Biosciences Students to Speak in Friday STEMinar

The Friday STEMinar continues on February 27, when biosciences students Hannah Norton, Madison Aberle, Jenna Johnsrud, Lillian Jensen, Jayden Taylor and Hadiya Farrahmand will speak. The STEMinar meets Fridays 3-4pm in Library 103 with refreshments in the Library Porch at 2:30. We look forward to seeing many people there.

Title:  Decoding Environmental Impacts on the Lung Through Mice and Cell-Based Systems

Abstract: Repeated environmental exposures can alter lung biology and reshape lung-mediated immune responses. In our laboratory, we are investigating how environmental agents may alter pulmonary biology across experimental systems. In this oral presentation, student researchers will present two ongoing projects from our lab. One project is examining lung epithelial cell response to the agricultural herbicide atrazine or the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol, establishing dose–response relationships and assessing cell viability as a framework for future studies of immune mediator secretion by epithelial cells. A second project is evaluating pulmonary responses to the environmental fungus Aspergillus fumigatus in mice, examining how sex and genetic strain influence lung architecture and antibody production. Together, these studies highlight how environmental exposures can disrupt pulmonary homeostasis and shape respiratory immune outcomes.

Faculty advisor: Dr. Sumali Pandey

Lab: Microbial Pathogenesis Lab