Mark G. J. Hartl

Dr. Mark G. J. Hartl is an Associate Professor of Marine Biology at Heriot-Watt University, affiliated with the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society and the Institute for Life and Earth Sciences. His roles include academic teaching and research leadership in marine environmental science.

Education:

• MSc in Zoology and Marine Ecology, University of Vienna (1996)
• PhD in Biological Oceanography, Southampton University (2000)

Research Interests: Focuses on ecotoxicological biomarkers, impacts of oilfield chemicals and nanomaterials, deep-sea benthic organisms, and microplastic contamination in marine ecosystems. Recent studies include microplastic effects in mussels and shrimp, deep-sea mining impacts, and genotoxicity assessments in marine environments.

Recent Research Trends: His work emphasizes microplastic pollution, anthropogenic effects on marine life, and ecological recovery processes. Collaborations span international institutions, addressing global environmental challenges.

Activities: Served as external PhD examiner, delivered invited talks on microplastics in aquaculture and marine ecosystems, and participated in conferences on microplastics and deep-sea research.

Labs/Teams: Leads a research group focused on marine ecotoxicology within Heriot-Watt's Institute for Life and Earth Sciences.