Imperial Valley researcher honored for public engagement in environmental health studies | News

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

SDSU Imperial Valley researcher Linda Lara-Jacobo, who studies environmental risks along the U.S.-Mexico border with the aim of reducing severe health inequities, has received the 2026 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science.

The honor, to be presented Feb. 13 at the AAAS annual meeting in Arizona, recognizes scientists who make community engagement a central part of their work and foster dialogue between researchers and the public.

“This year’s award winners embody research excellence, service to their communities, and leadership for the next generation of scientists,” said Sudip Parikh, CEO of AAAS and executive publisher of the Science family of journals.” 

Lara-Jacobo, an assistant professor in the School of Public Health at SDSU Imperial Valley, brings together researchers, local governments and community organizations in her work to address public and environmental health challenges and STEM education. 

“I was born and raised in Tijuana and often traveled to San Diego to visit family. From an early age, I saw how deeply the border shapes people’s health, environment and opportunities,” Lara- Jacobo said. “Growing up,  I learned to see the border not as a line that divides, but as a shared space where science has a responsibility to serve communities on both sides.”

Lara-Jacobo is co-founder of SDSU’s Binational Border Research Lab for Environmental Health. Her research  focuses on reducing health disparities among Indigenous and other communities living in the heavily agricultural border region, an approach she describes as “solidarity in science.” 

“I study how environmental conditions and natural resource management affect health outcomes in the Imperial Valley and Calexico,” she said. “By focusing on structural and ecological factors, such as air and water quality, and by working alongside community members, we can develop solutions that are culturally relevant and sustainable.”

In one ongoing study, Lara-Jacobo’s team is examining wastewater treatment and community cancer concerns in  Imperial Valley. The research explores the relationship between socioenvironmental determinants and microorganisms in wastewater that may increase cancer risk. It combines environmental sampling, input from community health perspectives, and local knowledge to better understand both perceived and documented environmental health risks associated with agricultural runoff.

The study integrates toxicology, environmental and public health practices and qualitative research on cancer awareness, beliefs and screening perceptions, making community engagement central to every phase of the work. 

“This recognition shows what is possible when research is shaped in collaboration with the people it’s meant to serve,” said Guillermina Gina Núñez-Mchiri, dean of SDSU Imperial Valley. “Linda Lara-Jacobo is building genuine partnerships with communities across the border region. She is a great example of SDSU’s commitment to transborder and global research efforts.” 

Lara-Jacobo received a Ph.D. in water sciences (toxicogenomics) from the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, part of the Université du Québec system. She started at SDSU in 2022.

Lara-Jacobo said she hopes the recognition will help expand future opportunities for students and colleagues. 

“I’m grateful for this award, and for the visibility and momentum it can bring to our work and to our communities,” she said. Award winners receive $5,000.