Baylor Undergraduate Earns National Society of Toxicology Research Award
Biology major and Goldwater Scholar Ava Frescura is the only student from Texas selected for the 2026 undergraduate honor
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Ava Frescura, a Baylor University undergraduate biology major and Goldwater Scholar from Houston, has been selected to receive a 2026 Undergraduate Research Award from the Society of Toxicology (SOT), a prestigious national honor recognizing exceptional undergraduate researchers presenting their work at the Society’s Annual Meeting and ToxExpo.
The SOT Undergraduate Research Awards support outstanding undergraduates who have not yet completed their bachelor’s degrees and are designed to encourage graduate study and careers in toxicology. Frescura is one of only 19 undergraduate students nationwide – and the only student from Texas – to earn this distinction. The award fully supports her participation at the annual SOT meeting, where she will present her research.
Frescura, who will graduate in May 2026, conducts research focused on plasticizers – chemical additives used in plastic manufacturing to increase flexibility. Plasticizers are present in many everyday consumer products, including food packaging and cosmetics, and can enter the human body through skin contact, ingestion and inhalation.
“Historically, many plasticizers have been phthalate-based,” Frescura said. “Phthalates are now known to be endocrine-disrupting compounds, meaning they interfere with normal hormone function and can cause a wide range of adverse health effects.”
Frescura began the project in Spring 2025 and continued her work through Summer and Fall. She is jointly mentored by Baylor faculty members Maria Teresa Fernandez-Luna, Ph.D., senior lecturer in the Department of Biology, and Ramon Lavado, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Environmental Science.
“Being recognized for my research at the Society of Toxicology annual meeting is a huge achievement,” Frescura said. “It’s a major confidence boost that validates my hard work and my research interests.”
“Undergraduate research at Baylor University is not only elevating student training but also strengthening the University’s research mission,” Lavado said. “As our students contribute to nationally competitive research, they play an active role in advancing Baylor’s growth as a Research 1 institution.”
In 2025, Frescura won the Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate award that supports outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics. Her Goldwater along with the SOT Undergraduate Research Award reflects not only her outstanding research achievements, but also the high caliber of undergraduate research training and mentorship at Baylor.
“Through developing strong analytical and experimental skills, Ava has grown into a confident and capable young scientist,” Fernandez-Luna said. “Her dedication, curiosity and goal of becoming a researcher reflect the very best outcomes faculty hope for in their students.”
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