Beth Polidoro

Beth Polidoro is an Associate Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Aquatic Conservation at Arizona State University (ASU), affiliated with the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences. She serves as Associate Director of Biodiversity Assessment at the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, jointly housed in the School of Life Sciences and the Global Institute of Sustainability. Her research focuses on risk assessment, applied toxicology, and marine/freshwater conservation, with a strong emphasis on microplastics, pollution vulnerability indices, and ecosystem health. She leads projects in the U.S., Latin America, Asia, and Oceania.

Education:

• Ph.D. Soil and Water Resources, University of Idaho and Centro Agronómico de Investigación y Enseñanza (2007)
• M.S. Environmental Science, Washington State University (2002)
• B.S. Geology, Portland State University (1997)
• B.A. Communications, Rutgers University (1991)

Research Interests: Ecological risk assessment, water quality, toxicology, marine conservation, and international development. Her work addresses pollution impacts on biodiversity, microplastic contamination, and public health risks in urban waterways.

Awards: 2016 New College Tenured/Tenure-Track Research Excellence Award.

Grants & Projects:

• Development of a Petrochemical Vulnerability Index for the Gulf of Mexico (GoMRI, 2018–2020)
• Microplastic Risk Assessments in American Samoa (NOAA, 2017–2020)
• Community Monitoring of Urban Waterways (EPA, 2016–2018)

Labs/Teams: Polidoro Lab at ASU, focusing on marine and freshwater conservation, pollution monitoring, and interdisciplinary research with global collaborators.