Hollie Swanson, PhD

My research interests in the past 20 years have focused on environmental toxicology, drug metabolism and nuclear receptors-particularly, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. On-going projects in my laboratory include study of the potential adverse effects of e-cigarettes. In addition, we are interested in perfluorinated chemicals which are a group of manufactured compounds and are thought to activate or inhibit a number of nuclear receptors. Finally, we are collaborating with Dr. Kevin Pearson as part of the University of Kentucky Superfund project to understand how polychorinated biphenyls may interfere with endocrine signaling and thereby alter muscle and body fat composition. My educational activities are primarily centered around pharmacology, but I have also taught a course on endocrine disruptors in the Honor's College for several years. I teach pharmacology to medical, dental, graduate and undergraduate students. In the fall, I teach a course to undergraduate student and graduate students (PHA 422G) that is designed to cover the fundamentals of pharmacology using lectures and case based studies. My course in the spring (PHA 423, The Dark Side of Medicine) focuses on "what could possibly go wrong" with respect to drug therapy. It is my hope that this course can help pre-professional students better prepare for their future careers. I enjoy exploring avenues for combining both my research and educational activities to enhance student learning and help prepare students for successful science-related careers. Towards this end, several of my current presentations and publications have focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning.