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Amanda Clay Powers

As a professor in basic sciences and director of the Center for Environmental Health Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Jan Chambers plays with some pretty mean chemicals, but to her, it's all in a day's work.

Chambers investigates how chemical pesticides affect the environment and the risks they pose to humans.

"Finding out how chemicals may perturb the natural systems is a fascinating study," she said. "We are all exposed to environmental chemicals every day, and we know little about the lasting effects they have. Knowing what chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides do and how they do it is essential to discovering how to remedy their negative effects and preserve the health of people and animals."

Chambers' work at MSU has garnered her national attention, including being named chairperson for the Board of Scientific Counselors within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and appointments to two Environmental Protection Agency advisory committees.

Most recently, she became the first woman ever to receive the International Society of Toxicology's Education Award.

Next week … Ed Swan !