Members of the Jeffries lab share research with the TCU College of Science and Engineering External Advisory Board. Dalton Allen (MS Biology 2021; PhD Biology 2024), Evan Burchfiel (BS Biology 2023), and Dr. Marlo Jeffries (Associate Professor of Biology) were featured during the CSE External Advisory Board meeting. The team described three of the international and collaborative research programs carried out in the Jeffries lab and also highlighted the benefits of undergraduate and graduate research. (April 2023)
Jeffries lab delivers presentations at the South Central SETAC meeting and two students receive presentations awards. Dalton Allen (MS Biology 2021; PhD Biology 2024), Evan Burchfiel (BS Biology 2023), and Katie Solomons (BS Biology 2023) presented at the South Central Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) meeting in Denton, TX. Dalton delivered a platform presentation, co-authored by Michaela Kelly (BS Biology 2022) and Maddie Weincek (BS Biology 2022) focused on the development of alternative testing methods for assessing toxicity in marine systems. Evan presented a platform titled "Fluorescing fish: Using transgenic medaka to screen for environmental estrogens" co-authored by Dalton, Catherine Wise (BS Neuroscience 2023, MS Biology 2025), Zack Aldrete (BS Neuroscience 2023) and Katie Solomons (BS Biology 2023), which received the 1st place student platform award. Katie presented a poster, co-authored by Dalton, titled focused titled "Innovations in marine toxicity testing: Fish embryo and mysid tests as replacements for larval fish test", which received the 1st place student poster award. The receipt of these awards by Evan and Katie is particularly noteworthy as they competed against not only other undergraduates, but also MS and PhD students. Job well done! (March 2023)
Jeffries lab participates in the TCU Celebration of Philanthropy. Dalton Allen (MS Biology 2021; PhD Biology 2024), Evan Burchfiel (BS Biology 2023), Catherine Wise (BS Neuroscience) and Dr. Marlo Jeffries (Associate Professor of Biology) participated in the TCU Celebration of Philanthropy dinner, which honors the amazing support provided by TCU donors. The team hosted an exhibit where donors learned more about several of the assays used in the Jeffries lab to screen for chemical toxicity. Donors even got to meet the mysid shrimp and fluorescing fish embryos used in the Jeffries lab. Evan and Dr. Jeffries also delivered a presentation on the numerous benefits of undergraduate research. (February 2023)
Jeffries lab publishes article on the risks associated with metal contamination in Kazakhstan. Dalton Allen (MS Biology 2021; PhD Biology 2024), Leah Thornton (MS Biology 2015; PhD Biology 2020), Gunnar Nystrom (BS Biology 2017) and Dr. Marlo Jeffries (Associate Professor and Chair of Biology), in collaboration with scientists from the University of Idaho, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, published a paper entitled “Predicted aquatic and human health risks associated with the presence of metals in the Syr Darya and Shardara Reservoir, Kazakhstan”. The article, which appears in Science of the Total Environment, details a study focused on assessing the environmental and human health risks associated with metals located in the Syr Darya river in Kazakhstan. These assessments were performed by analyzing water samples and fish muscle tissue collected from three sites within the Syr Darya for a suite of metals and then using mathematical models to predict risk. The findings of this work indicated that metals pose significant an environmental risk fish inhabiting the Syr Darya. In addition, lead levels in fish muscle tissue were found to exceed maximum levels for safe consumption indicating a potential risk to humans. This study’s findings demonstrate the need to develop pollution monitoring and management programs to protect the health of fish populations in the region, as well as the health of humans that rely upon fish from the Syr Daraya for sustenance. To learn more, the article can be accessed here. (February 2023)
Jeffries lab delivers three presentations at the SETAC North America meeting and Dalton Allen receives a student presentation award. Dalton Allen (MS Biology 2021 and PhD Biology 2024) and Dr. Marlo Jeffries (Associate Professor of Biology) attended the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) 43rd North America meeting in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Jeffries co-chaired a session on Immunotoxicology and delivered a platform presentation titled "Development of a new infection model for fathead minnows, an emerging immunotoxicity model organism". Dalton presented a posted titled "Marine effluent toxicity testing: Evaluation of alternative testing methods for assessing metal toxicity" and a platform entitled "Can tests with fish embryos or shrimp replace larval fish tests? - An initial evaluation of marine alternatives." Dalton's presentation was recognized with the 3rd place Best PhD Student Platform Presentation award. Awesome work, Dalton! (November 2022)
Rashidat Jimoh receives external funding to support research. Rashidat Jimoh (MS Biology 2023) receives an Adele Lewis Grant and Nell Mondy Fellowship, totaling $10,000, to support her research titled "Identifying chemical hazards in aquatic systems: Validation of a small fish model to identify immunotoxic chemicals". Rashidat's research seeks to validate the fathead minnow as a model for environmental immunotoxicity. Way to go, Rashidat! (July 2022)
Four members of the Jeffries lab present their Honors Thesis research. Kahler Doyle, Kyle Horton, Michaela Kelly, and Maddie Weincek (all BS Biology 2022) presented their Senior Honors thesis research at the TCU College of Science and Engineering Honors Forum. Kahler and Kyle co-presented their research aimed at developing a new infection model for use in immunotoxicity studies featuring fathead minnows. Michaela presented her research on the use of sheepshead minnow embryos as a replacement for larval sheepshead minnows in marine toxicity evaluations, while Maddie presented on the use of inland silverside embryos as a replacement for inland silverside larvae. Congrats to Kahler, Kyle, Michaela, and Maddie for reaching this milestone! (April 2022)
Members of the Jeffries lab present their research at the Student Research Symposium. Kahler Doyle, Kyle Horton, Michaela Kelly, and Maddie Weincek (all BS Biology 2022) presented posters at the TCU College of Science and Engineering Student Research Symposium. Kahler and Kyle co-presented a poster titled "Development of a new infection model for immunotoxicology testing using fathead minnows". Michaela presented her work, co-authored by Dalton Allen (MS 2021, PhD 2024) on "Investigating alternative testing methods for the evaluation of acute nickel toxicity" and Maddie presented her research, also co-authored by Dalton, titled "Identifying alternative marine toxicity testing methods: Can mysids and fish embryos replace larval fish?". Great work Kahler, Kyle, Michaela, and Maddie! (April 2022)