Career Development Award: Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences: Award for Dr. Cetewayo Rashid

Dr. Cetewayo Rashid has a strong background in environmental health sciences research. As a University of Kentucky graduate research assistant, Dr. Rashid was a UK Superfund Research Center (UKSRC) Trainee under the mentorship of Dr. Kevin Pearson, studying metabolic consequences of maternal polychlorinated biphenyl exposure. He conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania where he studied the impact of paternal bisphenol A exposure on metabolic outcomes related to obesity and type 2 diabetes. Since returning to the University of Kentucky as faculty, Dr. Rashid has developed an animal model of organophosphate flame retardant exposure that reproduces the male sex-specific metabolic disruption identified in epidemiological studies. This Career Development Award during his last year as a NIH-defined Early Stage Investigator will support his career development by providing salary support for himself and research staff. Additionally, Dr. Kelly Pennell and Dr. Kevin Pearson, who are the UKSRC director and deputy director, respectively, will provide mentorship to Dr. Rashid during the UK-CARES Career Development Award period. Mentorship from these exemplar environmental health sciences researchers will help maximize his scholarly productivity during this critical period of his career development. During the award period Dr. Rashid will submit R01- level grant applications and submit at least one manuscript to a top-rated toxicology journal.