My name is Diego and I'm an undergraduate Biology / Pre-med student in the 2024 class at UMass Amherst. I'm the newest member of "Team RichCo", a group of 3 undergraduates working on a collaborative research project in the Karlstrom, Timme-Laragy, and Downes labs investigating the effects of an array of potentially toxic chemicals on the embryonic development, post embryonic growth, and ultimately the behavior, of zebrafish. 
Zebrafish Research Award, and have been working with Claire Fong and Renee Owen on a project to understand how the “forever chemicals” PFOS and PFHxS affect early formation of the pancreas. We have begun to show that cell proliferation rates in different tissues have different sensitivities to HxS exposure, and we are beginning to define a “window” in development when the exocrine pancreas is most sensitive to PFHxS exposure. Moving forward, I plan to use the cell proliferation and toxicant treatment assays I have
now learned to explore the mechanisms by which other chemical groups, such as phthalates, disrupt early development in vertebrate tissues, including the pancreas and brain. I want to thank Steve Richter and the generous people at RichCo Labs for giving me
this opportunity to grow as a student and researcher.
I began in the Karlstrom Lab last fall after receiving the RichCo Undergraduate
Zebrafish Research Award, and have been working with Claire Fong and Renee Owen on a project to understand how the “forever chemicals” PFOS and PFHxS affect early formation of the pancreas. We have begun to show that cell proliferation rates in different tissues have different sensitivities to HxS exposure, and we are beginning to define a “window” in development when the exocrine pancreas is most sensitive to PFHxS exposure. Moving forward, I plan to use the cell proliferation and toxicant treatment assays I have
now learned to explore the mechanisms by which other chemical groups, such as phthalates, disrupt early development in vertebrate tissues, including the pancreas and brain. I want to thank Steve Richter and the generous people at RichCo Labs for giving me
this opportunity to grow as a student and researcher.
The RichCo Undergraduate Zebrafish Research Award has allowed me to better understand and appreciate the field of developmental biology research and all the planning, effort, and care needed to execute these experiments. I hope this project continues to cultivate scientific curiosity and a passion for understanding the natural world in future undergraduates and I'm excited to see the positive impacts our findings may have in the future!"