Current Members

Principal Investigator

Antonio Planchart, PhD

Associate Professor at North Carolina State University whose research focuses on how environmental signals reshape gene regulation during development and influence nervous system function, physiology, and disease risk.

Research interests include developmental toxicology, genomics, neurobiology, systems biology, and environmental health.

Email: ajplanch@ncsu.edu

NC State Faculty Profile

Google Scholar

ORCID

Laboratory Manager

Picture of Trent Dunkak, Laboratory Manager.

Trent Dunkak

Trent Dunkak grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and graduated summa cum laude from North Carolina State University in 2025 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences.

During his undergraduate career, he completed an internship in computational neuroscience at Princeton University, where his work centered on OPM-MEG research, a cutting-edge neuroimaging technique that uses optically pumped magnetometers.

Outside the lab, Trent enjoys learning new skills and trades. His current pursuits include artificial intelligence and woodworking.

Email: Coming Soon

Graduate Students

Nikia Smith

Nikia is a PhD student in the Genetics Program. She earned a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Morgan State University, and an M.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Towson University, where she studied archaeal-associated communities in marine sponges. Prior to enrolling in the genetics PhD program at NC State, she worked at North Carolina Central University’s Julius L. Chambers Biomedical and Biotechnical Research Institute, where she employed the use of molecular techniques, and in vitro and in vivo models of prostate cancer, to investigate prostate cancer disparities.

In 2021, Nikia was awarded Genetics and Genomics Scholar fellowship and formally joined the Planchart and Hoyo Labs in the spring of 2022. Nikia’s dissertation research is based on the Southern Liver Health Study (STRIVE). Her investigations are focused on metal-associated liver disease. Her long-term research goal is to demonstrate how environmental exposures influence molecular changes that lead to disease outcomes.

Outside of the lab, Nikia enjoys the outdoors, long scenic walks, soccer, and basketball. Her favorite activities are spending time with her family and travelling to interesting places. Nikia is passionate about helping women and children who have suffered from domestic violence. She is currently a member of the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV) and plans to train to become an advocate for domestic violence victims. Her major goals as an advocate will be to assist in creating laws that protect women and children from abusive situations and spread awareness about domestic violence.

Email: nrsmith2@ncsu.edu

ORCID

Laura Montes

Laura Montes is a Ph.D. candidate in Comparative Biomedical Sciences, with a concentration in Neuroscience, at North Carolina State University. Born in Cali, Colombia, she moved to Houston, Texas, during high school. She earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University in 2020, where she developed a strong interest in neurogenetics and gene therapy.

In 2022, Laura received a Genetics and Genomics Scholars fellowship and joined the Planchart Lab in spring 2023. Her research focuses on identifying TDP-43-dependent splicing targets involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). She also develops and characterizes a zebrafish model carrying a TDP-43 acetylation mimic to study mechanisms that drive TDP-43 aggregation, a hallmark of ALS pathology. Her long-term goal is to identify molecular targets that could inform future therapeutic strategies for ALS.

Outside the lab, Laura enjoys weightlifting, pickleball, sand volleyball, and spending time outdoors, whether hiking in the mountains or relaxing at the beach.

Email: limontes@ncsu.edu

ORCID

Shaunacee Howell

Shaunacee Howell is a Goodnight Doctoral Fellow in the Toxicology program at North Carolina State University. Her project examines underlying causes of metabolic perturbations that potentiate metabolic disorders. Specifically, she studies how proline biosynthesis modulates redox homeostasis, oxygen consumption, skin health, nucleotide synthesis, vascularization, wound healing, and tissue regeneration in zebrafish.

Shaunacee received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Elizabeth City State University; and two master’s degrees in biological and biomedical science (NC Central University), and integrated toxicology and environmental health (Duke University). As a North Carolina native, she enjoys attending live sporting events, fast cars, beach trips, mountain excursions, and backyard barbeques. She describes herself as a zebrafish whisperer by day, and a personal butler to Zeus, her 65-pound American Bully, by night.

Email: showell3@ncsu.edu

ORCID

Inaida A. Smith

Inaida Anduce Smith

Born and raised in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Inaida is a Genetics and Genomics PhD student at North Carolina State University. She earned her B.S. in Microbiology from Universidad Ana G. Méndez in 2025, where she conducted research focused on the characterization of a plasmid belonging to Enterococcus casseliflavus E52.

In 2025, she became a Genetics and Genomics Scholars Fellow at North Carolina State University, and in Spring 2026, she joined the Planchart and Marsden laboratories. Her research focuses on how cyanobacterial toxin exposures interact with the gut microbiome and contribute to neurodegenerative processes through the gut–brain axis, particularly in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Outside of the lab, Inaida enjoys working out, trying new cooking recipes, going to the beach, thrifting, and doing arts and crafts.

Email: EMAIL@ncsu.edu

ORCID