NEWS

Zhoumeng Lin

James L. Carmon Scholarship Award (Honorable Mention) 2014
Graduate Student Excellence-in-Research Award 2014

Zhoumeng Lin, a recent doctoral graduate in toxicology, more than meets the high standards set by this award for his excellent work investigating neurotoxicity of atrazine, a common herbicide. Lin evaluated effects of atrazine exposure on motor, cognitive, and emotional functions of mice. He utilized neuronal cell models to determine potential molecular mechanisms associated with atrazine’s neurobehavioral toxicity. Lin also developed physiologically based pharmacokinetic computational models for atrazine in rodents of different ages. These computer models can be used to predict where and in what concentrations atrazine will be found in fetuses, neonates, and adults. Integration of his computational models and experimental studies can help establish atrazine neurotoxicity dose response relationship, which can be used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to better assess the risk from exposure and to help develop guidelines for the herbicide’s use.