Zeke Spooner (left), recipient of the 2025 Alexeeff Award, stands with Jean Ackerman (center), spouse of the late Dr. George Alexeeff, and Dr. Christina Pasparakis (right) in a garden setting following the award ceremony.

Congratulations to Zeke Spooner, 2025 Alexeeff award winner

  • by cpasparakis

This award honors Dr. George Alexeeff, former Director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and recognizes graduate students conducting research in environmental health sciences.

Zeke is a Ph.D. student in the Pharmacology and Toxicology graduate group, co-advised by Dr. Christina Pasparakis and Dr. Sascha Nicklisch. His research focuses on long-term microplastic monitoring at the Bodega Marine Reserve and building community-based science programs that engage students, researchers, and local community members. Zeke also investigates how multiple stressors—such as pesticides and UV exposure—interact to affect early development in aquatic organisms.