Benjamin Barst

Benjamin Barst is a Researcher at the Water and Environmental Research Center (WERC) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His work focuses on contaminant effects in fish and wildlife, integrating ecology, ecotoxicology, analytical chemistry, and public health to inform environmental management decisions.

Education:

• PhD in Water Science, INRS-ETE, Université du Québec (2015)
• MSc in Environmental Science, University of North Texas (2010)
• BA in Biochemistry, University of North Texas (2008)
• BSc in Wildlife Biology, Adams State University (2005)

Barst’s research investigates spatial and temporal patterns of mercury contamination, its biomagnification in food webs, and interactions with environmental stressors like climate change and invasive species. He employs methods such as stable isotope analysis and dried blood spot sampling to assess contaminant exposure in Arctic and aquatic ecosystems.

Recent publications highlight his expertise in mercury dynamics across diverse ecosystems, including studies on Arctic char, Steller sea lions, and shoreline spiders. His work also explores the use of sentinel species for environmental monitoring and the combined impacts of chemical and non-chemical stressors.

Current Position:

• Research Assistant Professor, WERC, University of Alaska Fairbanks (2020–)

Previous Experience:

• Centennial Postdoctoral Scholar, Alaska Stable Isotope Facility (2018–2020)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University (2015–2018)