Taylor McNeal

Taylor McNeal is a third-year graduate student conducting research under the guidance of Dr. Lori Raetzman in the department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology. Her research focuses on the the impact of postnatal exposure to environmentally relevant phthalate mixtures, specifically focusing on reproductive function in both sexes. Phthalates are known to have anti-androgenic effects and cause hormone level alterations in adulthood, and exposure during critical periods of reproductive development could result in severe changes in reproductive attributes. Her research also investigates signaling pathways in the pituitary that could be disrupted by phthalate mixture exposure because impaired signaling during pituitary development could result in dysregulation of hormone production which would then lead to abnormal reproductive function. Her studies aim to expand our understanding of the role of phthalates, individually and as a mixture, in reproductive toxicity and pituitary physiology.