My name is Nicole Breese and I was born and raised in Solon, Iowa. I graduated from Concordia University Nebraska with a B.S. in biology and chemistry. While at Concordia, I worked as a laboratory assistant for the genetics and human anatomy and physiology courses.

I became interested in human toxicology as I found it to be the perfect intersection of biology and chemistry. I chose the University of Iowa in part so I can become the third generation of females to graduate with advanced degrees from the university, as well as the program’s interdisciplinary nature.

I love to compete in the shotgun sports and in my free time I enjoy spending time outdoors and reading a good book.

Thesis Title: Multisystem effects of polychlorinated biphenyls: A cross-species approach to neurotoxicity and molecular disruption

Advisor: Hans-Joachim Lehmler

Year of Graduation: 2026

Program: PhD

LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-breese-a009a5248/

Publications from her research:

Breese NM, Heim SG, Samuelson RJ, Lehmler HJ, A Scoping Review of Neurotoxic and Behavioral Outcomes Following Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Exposure in Post-Weaned Rodents,  Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Nov 7;26(22):10829. doi: 10.3390/ijms262210829.  PMCID: PMC12652203 

Basu B, Breese NM, Lombardi S, Wang H, Li X, Tiburcio D, Niemasz Z, Beyer SE, Dean LE, Marek RF, Toborek M, Lehmler HJ, Chatterjee S., Spatial transcriptomic profiling uncovers the molecular effects of the neurotoxicant polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the brains of adult mice,  Mol Psychiatry. 2026 Jun;31(6):3257-3270. doi: 10.1038/s41380-026-03466-x. PMID: 40777386 

Breese NM, George AC, Pauers LE, Stucky CL., Peripheral inflammation selectively increases TRPV1 function in IB4-positive sensory neurons from adult mouse, Pain. 2005 May;115(1-2):37-49. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2005.02.010. PMID: 15836968

Carrier EJ, Kearn CS, Barkmeier AJ, Breese NM, Yang W, Nithipatikom K, Pfister SL, Campbell WB, Hillard CJ, 
Cultured rat microglial cells synthesize the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol, which increases proliferation via a CB2 receptor-dependent mechanism, Mol Pharmacol. 2004 Apr;65(4):999-1007. doi: 10.1124/mol.65.4.999. PMID: 15044630