PhD, Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina
Dissertation Title: High-content screening in zebrafish embryos identifies abamectin as a potent neurotoxicant
MS, Environmental Toxicology, Clemson University
Thesis Title: Analysis of nanoparticle exposure on Legionella pneumophila biofilm morphology and host-bacteria interactions
BS, Biology, Quinnipiac University
Using zebrafish as a model, my current research project is focused on understanding the impact of early-life stage exposure to flame retardants and PAHs on development and later life-stages. Besides identifying potential mechanisms of toxicity, I also have an interest in understanding the relationship between the gut microbiome and contaminant exposure, and whether intestinal microbial communities play a role in the observed toxic effects of these chemicals.
In addition, I am excited to be teaching an new Ecotoxicology course (ENVIRON 610) here at Duke in the spring of 2016 and 2017. This course will focus on the ecological and toxicological effects of chemicals on the structure and function of ecosystems at multiple levels of biological organization, with a major focus on the population, community and ecosystem levels. In addition to reviewing fundamental concepts of ecotoxicology, the course will rely on viewpoints, in-depth case studies, and evaluation of a current ecotoxicological problem to highlight the application of these concepts to real-world scenarios.