She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from Arkansas State University (ASU) in 2004 and was the first female to receive a Ph.D. from ASU. She has directed the Ecotoxicology Research Facility since 2006 and teaches in the Department of Biological Sciences. Her research incorporates standardized USEPA toxicity testing for the detection of aqueous contaminants, new product testing, agricultural runoff studies, pesticide interactions, and aquatic toxicity and food chain transfer of nanoparticles. She directs graduate and undergraduate students within her research facility as well as several collaborating faculty. Bouldin was elected in 2015 to the SETAC North America Board of Directors.