Our Laboratory

Over the last decade, my laboratory has been actively involved in understanding how embryonic exposure to various forms of environmental pollution lead to compromised health in wildlife and humans. We have developed an approach to these questions which involves studying natural populations exposed to complex mixtures and examining endpoints of health that include genetic, cellular, organismal and population endpoints - integrative biology. Further, our laboratory has an active role in community education as well as national and international policy development concerning environmentally-induced birth defects.
The undergraduate students in my laboratory are exposed to these questions in a way few students experience. Importantly, the students actually participate in the research efforts. Students regularly assist with fieldwork involving the capture of alligators, turtles, frogs and fish. In the lab, students assist in all aspects of sample analyses. Over 150 students have participated in this hands-on, directed research experience over the last decade in my laboratory.

Our Approach - A Research Team
The work in our laboratory is performed based on a team approach. All research teams are directed by a graduate student or post doctoral fellow. Although all the undergraduate students can meet with me whenever needed, their day-to-day research activities are overseen by a graduate student mentor. Representative research teams are presented below but other opportunities are also available.

Team led by D Bermudez (Ph.D. candidate)
What is the role of environmental contaminants in altering thyroid and reproductive system function in alligators? These are the questions this team addresses.

Team led by Teresa Bryan (Ph.D. Candidate)
Do alligators exposed to contaminants such as organochlorine pesticides exhibit altered genital development? These are the questions this team addresses.

Interested in joining a team?
Check out opportunities here

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