Richard Di Giulio

Dr. Richard Di Giulio is a Professor at Duke University’s Environmental Natural Sciences division and serves as Director of the Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program and the Superfund Research Center. His research bridges mechanistic toxicology with environmental assessment, focusing on contaminant metabolism, adaptation, and toxicity in aquatic organisms, particularly fishes.

• Ph.D., Virginia Tech (1982)
• M.S., Louisiana State University (1978)
• B.A., University of Texas, Austin (1972)

Dr. Di Giulio’s work explores oxidative metabolism of aromatic hydrocarbons, free radical production, antioxidant defenses, and chemical carcinogenesis in aquatic species. He investigates the ecological and human health impacts of mountaintop coal mining and environmental exposure to per- and polyfluorinated substances in the Cape Fear River. His recent publications highlight epigenetic responses to pollution, nanoplastic impacts on bioenergetics, and PAH adaptation mechanisms.

Current research trends focus on mechanistically-based biomonitoring tools, developmental toxicology, and the interplay between environmental stressors and evolutionary adaptation. Dr. Di Giulio has secured grants from the NC Department of Environmental Quality, Syngenta Corp, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to advance these studies.