The prestigious UCD Chancellor’s Fellow Program honors achievements of outstanding faculty members early in their careers. Last year, Professor Michele La Merrill received this award in recognition of her research on chemical exposures that make it harder to burn calories (contributing to obesity) and that make breast cancer more deadly. In addition, the state of California used Prof La Merrill’s research to determine that a “forever chemical” called PFNA, used in industrial and consumer products, causes reproductive toxicity in men. It was added to a list of harmful chemicals the state makes public by law. The Program provides a $25,000 award that will support Prof La Merrill’s students studying toxic effects of chemicals in human cells.