Chris Selbach

Chris Selbach serves as an Associate Professor in Ecological Parasitology within the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, a position he assumed in August 2022. His research spans international collaborations with institutions in South Africa (North-West University), New Zealand (University of Otago), Denmark (Aarhus University), the Czech Republic (Biology Centre CAS), and Germany (University of Duisburg-Essen), focusing on parasite-host dynamics in aquatic ecosystems.

Dr. Selbach investigates fundamental questions in parasite ecology including the roles of parasites in ecosystems, host behavioral responses to parasitism (e.g., "fear of parasites"), and climate change impacts on trematode transmission. His work integrates field studies, experimental manipulations, and global meta-analyses to explore how temperature fluctuations affect infection dynamics and how host behavioral defenses alter ecosystem functioning in coastal and freshwater environments.

Analysis of his 2020-2025 publications reveals a dominant focus on trematode infections under environmental stressors, with recurring themes of temperature-parasite relationships, host behavioral adaptations, and parasite biodiversity. His research increasingly bridges parasite ecology with the One Health framework, connecting aquatic parasite dynamics to human and environmental health concerns as evidenced by studies on SARS-CoV-2 ecology and swimmer's itch risk assessment.

Scientific awards and honors were not mentioned in available information.

While specific advising roles and grant funding details are absent from the provided text, his extensive collaborative publications and leadership in the TPOINT Project indicate active research mentorship and externally funded initiatives.

Dr. Selbach leads the TPOINT Project, which appears central to his current research agenda in environmental parasitology. His international network supports investigations into parasite responses to anthropogenic stressors across diverse aquatic ecosystems, from European freshwater systems to Arctic marine environments.