TURI - Key Persons
Agnes joins us as a Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) Fellow. Her main focus is supporting the expansion of the training program - but she can also be found in disinfection laboratory or providing research support for various TURI projects. Agnes is interested in finding solutions to the toxic chemical economy and creating a safer environment for all bodies. She holds a Bachelor's of Science in Cell & Molecular Biology from Brown University.
Job Titles:
- Safer Chemicals Specialist
As a Safer Chemicals Specialist, Alex works both within and outside TURI's laboratory facilities. He primarily focuses on Industrial and Janitorial testing when inside the laboratory, and outside the laboratory assists in the development and improvement of TURI's Toxics Use Reduction Planning Course. Alex holds a Bachelors of Science in Public Health with a Clinical Sciences concentration, as well as a minor in Nuclear Science and Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
As the TURI Cleaning Laboratory Specialist at the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell, Alicia McCarthy works with Massachusetts manufacturers, companies, organizations, and formulators to test safer cleaning and disinfection solutions and devices in the lab. She also provides and has experience training technical assistance organizations about on-site assistance with toxics use reduction identification and implementation. She manages UMass Lowell undergraduate and graduate student employees in the lab; mentoring them on how to apply toxics use reduction within their own department and field while gaining valuable laboratory experience and skills. She won the Most Valuable Student Pollution Prevention Award in 2016. Alicia earned a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Health and Master's of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She obtained a second Master's of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology at the University of New Hampshire.
Job Titles:
- Safer Chemicals Specialist
Amelia is a Safer Chemicals Specialist with the Toxics Use Reduction Institute. She provides lab testing for industrial and janitorial applications and assists with policy analyses and chemical hazard assessments. Amelia holds a Bachelors of Science in Public Health with a Health Sciences Concentration from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of the Massachusetts
Baskut Tuncak is the director of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) where he leads the organization's efforts to advance safer and healthier environments and workplaces. He is a Research Professor in the Department of Public Health of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences at UMass Lowell. From 2014-2020, he served as the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxics, working closely with states, businesses, and international organizations to promote environmental and occupational rights. He continues to advise various organizations on the intersection of human rights, the environment and working conditions. He has advised the International Labour Organization on the recognition of the safe and healthy work as one of the organizations Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. He has advised UNICEF and other organizations on the intersection of child rights and the environment and served on advisory committees of UNEP and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.
Job Titles:
- First Green Chemistry Researcher
Gabriel Salierno joins TURI as a its first green chemistry researcher. Gabriel has a doctorate in Industrial Chemistry and is passionate about applying green chemistry and engineering principles in real world applications. His experience includes research in the green energy field, expertise in heterogeous catalysis, and lecturing and conducting green chemistry research in several global universities. You can learn more about Gabriel on his LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-salierno-4aa4436b/
Greg Morose is a Research Manager for the Toxics Use Reduction Institute and a Research Professor for the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Greg leads research efforts to identify and evaluate solutions to the use of toxic chemicals used in various industries including heavy metals and solvents. Greg teaches a graduate engineering course that covers toxics use reduction and life cycle assessment concepts. Greg has a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Master's of Science degree in Environmental Studies, a Master's of Business Administration degree, and a Doctoral degree in Cleaner Production and Pollution Prevention. Greg is also an ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt.
Job Titles:
- Science / EHS Support Specialist
As the Science/EHS Support Specialist, Hayley Hudson assists the TURA Program Manager and Science Advisory Board Manager in TURA chemical list projects and the gathering of chemical information including toxicity, health, and environmental information in support of the TURA Science Advisory Board. In addition, she supports TURI staff by gathering and summarizing environmental health and safety information for research, industry and community toxic use reduction projects and alternative assessments. Hayley earned a Bachelor's of Science in Public Health and a Master's of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Job Titles:
- Institute 's TURA Program Manager
- TURA Program Manager
As Research Associate and the Institute's TURA Program Manager, Heather Tenney leads projects focused on implementation and policy analysis of the Toxics Use Reduction Act. She analyzes the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) data, which is reported yearly by Massachusetts companies to determine state-wide progress. With Dr. Ellenbecker, she manages and provides research support for the activities of the Science Advisory Board. Heather is a certified Toxics Use Reduction (TUR) Planner. Prior to TURI, she worked at the TURA Program's Office of Technical Assistance after working for several years in industry. She holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Boston University and a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering from Tufts University.
In his role as the Institute's Laboratory Director at UMass Lowell, Jason Marshall directs the services of the lab, helping companies, communities and citizens evaluate the performance of cleaning chemistries and equipment. Recent projects include:the promotion of safer ingredients in cleaning products resulting in recognition from EPA's Safer Detergent Stewardship Initiative at the Champion Level; established a Do-It-Yourself cleaning recipe evaluations program to conduct performance testing of these DIY recipes for basic household cleaners; evaluation of biobased products for several janitorial applications in a hospital setting; effort to promote the adoption of alternatives to trichloroethylene for business in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Dr. Marshall has a Bachelor's of Science in Chemical Engineering, Master's of Science in Environmental Studies and a Doctorate of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Job Titles:
- Health and Safety Support Specialist
Karen brings 20 years of experience from a mix of industry, government, and non-profit settings, including 6 years at TURI in the mid-1990s. A chemist and environmental engineer by training, she has worked on assessing EHS implications, implementing safer alternatives, conducting public education, and removing toxics from automobile recycling. Karen collects and reviews information on flame retardants and their analogs relative to an Act to Protect Children, Families, and Firefighters from Harmful Flame Retardants.
Job Titles:
- Communications and Outreach Manager
Katie Daly-Shea is the Communications and Outreach Manager at the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at UMass Lowell. She is a Lowell native and has been a communications professional for more than 15 years. Katie develops and executes communications plans for TURI that support and enhance media relations, public relations, social media platforms, events, and outreach.
As a former broadcast news reporter, she is a skilled content creator and storyteller who delivers clear and impactful messages. She has a proven track record of crafting high quality multimedia content and maximizing outreach.
Katie received her bachelor's degree in communications and sociology from Boston College and went on to earn a master's degree in multimedia journalism from Emerson College.
She is thrilled to be promoting the important work being done at TURI that is making a big global impact.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director
- Deputy Director of the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell
As Deputy Director of the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell, Liz Harriman is responsible for managing the operations and technical functions of the Institute, as well as working with the other TURA agencies to set direction for the program. In her more than 20 years of working at the Institute, she has provided technical research and support services to Massachusetts companies with the goal of identifying safer alternatives to toxic chemicals used in manufacturing and products. Recent technical work includes prioritization and hazard evaluation of chemicals, chemical alternatives assessment and flame retardants. Ms. Harriman is a registered Professional Engineer and holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from Cornell University in Civil Engineering and a Master's degree in Hazardous Materials Management from Tufts University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate Director - Training Manager
- Training Manager and Senior Associate Director
Pam Eliason is the the Training Manager and Senior Associate Director at the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell. Pam is excited to bring information about toxics use reduction planning, innovative technologies and the science of safer chemicals and practices to businesses, agencies and community groups in Massachusetts and beyond. She leads TURI's training program, which provides certification training and continuous education opportunities for TUR and safer alternatives practitioners. She was an invited instructor of the University of Washington's Green Chemistry and Chemical Stewardship Certificate Program, teaching about Assessment Tools for Safer Chemical Decisions.
Stacie Caldwell is TURI's Administrative Manager. She oversees the administrative and events personnel, manages budget and financial processes, handles IT and facilities issues, assists with grant applications and grant funds management, aids with report production, and steps in wherever else she is needed. Stacie has over 30 years of office experience in both the private and public sectors. She holds a B.A. in English from UCLA and a graduate certificate in editing from the University of Washington.
Longtime Lowell resident Stephan Anstey arrives at TURI with 4 decades of work experience in a vast array of businesses including federal and state government, for-profit corporations, non-profit organizations and his self-owned art studio. Stephan has worked in fields ranging from landscaping, construction, foodservice, tech-writing, web and database development, poetry, painting, sketching, publishing, National Park rangering, IT, shipping, receiving, purchasing, retail management, customer service and newspapers.