Project Summary: The proposed funded extension under the opportunity, NOT-OD-21-052: Requesting Extension for Early Career Scientists Whose Career Trajectories Have Been Significantly Impacted by COVID- 19, will help me achieve the research and training goals outlined in my K01ES031697 application and provide protected time for me to submit a NIEHS R01 application. The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected my K01ES031697 research productivity and caused substantial delays in my K01 research and career development aims. The funded one-year and six months proposed extension would provide a portion of an additional year ad six months of my salary and extend the research through February 2025. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed my field work two years after the intended start date. In Ecuador there were several spikes in confirmed COVID-19 cases and confirmed deaths over the spring and summer of 2021. Ecuador did not begin vaccinating its population until mid-March 2021 and the parent study could not initiate field research until July 2022. This was when I was able to start field work. I also had several child and family care giving responsibilities during the pandemic that further delayed my research and career development goals. My children (6 and 8) were in a school district that was not physically open for one year, and after opening they did not offer any afterschool childcare until 2022. Additionally, both my husband and sister fell ill for a long period of time during the pandemic and needed extra care. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed my NIEHS K01 progress above and beyond what most individuals experienced.