Superfund Research Program
September 2026
By Kenda Freeman
Javier Huayta, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher and trainee at the Duke University Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center. Under the mentorship and direction of Joel Meyer, Ph.D., Huayta studies the adverse effects that environmental exposures can have on the brain and neurodevelopment.
What is the focus of your research at the Duke SRP Center?
I use a small worm known as Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to understand how hazardous chemicals such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) affect neurons and the brain.
What drew you to this area of research?
Although my background is in chemical engineering, I was exposed to new and exciting areas of research during my graduate training at North Carolina State University. My research involved using C. elegans to measure spatial and temporal patterns of stress-response genes. These are specialized genes that control the body’s response to environmental, physical, or chemical stressors. As part of this research, I also worked with naphthalene-derived chemicals. This sparked my interest in the larger field of toxicology. I was fortunate to transition fully to work in neurotoxicology during my postdoctoral training with Dr. Joel Meyer at the Duke University SRP Center.
What makes C. elegans an ideal model for understanding the impacts of environmental exposures?
There are many advantages in using C. elegans as a model organism. Their bodies are transparent, which allows us to easily see neurons in a whole, intact worm. Roughly 40-60% of their genes are functionally similar to humans. Adult worms possess a total of 302 neurons; because researchers have mapped the structure and function of all these neurons, we can study the impact that environmental exposures have on the worm’s brain development. Finally, C. elegans have a short life cycle, going from embryo to egg-laying adults in about three days. This gives us the ability to quickly evaluate the impact of developmental exposures. Overall, the use of C. elegans is valuable for translating our research and helping us understand exposures that may be associated with human disease.
Can you describe a current research project you're most excited about?
One of the research groups in our center works with wearable devices like wristbands. I have received extracts from these wristbands containing a multitude of chemicals that people wearing the wristbands have been exposed to during their daily activities. I am using our C. elegans model to evaluate how chemical extracts from the wristbands affect the worms’ neuron health.
A different group in our center is using biological organisms to remediate and remove PAHs at Superfund sites. This group has already performed several pilot studies; I am using C. elegans to compare levels of toxicity between remediated and non-remediated sediment samples.
These projects highlight the versatility and value of using C. elegans to evaluate the effects of environmental exposures while being complementary to the research performed by our peers at the center.
During a recent event, you led elementary students in a demonstration to better understand C. elegans and how they can be used in scientific research to understand environmental toxicity. Based on your experience, what can researchers do to engage and encourage young students and children toward STEM careers?
It is important to remember that most of our center’s research is connected to human health. Even while working with worms, I try to remember how this connects to real people that may be affected by environmental exposures.
When talking with young children and students about what I do, sometimes they are more interested in the general biology of the worms or the fluorescent markers that I use, and not necessarily the environmental health research. This is totally fine, and I encourage these types of questions. It is more important to seed an interest in science in general than a particular subject, even if it is my favorite topic.
Through invaluable support of the Community Engagement Core, we remain active in leading educational activities. These activities are shared at Duke events with high school students and local events geared towards families and children. We have even published a paper so other researchers can use our approach and educate the public about worms and environmental exposures.
You received three honors and awards during the 2026 Society of Toxicology (SOT) Annual Meeting: the Gabriel L. Plaa Education Award, the Sheldon D. Murphy Postdoctoral Endowment Award, and the Hispanic Organization of Toxicologists Postdoctoral Travel Award. What do these honors mean for you as you progress in your career?
First, I felt honored to be the recipient of these awards. I had the chance of meeting previous honorees, and I feel a sense of pride in being among them now. Additionally, these awards give me confidence in my research and career path. The pathway that I have set for myself for the future is the right one.
What factors have contributed most to your growth as a researcher throughout your time as an SRP trainee?
The amazing opportunities to mentor and nurture collaborations have been crucial during my time as an SRP trainee. I have always been interested in improving my skills as a mentor and communicator. By mentoring interns involved in Duke SRP Center’s Summer Research Internship, I help guide undergraduate students in focused research experiences. These experiences provide interns with exposure to various laboratory techniques and presentation opportunities, which allow them to take on more complex projects.
Similarly, I collaborate with others in Duke SRP Center’s Community Engagement Core. Through this collaboration, we develop activities to educate the public about the dangers of heavy metal exposure and general knowledge about C. elegans as a model for research studies.
What advice can you offer other SRP Center trainees aspiring to pursue careers in research and beyond?
Take advantage of everything your center and the SRP program at large have to offer, such as internships, training, and collaboration. At the same time, go out and try things until you find your own interests. My experience has shown that everyone in the SRP program is very supportive and open to new ideas.