Dr. Imari Walker-Franklin is a research chemist at RTI International that contributes research to determining human and environmental exposure to potentially harmful substances. One project includes working to understand the release and effect of microplastics and microplastic associated chemicals within simulated human fluids and tissues.  She earned her Ph.D. in environmental engineering from Duke University, where she studied the fate and transformation of microplastics and polymer-associated chemicals, including endocrine disruptors like BPA. Dr. Walker-Franklin co-authored the book Plastics, serves as a member of the National Academies Roundtable on Plastic Pollution and was awarded the National Academies: Eric and Wendy Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communications. Dr. Walker-Franklin’s research interests include plastic pollution, emerging contaminants, and analytical chemistry.