Benjamin Southwell

Benjamin Southwell is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemistry, Environmental, & Geosciences at Lake Superior State University (LSSU), part of the College of Arts & Sciences. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from LSSU (2004) and an M.A. in Chemistry from Central Michigan University (2013). His research focuses on environmental chemistry, geochemistry, and public health, with specialties in wastewater surveillance, heavy metal contamination, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. He has conducted studies on PFAS contamination in Lake Huron, uranium in groundwater, and cyanobacteria toxin detection in drinking water.

Southwell’s work integrates advanced analytical techniques like X-ray fluorescence, hyperspectral imaging, and genomic sequencing. He has pioneered wastewater-based epidemiology in Michigan’s rural Upper Peninsula, monitoring disease dynamics without relying on clinical testing. His lab also investigates industrial pollution impacts, including copper bioaccumulation near mining sites and PAH contamination from recreational boating. He has collaborated on national initiatives, such as the EPA’s algal toxin occurrence studies (2006–2015), and continues to address emerging contaminants in environmental and consumer products.

His research spans interdisciplinary fields, bridging geology, ecology, and public health. Current projects include improving paleoclimate models using speleothem and stromatolite analysis, and developing protocols for detecting SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater. Southwell’s contributions have advanced both fundamental science and applied solutions to regional environmental challenges.