Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Toxicology, Texas A&M University, 2021
  • M.P.H., Environmental Health, Texas A&M University, 2017
  • B.S., BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE, Texas A&M University, 2015
Professional Honors
  • Research Intern, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Chemical Threat Laboratory, 2018
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program Trainee, 2018-2021
  • National Institute of Health T32 Trainee Fellowship, 2017
Professional Affiliations
  • Society of Toxicology (SOT) – 2018 to present
  • Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) – 2019 to present

Dr. Hearon is a toxicologist with an interdisciplinary background in biomedical sciences, public health, and environmental and regulatory toxicology. Her doctoral thesis focused on the development of a novel soil remediation technique using in vitro efficacy and in vivo safety testing. 

Dr. Hearon studied the fate and transport of contaminants in the environment and has worked on reducing the bioavailability of contaminants from soil, specifically glyphosate, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Dr. Hearon has 4 years of laboratory research experience and is skilled in analytical chemistry techniques including HPLC, LC-MS, and ICP-MS.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Hearon earned both her Ph.D. in Toxicology and M.P.H in Environmental Health from Texas A&M University. As a research associate in the Texas A&M Superfund Center, she gained experience with developing mitigation strategies to protect vulnerable populations from disaster-related exposures. During her doctoral research, she also had the opportunity to work on product development research for a nutritional animal feed additive to address mycotoxins that is now on the market. Dr. Hearon worked as a research intern at the Texas Department of State Health Services in the Chemical Threat Analysis lab, where she completed an ICP-MS clinical method validation study. As part of her master's work, she conducted an environmental risk assessment of a Kenyan village and designed and constructed a community waste management project and sustainable housing for a family of five. Dr. Hearon has presented her work at various regional and national conferences, published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and is an active member of both the Society of Toxicology and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.