Meet The Team

Spring 2025

Front (left - right): Chloe Schmidt, Sydney Schinkai, Ansley Elkins, Romina Dotson, Maryam Afghan, Mel Walker, Paige Powell, Kylie Rock

Back (left - right): Kylie Artosky, Matt Heselton, Zach Padgett, Greg Aniolek, Elizabeth Mulligan, Sasha Suggs

Kylie assisting with sample collection from a blacktip shark

Kylie Rock

Assistant Professor

Kylie is a Toxicologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University. She received her B.S. in Biology from St. Lawrence University and Ph.D. in Toxicology from North Carolina State University (NCSU). As a graduate student, under the guidance of Dr. Heather Patisaul, she investigated the placenta as an important target tissue of chemical toxicity with consequences for brain development and behavior. She pursued this interest in the placenta as a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Tracy Bale at the University of Maryland, investigating the intersections of gene, environment, and development (GxExD) interactions in prenatal programming. She then transitioned back to NCSU as a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Scott Belcher, conducting exposure assessments and investigating associated health outcomes in wildlife and domestic animals. Utilizing her unique research background Kylie aims to implement a One Environmental Health approach in her lab, combining laboratory and field studies to identify molecular, cellular, and physiological changes associated with chemical exposures.

Fun Facts/Hobbies: Born and raised in the Adirondack mountains (NY), Boston Bruins hockey fan, marine biology enthusiast, love hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, board games, and dogs!

Google Scholar

Paige Powell

Graduate Student
PhD EnTox

Paige graduated with a B.S. in zoology from NC state. During her time there, she worked in an evolutionary ecology lab, studying rapid evolution of mosquito fish in artificial light and the effects of increasing hurricane strengths in brown anoles. She is super interested in how anthropogenic forces drive the natural world. Paige's other academic interests include wildlife biology, animal diversity, and parasitology.

Fun Facts/Hobbies: Outside of academia, Paige loves to hike, work out, and read. She volunteers with an animal shelter and has a pet turtle named Rihanna!

Google Scholar

Maryam participating in prospective graduate student recruitment

Maryam Afghah

Graduate Student
PhD Bio Sci

Maryam graduated with a B.S. in Genetics from Azad University Tehran Medical Branch, and an M.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Azad University North Branch. During her master's studies, she focused on the detrimental effects of Zinc Sulfate as a fertilizer used for chives, examining changes in growth, DNA material, and protein changes. Currently, as a PhD student, she is studying the effects of phthalate exposure on pregnant mice, specifically looking at how exposure during puberty might alter the placenta and fetus.

Fun Facts/Hobbies: Maryam loves immersing herself in shows and sitcoms. She enjoys spending time with her little nieces and always cherishes their playful moments together.

Google Scholar

Ansley attending a regional conference held in Charleston

Ansley Elkins

Graduate Student
PhD Bio Sci

Ansley graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the College of Charleston. While there, she completed undergraduate research on the expression and stability of transfer RNA (tRNA). She is passionate about women's health and reproductive justice. As a Ph.D. student, Ansley aims to investigate the effects of environmental chemical exposures on women's health and fertility. Through her work, she hopes to advocate for safer environmental practices and contribute to a deeper understanding of how these exposures impact women's health on a molecular and systemic level.

Fun facts/Hobbies: In her free time, Ansley loves to crochet, embroider, watch movies, and cook. She also has a cat named Zeppelin, with whom she enjoys going on walks with!

Zachary Padgett

Graduate Student
MS EnTox

Zack graduated with two B.S. degrees from Coastal Carolina University, one in Biochemistry and the other in Marine Science. During his time there he worked in a research lab using a suite of molecular techniques to detect Pseudo-nitzschia, a marine planktonic diatom that produces a neurotoxin known as domoic acid, in shellfish harvesting grounds. As a graduate student Zack plans to expand upon his prior research experience by investigating how environmental contaminants interact with organismal physiology and contribute to adverse health outcomes.

Fun Facts/Hobbies: Outside of the lab Zack enjoys scuba diving and hiking, and is a HUGE Tennessee Titans fan!

Mel getting ready to realease a finetooth shark

Melissa Walker

Graduate Student
MS EnTox

Mel is currently a M.S. student in Environmental Toxicology program at Clemson University. She is a non-traditional student, returning to pursue a second career after 20+ years working in business. After obtaining her CPA license in 2012, Mel worked primarily in food and beverage manufacturing for 13 years, with a focus on accounting- and finance-related reporting and responsibilities, as well as education and training of colleagues. Mel is excited to gain experience in and contribute as a team member to lab research for the first time and is interested in expanding her knowledge base as she determines her next steps.

Fun Facts/Hobbies: Mel grew up in MN, lived on the West Coast for over 20 years, and had the opportunity to travel the country for over a year, hiking, biking, and enjoying park and forest lands everywhere she went. She also loves cooking, baking and anything that keeps her active.

Greg Aniolek

Graduate Student
MS EnTox

Greg graduated with a B.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut. While there he was a part of two ecological research labs, one where he studied freshwater parasite-host interactions in stickleback populations in Northeast Maine, and another studying the long-term ecological response to Hurricane Maria by invertebrate populations in El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico. Currently as a master's student at Clemson, Greg studies the trophic distribution and adverse effects of microplastics in various shark species found around Charleston, SC.

Fun Facts/Hobbies: Outside of the lab, Greg enjoys the outdoors, playing sports, lifting weights, and cooking. Greg is also an avid guitar player and played the saxophone for over 14 years from elementary school through college.

Sasha (left) and Maryam (right) at Greenville Memorial Hospital collecting samples

Sasha Suggs

Undergraduate Researcher
CI: EDCs and Women's Health

Sasha is a current Junior at Clemson, and has been part of the lab since spring 2024! She is very excited to learn more about the effects of EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals) on hormone action in the body, and expand her knowledge by gaining hands-on experience in the lab. Sasha is also very interested in other health-related research and hopes to use the data gathered in the lab to help her better understand how she can work to improve women’s healthcare.

Fun Facts/Hobbies: In her free time, Sasha enjoys reading, spending time with her family (mostly playing Scrabble or quizzing each other on trivia), and painting. She is also Ukrainian and LOVES the cuisine!

Mina filtering water samples after a long day in the field

Romina Dotson

Undergraduate Researcher
CI: Microbes to Megafauna

Mina is currently a senior and has been involved in the lab since she was a sophomore. She is collaborating with Zach on a project examining PFAS contamination across two South Carolina estuaries, with a focus on how these compounds disrupt microbial diversity and alter community structure. She hopes to identify potential bioremediation strategies by identifying microbes that are resistant and able to degrade PFAS chemicals. She look forward to continuing my studies with microbes and toxicology as it has become an interest since joining the lab!

Fun Facts/Hobbies: In her free time, Mina enjoys hiking, playing tennis and working out, watching random TV shows, and traveling. I’m Salvadoran and I love traveling back to El Salvador to visit family.

Jane Zheltov

Undergraduate Researcher
CI: Microbes to Megafauna

Jane is currently a freshman majoring in Environmental and Natural Resources. This is her first lab experience, and she is super excited to get involved in research. Jane is interested in how environmental stressors and contaminants affect ecosystem function. She is especially excited to learn more about aquatic systems, their disturbances, and how they affect marine species. In addition to aquatic contaminants, Jane is also interested in how research can support ecosystem resilience and restoration, both on land and in water.

Fun Facts/Hobbies: Jane is a cellist in the Clemson Symphony, loves reading, hiking, fungi and anything outdoors! She has enjoyed trying new things at Clemson, including beekeeping, rock climbing, and participating in a student food forest restoration group, Students for Stewardship.

Grace Brenner

Undergraduate Researcher
CI: EDCs and Women's Health

Grace is a junior at Clemson University majoring in biochemistry and is currently a member of the Repro-Etox Lab, where she studies the effects of phthalates on reproductive health. Her research interests include working with both zebrafish embryos and human placental tissue to better understand underlying issues in women’s reproductive health. Through her lab experiences, Grace hopes to strengthen her understanding of rigorous scientific conduct and to apply research findings as an advocate for women’s health.

Fun Facts/Hobbies: Originally from Chicago, Grace enjoys spending quality time with her family, playing games, and trying a new restaurant. She is an avid baker, loves a good book, and is always excited to travel and explore new places.

Aliya Abdelwahab

Undergraduate Researcher
CI: EDCs and Women's Health

Aliya is currently a junior Biological Sciences major, with minors in Genetics and Psychology on the pre-med track. She is a member of the Repro-Eco Tox lab, where she is participating in research looking into the affects of phthalates on reproductive health, specifically by examining placental samples. She is very interested in expanding her knowledge of reproductive health and research techniques in the lab, and hopes to help make a positive impact on the field of women's health!

Fun Facts/Hobbies: In her free time, she loves spending time with friends and family, as well as reading, listening to music, and cooking! She is also an avid film photographer and loves taking her camera with her wherever she goes to capture special moments.