mid-Term Career Award by the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology.