Timme-Laragy Receives Stephen B. Harris Mid-Career Scientist Award
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Professor of Environmental Health Sciences Alicia Timme-Laragy received the 2025 Stephen B. Harris Mid-Career Scientist Award from the Society of Toxicology (SOT) Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology Specialty Section (RDTSS) during the society’s 64th annual meeting held March 16-20, 2025 in Orlando, Florida.
This award recognizes an active member of the RDTSS for outstanding research and scientific contribution completed since graduate and/or postdoctoral training. The criteria for the award are originality, discovery, and excellence in the field of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology as evidenced by peer-reviewed manuscripts in journals of high caliber, teaching, mentorship, leadership, contributions to regulatory DART practice/guidelines, and/or other commensurate evidence of expertise in the field. Candidates must be between at least ten years and no more than twenty years from the date of their last formal training.
“I am honored to receive this award and deeply appreciate it,” says Timme-Laragy. “This recognition reflects the innovative and high caliber research conducted by our UMass students and postdoctoral trainees that I have had the privilege to mentor.”
Among her many accomplishments, Timme-Laragy is the principal investigator of a five-year, $2.44 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research how embryonic exposure to certain common pollutants may put people at risk for diabetes and other metabolic health conditions later in life. Timme-Laragy and her research team examine the impact on the developing pancreas of early life-stage exposures to two common per and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) chemicals, found in waterproof and nonstick household products, and the PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), used to fight flammable-liquid fires. These so-called “forever chemicals” take decades to break down in the environment and have contaminated drinking water worldwide.
Founded in 1961, the Society of Toxicology is a professional and scholarly organization of scientists from academic institutions, government, and industry representing the great variety of scientists who practice toxicology in the US and abroad. Its Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology Specialty Section is a subgroup whose members have expertise and/or responsibility for assessment of toxicology of the reproductive system of a developing offspring. Included are all areas of male and female reproduction, developmental biology, teratology, and developmental and reproductive toxicity risk assessment. The Section holds regular meetings during the SOT annual meetings to discuss topics of interest to the membership.