Kylie Lawson

Graduate Student
Contact: klawson2@nd.edu
LinkedIn: Kylie Lawson

I am a PhD student co-advised by Drs. Daniele Miranda and Mike Pfrender studying PFAS (per- and poly- fluorinated alkyl substances) effects on freshwater fish and their microbiomes through the lens of transcriptomics.

Transcriptomics is the study of RNA transcripts and is the scope for understanding gene expression and regulation. PFAS are a group of chemicals that are often used in non-stick or waterproof or even flame-retardant consumer products and are very difficult to get out of the ecosystem because of their chemical structures. PFAS have been linked to numerous negative health effects such as cancers, thyroid disease, and many other issues.

Furthermore, microbiomes are known to play a role in behavioral regulation, digestion, heart health, and even the immune system in both humans and fish. Currently I am using Walleye (Sander vitreus) as my study species. Walleye are a predatory fish species found in the Great Lakes and are often harvested for human consumption, making my study particularly relevant to Indiana and my home state of Ohio. Understanding the effects of PFAS on fish and their microbial transcriptome interactions sheds light on how PFAS may shape changes in nuanced levels of biological organization.