Eli Cowan
My research aims to understand how the chemical structure of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) influences their toxicity during development. PFAS are a large family of persistent anthropogenic chemicals that vary in size, shape, and functional groups, and we don’t fully understand how these differences affect their uptake and biological effects. I first use molecular docking studies to predict how PFAS might interact with zebrafish proteins important for development, and then test those predictions experimentally using zebrafish embryos as a developmental model. By linking computational predictions with in vivo testing of individual PFAS and mixtures, I can identify how structural features relate to toxicity. This knowledge can help predict the toxicity of untested PFAS and guide safer chemical design and regulation.
I really like how structure-function toxicology "makes sense." I enjoy seeing how a chemical’s shape and properties connect to what it does in a living system.
I hope my research helps predict the toxicity of PFAS we haven’t yet tested, so we can better protect people and the environment from harmful exposures. By linking chemical structure to biological effects using molecular docking and zebrafish models, I aim to make it easier to identify which PFAS pose the greatest risks and to guide the use of safer alternatives.
I started working in a zebrafish lab in high school, and that experience showed me how exciting science could be. I loved seeing how experiments with such a small model could answer big questions about health and the environment. Getting hands-on experience with real research so early made me realize I wanted to keep exploring how science can solve problems.
Research
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