Lauren Eaves (she/her)
40 Under 40 Class of 2025
Hillsborough, North CarolinaResearch Assistant Professor
UNC Chapel Hill
My ambition is clear: to improve health from the womb onward by building a public health system that prevents harm, empowers families, and centers justice.
Three words to describe me:
compassionate, driven, collaborative
The best part of my job:
The best part of my job is bridging science and real-world impact. I love transforming complex environmental data into tools that families, clinicians, and health departments can use to protect maternal and child health. I’m inspired by the possibility that my work can directly support healthier pregnancies and families.
Something that would surprise others about me:
Something that might surprise people is that I live in a multigenerational household with my husband, toddler, and my parents—and we’re about to welcome another baby soon. Together, we care for 60 chickens, manage woodlands, and try to grow as many vegetables and fruits as possible. It’s a busy, joyfully chaotic life that keeps me grounded, connected to the land, and outside as much as possible.