Autumn Bernal

After graduating from the University of Oregon with degrees in biology and psychology, I worked in a start-up biotech company that developed antibodies and diagnostic assays for mitochondrial disorders. Specifically, I helped to develop high-throughput toxicological assays to determine the side effect of pharmaceuticals. I decided to come to Duke University due to my interest in toxicology and human health. Now, I research the effects that environmental exposures have on heritable gene expression, which are not a result of DNA sequence change. This field, known as Environmental Epigenomics, is a focus of my advisor, Randy Jirtle.

Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, exploring Durham and the South, and hanging with the tight-knit community that Duke offers.

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