Lab Members

Defining the impact of environmental chemicals (e.g., metals and air pollution) on brain development and behavior, with emphasis on attributable risk to neurodevelopmental disorders. 

Kate is researching the neurotoxic effects of pesticide inhalation. She is currently focused on evaluating the effects of paraquat inhalation and how it may increase risk for Parkinson's Disease. 

Investigating the mechanisms by which environmental toxicants can exacerbate neurodegenerative disorders

I investigate how exposure to environmental toxicants can increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. My thesis project is to develop an environmentally relevant mouse model of paraquat inhalation, a commonly used herbicide in the United States linked to Parkinson's disease in humans. My research suggests that paraquat inhalation in mice, simulating occupational exposure in farms, leads to a loss of dopamine-producing neurons, a hallmark of PD. 

Understanding the impact of late gestational air pollution exposure on the developing brain