Seth W. Kullman: PI. Dr. Kullman received his Ph.D. from the University of California at Davis in Pharmacology and Toxicology (1996) and completed postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California at Davis in 2000. Dr. Kullman joined the faculty of the Integrated Toxicology Program at Duke University in 2000 and served as director of the Duke University Superfund Center Functional Genomics Core (2004-2007). He then joined the faculty of North Carolina State University in 2008 and is a Full Professor of Toxicology in the Department of Biological Sciences. Dr. Kullman has a long-standing history of employing small aquarium fish models in mechanistic toxicity studies with an emphasis on developmental biology, endocrine biology and metabolic disruption. His laboratory employs molecular, comparative and functional genomic approaches to examine how exposure to environmental stressors (dys)regulate gene regulatory networks that govern critical steps of cell differentiation and embryonic development. Much of his work is focused on nuclear receptors and ligand activated transcription factor signaling. His recent studies are directed towards elucidating coordinated cellular events facilitating stem cell commitment in relation to developmental and/or degenerative bone diseases (osteogenesis imperfecta, osteoporosis, osteopenia), and adiposity (obesity, metabolic syndrome). Dr Kullman previous served as the Director of the NC State Toxicology Program and currently serves as Director of the  NIEHS Training Grant Molecular Pathways to Pathogenesis inToxicology. He has over > 95 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and technical reports. He has been a visiting scholar at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory and has participated in proposal review panels for the NSF, NOAA, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. He has participated as an ad hoc member for scientific review with the Environmental Protection Agency, FIFRA-Scientific Advisory Panel Endocrine Disruptor Screening Committee.  He is a full member of the Society of Toxicology, Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and the Endocrine Society.

Current Doctoral:

• Emily Burrell. PhD Student Toxicology Program, NCSU. Emily Burrell is a PhD student in Toxicology researching the intersection of environmental contaminants and immune health. She holds a Master of Science in Public Health (MPH) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a BS in Public Health with minors in Neuroscience and Biology from UNC Wilmington. Emily’s current research employs high-throughput phenotyping to quantify how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals” interfere with vitamin D3-dependent THP-1 cell differentiation. When she isn’t in the lab, Emily is likely reading or relaxing with her three cats.

Visiting Scientist:

• Morgan Barnes, PhD. Dr. Barnes received her B.S. in Pharmacology and Toxicology with a minor in Nutrition from the University at Buffalo. During her undergraduate education, she worked in a research lab focusing on post translational modifications of a G-coupled protein receptor called Urotensin II. She then briefly worked as a neuroscience research technician assessing the effects of neuropeptide S (NPS) and RTI-263 exposure intracerebroventricularly in Sprague-Dawley rats. In 2024, she completed her PhD in Toxicology at North Carolina State University in Dr. Seth Kullman’s lab. Her graduate work focused on modulation of the vitamin D system in the context of both neurodevelopment and toxicology. She currently is a Staff Scientist at Collaborations Pharmaceuticals Inc. where her main research focus is developing therapeutics for rare diseases.

Current Undergraduates:

• Ava Reeves. Biochemistry, 2026
• Roopa Chaganti. NCSU Genetics, 2026
• James Lajcin, NCSU Biology, 2025-Current
• Yoona Yang, NCSU Genetics, 2024-current
• Samantha Hesi.  NCSU Genetics |University Honors Program 2024-current

Previous Doctoral:

• Morgan Ritter. PhD. Candidate Toxicology Program, NCSU 2025
• Melisa Gronske. DVM/PhD. Student Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, NCSU 2024
• Megan Knuth. PhD.  Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, NCSU  2020
• AtLee Watson, PhD. Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, NCSU. 2017
• Debabrata Mahapatra, PhD. Comparative Biomedical Sciences and Pathology, NCSU School of Veterinary Medicine. 2017
• Crystal Lee Pow, PhD. Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, NCSU. 2015
• Erin Kollitz, PhD. Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, NCSU. 2014
• Erin Yost, PhD. Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, NCSU. 2013
• Arnaud Van Wettere, DVM/PhD. Comparative Biomedical Sciences and Pathology, NCSU School of Veterinary Medicine. 2012
• Boknam Lee, PhD. Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University. 2011
• Hilary Miller, PhD. Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health, Duke University. 2011
• Deanna Howarth, PhD. Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health, Duke University. 2009
• David Volz, PhD. Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health, Duke University. 2006
• Pei-Jen Chen, PhD. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University. 2005

Previous Masters:

• John Palumbo. MS. Student Toxicology Graduate Program, NCSU Current
• Dhyanseh Doshi, MEM. Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health, Duke University. 2007
• Michael Carney, MEM. Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health, Duke University. 2005

Previous Undergraduates:

• Kayree Ling. NCSU Genetics, 2024-current
• Zack Sides.  NCSU Genetics, 2022-current
• Joseph Lewis.  NCSU Genetics |University Honors Program 2021-current
• Callan Schroeder. NCSU Genetics |University Honors Program 2022-2023
• Michelle Chen. Human Biology | University Honors Program 2021-2023
• Jessika Fonand. Psychology. 2021-2023
• Nathan S. Shekey. Human Biology | University Honors Program 2020-2022
• Tyler Laws. Biological Sciences|Molecular Biology 2020-2021
• Pooja Korategere. Human Biology | University Honors Program 2020-2021
• Adam Pecoraro, Biological Sciences. 2017-2019
• Fatemeh Sadeghifar, Biological Sciences, Honors 2017-2018
• Emma Hall, Biological Sciences. 2017-2018
• Ian Stancil, Polymer and Color Chemistry, Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, and Human Biology 2014-2016
• Kari Creech, Biological Sciences, Human Biology. 2014-2016.
• Kedamawit Tilahun, Biological Sciences, Integrative Physiology & Neurobiology. 2014-2016
• Ravyn Njagu,  Biological Sciences/Human Biology, NCSU. 2013- 2014
• Ayanna Glaize, Biochemistry, NCSU. 2013-2014
• Jason Z. Phillips,  Microbiology, NCSU. 2013-2014
• Jaies Kunnappillil,  Biochemistry, NCSU. 2010-2011
• Joe Magliocca,  Chemistry and Biochemistry, NCSU. 2008-2010
• Nicole Hansen, Biochemistry and Microbiology, NCSU. 2008- 2009

Previous Postdoctoral:

• Melanie Fraites, Functional Assessment of COX-2 and Prostanoid Signaling in AhR Induced Cardiovascular Toxicity. Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, NCSU. 2011-2012
• Wu Dong, Role of Non-Genomic Signaling Processes in AhR Mediated Toxicities. Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, NCSU. 2009-2011
• Sheran Law, Development of an in Vivo Transgenic Reporter System for Screening Hepatobiliary Toxicity During Pharmaceutical Development. Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, NCSU. 2007-2009
• David Bencic, Development of a Medaka Specific Microarray: Differential Gene Expression of PPAR Alpha Agonists in Medaka. Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Duke University. 2002-04
• Shosaku Kashiwada, PhD. Role of Medaka Cytochrome P450 3A in Xenobiotic Metabolism. Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Duke University. 2001-03