Tor Nordam is an Associate Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) , affiliated with the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Department of Physics . While his primary employment is at SINTEF Ocean , he maintains a secondary academic role at NTNU for supervision, research, and occasional teaching. His expertise spans numerical methods for oceanic pollutant transport , Monte Carlo risk assessment , and light scattering from rough surfaces. Education : PhD in Physics from NTNU, focusing on numerical light scattering simulations Teaching : Courses like Advanced Theoretical Physics - Transport modelling with Stochastic Differential Equations and Computational Physics His research emphasizes Lagrangian particle methods , advection-diffusion problems , and environmental applications such as oil spill modeling , microplastics , and climate intervention materials . Recent work includes Bayesian backtracking for ocean drift and AI-driven ocean robotics . The 2025 articles highlight advancements in oceanographic modeling and climate intervention technologies , while 2023-2020 publications address Arctic oil spill dynamics , produced water transport , and biodegradation kinetics . Collaborations with institutions like University of Edinburgh and University of Oslo demonstrate interdisciplinary engagement.
Oksana Skaldina is a Project Researcher and Postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland. Her responsibilities encompass research, teaching, and supervision of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral students. She actively collaborates with policymakers and industry stakeholders to develop sustainable environmental solutions. Her research centers on environmental ecology, emphasizing urban ecosystems , plant-pollinator interactions , and nature-based strategies for habitat sustainability. Key interests include developing ecological indicators from insect models, studying chemical signaling in plant-insect relationships, and addressing biodiversity challenges in fragmented landscapes. She integrates fieldwork with advanced analytical methods (e.g., electron microscopy) to assess pollution impacts. Skaldina's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on environmental stressors, bioindicators, and industrial pollution. Her work explores insect-based monitoring of particulate matter/heavy metals, phenotypic adaptations in contaminated environments, and conservation biases in ecological research. Recent studies highlight urban green infrastructure, insect coloration, and cross-ecosystem contamination pathways. She leads student advising across academic levels and contributes to the Microplastic Research Group and Environmental Ecology Research Group , focusing on pollution impacts and sustainable remediation. Her lab employs techniques like SEM-EDX and TEM to investigate contamination mechanisms in insects.
Jussi Kukkonen is a Professor at the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland. He serves as 2nd Vice Dean and leads the Aquatic Ecotoxicology and Water Hygiene research group since 2016, with a parallel focus on microplastic research since 2016. His work bridges environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, and aquatic ecosystem health. Research Interests: Ecotoxicology, nanoparticle/plastic fate, sediment-water interactions, bioavailability of contaminants. Recent Articles: Investigate nanoplastic heteroaggregation, pharmaceutical removal via biochar, submicron plastic trophic transfer, and peatland microplastic dynamics. Collaborations: Partnerships with international institutions on environmental protocols and toxicology frameworks.
Tomislav Kralj serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Ruđer Bošković Institute within the Division for Marine and Environmental Research, specifically in the Laboratory for Biological Effects of Metals. His research integrates field ecology with environmental toxicology to address critical freshwater ecosystem challenges. His primary research interests focus on invasive species impacts (particularly Dikerogammarus villosus), metal bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms, and wastewater pollution effects on karst river ecosystems. His work employs biomarker responses, macroinvertebrate community analysis, and advanced monitoring techniques to assess ecological health. Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong thematic convergence in Biological impacts of invasive amphipods on river function Spatiotemporal patterns of metal(loid) contamination Microplastic exposure pathways in freshwater-marine systems Development of novel bioindicators including parasites and fish tissues Kralj's applied research directly informs environmental management through numerous government-commissioned projects including fisheries management plans for Croatian river basins and wastewater impact assessments for national parks. His laboratory work emphasizes Field sampling across Croatia's major river systems Advanced analytical techniques for metal speciation Integration of traditional ecological metrics with molecular biomarkers
Dr. Xiaorong Li serves as a Research Officer at Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences, where she conducts critical environmental research focused on aquatic pollution and coastal dynamics. Her work bridges laboratory experimentation with advanced computational modeling to address pressing marine environmental challenges. Her research portfolio emphasizes: Microplastics behavior in freshwater and marine systems Pathogen survival mechanisms in aquatic environments Climate change impacts on coastal processes Computational fluid dynamics applications Sediment transport and morphological change Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a concentrated evolution toward microplastics research and water quality virology since 2023, while maintaining foundational work in coastal hydrodynamics. Her methodology consistently integrates experimental microcosm studies with sophisticated numerical modeling techniques like lattice Boltzmann simulations, demonstrating interdisciplinary innovation across environmental science and engineering disciplines. Scientific Awards: No formal awards or fellowships were documented in the available institutional records. Advising and Grants: Publicly accessible information does not indicate graduate student supervision or principal investigator roles for research grants, though her collaborative publications suggest active participation in funded research projects through Bangor University's marine science initiatives. Labs and Teams: Dr. Li operates within Bangor's School of Ocean Sciences research ecosystem, contributing to environmental fluid dynamics and pollution research groups. Her work connects with the university's broader coastal processes research cluster focused on climate change impacts and marine renewable energy environmental assessments.
Dr. Stefan Dultz is a Researcher at the Institute of Earth System Sciences within the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Leibniz University Hannover. He serves as scientific staff in the Department of Soil Science and Soil Chemistry Group, focusing on soil mineralogy, colloid chemistry, and environmental processes. His work bridges fundamental research in soil systems with applications in agriculture and environmental management. Research interests center on: Alteration of volcanic glasses and mineral weathering processes Porosity development in geological materials Sorption dynamics of anions and surface charge behavior in soil colloids Element release during silicate weathering Role of phytoliths in nutrient cycling and soil chemistry Microaggregate formation and soil structure development Recent publications (2021-2024) demonstrate strong emphasis on: climate-soil interactions (permafrost carbon, CO 2 effects), microplastic remediation strategies, phytolith biogeochemistry, and advanced characterization of soil colloids and microaggregates. Collaborative international work spans ecosystems from Alaskan permafrost to tropical paddy soils. Teaching activities include courses on pedogenic minerals, soil mineralogy exercises, and soil science mapping. Professional affiliations include the German Soil Science Society and German clay and clay mineral group.
Georgia Mavrommati is an Associate Professor at the School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston. Her work bridges ecological economics, environmental policy, and sustainability science, focusing on deliberative valuation methods and coupled human-natural systems modeling. She emphasizes community engagement and addresses decision-making under uncertainty through participatory approaches. Education: PhD in Economics and Regional Development, Panteion University MS in Economics, University of Crete BS in Economics and Regional Development, Panteion University Research Interests: Modeling interactions between human and natural systems Quantifying ecosystem services through deliberative valuation Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies Policy development under uncertainty Participatory system dynamics for environmental decision-making Publications Trends: Her research spans climate stressor analysis in salt marshes, stakeholder perceptions of ecosystem services, microplastic pollution discourse, and future generation representation in environmental policy. Methodologically, she integrates deliberative valuation and system dynamics modeling. Collaborations & Funding: Supported by NSF, EPA, USDA, and MassBays, she leads the Ecological Economics and Systems Lab, fostering interdisciplinary partnerships in anthropology, economics, and engineering to advance sustainable development pathways.
Stefano Bonaglia serves as Associate Senior Lecturer in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Gothenburg, where he investigates human impacts on aquatic biogeochemical cycles through integrated field, laboratory, and molecular approaches. His research spans coastal and marine environments globally, with emphasis on greenhouse gas dynamics and sediment-water interactions. Dr. Bonaglia's primary focus lies in marine biogeochemistry , particularly nitrous oxide and methane cycling in fjords, lagoons, and aquaculture systems. He examines how eutrophication, climate change, and biological processes regulate greenhouse gas emissions using isotope tracers, microsensors, and advanced analytical techniques (GC-IRMS, HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). His work bridges geochemistry and microbial ecology to identify key transformation processes in coastal sediments. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent emphasis on anthropogenic impacts on coastal biogeochemistry, with growing integration of molecular methods to link microbial communities with greenhouse gas production. His research spans diverse systems from Arctic shelves to tropical mangroves, highlighting universal principles in nutrient cycling while addressing region-specific challenges. Dr. Bonaglia actively mentors early-career researchers and secures competitive funding for critical environmental research: Current Projects: VR-funded study on fjord greenhouse gas dynamics; Formas project quantifying mussel farming emissions Students: PhD candidates Lok Shan Cheung (nitrogen cycling) and Lea Loraine Ropella (aquaculture emissions); Postdoc Tobia Politi (fjord biogeochemistry) Teaching: Courses in Chemical Dynamics in the Sea (MAR450), Environmental Chemistry (KEM490), and World Oceans (MAV112) His laboratory at Medicinaregatan 7B employs cutting-edge instrumentation for sediment and water analysis, supporting collaborative field campaigns across Europe and the Arctic. The group maintains strong international partnerships while addressing urgent questions about coastal climate feedbacks and pollution impacts.
Prof. Dr. Caroline Müller is a full professor at the Faculty of Biology , University of Bielefeld , specializing in Chemical Ecology . She leads multiple DFG-funded projects, including the DFG Research Group FOR 3000 on intraspecific plant chemodiversity and serves as Subproject Manager B02 in the SFB/Transregio 212 NC³ consortium. Her roles include membership in the Faculty Conference and co-editorship of ecological journals. Key Research Areas: Plant-insect interactions, chemodiversity ecology/evolution, environmental stress responses, and niche construction. Awards: ISCE Silverstein-Simeone Award (2025). Methodologies: Metabolomics, chemical ecology, insect behavior experiments, and ecological modeling. Scientific Trends in her work include: (1) Chemodiversity as a driver of plant-insect dynamics, (2) Stressor interactions (drought, insecticides) shaping herbivore-predator relationships, (3) Quantitative models for chemodiversity evolution, and (4) Cross-trophic impacts of plant chemical phenotypes. Her 15 most recent publications span journals like Plant Biology , Oecologia , and Proceedings of the Royal Society B , with keywords bridging Ecology , Evolutionary Biology , and Metabolomics . Scientific Contributions include: (1) Demonstrating how plant chemodiversity mediates aphid-pollinator trade-offs, (2) Characterizing pharmacophagy in sawflies as a defense mechanism, (3) Investigating microplastic impacts on cabbage physiology, and (4) Developing predictive metabolomic frameworks for plant chemical profiles. She also contributes to Basic and Applied Ecology as an editor and leads the JICE - Joint Institute for Individualization in a Changing Environment .
Jonathan Cohen is Professor of Marine Science and Undergraduate Coordinator in the College of Earth, Ocean & Environment at the University of Delaware . Based at the School of Marine Science & Policy in Lewes, Delaware, he leads research that bridges neurobiology, visual ecology, and polar biology while coordinating academic programs for marine science majors. Education Postdoctoral Fellow, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (2005–2006) Ph.D., Biology, Duke University (2004) B.S., magna cum laude, Biology & Environmental Science, Dickinson College (1999) Research Interests Prof. Cohen’s interdisciplinary program centers on how marine animals perceive and respond to light . His laboratory combines comparative physiology, neurobiology, and field ecology to investigate: Visual systems of crustaceans and fish across ontogeny Behavioral and physiological adaptations to extreme Arctic light regimes Interactions between light fields, zooplankton migrations, and estuarine transport processes Ecological impacts of microplastics mediated through sensory disruption Recent work leverages autonomous vehicles, high-resolution optical sensors, and next-generation biophysical models to quantify how environmental change alters marine sensory landscapes. Publication Trends Between 2020 and 2025, Prof. Cohen has authored or co-authored more than 20 papers that collectively chart a trajectory from organismal sensory biology to large-scale physical-biological coupling. The corpus reveals three dominant themes: (1) Polar-night marine optics and bioluminescence as ecological drivers; (2) Estuarine transport and retention of buoyant particles including microplastics; and (3) Visual ecology and sensory physiology of larval and adult crustaceans. These studies integrate laboratory microcosm experiments, high-latitude field campaigns, and numerical modeling to provide a mechanistic understanding of how light governs organismal behavior and ecosystem processes. Scientific Awards & Honors No specific awards are listed in the provided materials; however, sustained NSF and collaborative funding is evident from the publication record. Advising & Grants As the Marine Science Undergraduate Coordinator , Prof. Cohen mentors a large cohort of majors, oversees curriculum development, and supervises senior theses and research projects. Graduate students and postdocs routinely participate in his externally funded projects, though individual names are not disclosed in the supplied text. Laboratories & Field Assets Research is conducted within the Cannon Laboratory Complex in Lewes, DE, providing access to running seawater systems, optics labs, and microscopy suites. Field programs utilize UD’s coastal vessels, autonomous surface vehicles, and partnerships at Arctic stations such as Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard.
Mario Passalacqua is an Associate Professor at the University of Genoa, specializing in the Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES). He teaches Biochemistry courses across multiple degree programs including Nursing, Physiotherapy, Biomedical Laboratory Techniques, and Medicine and Surgery. His research focuses on biochemistry and toxicology , particularly in areas such as: Genotoxicity of environmental minerals Nanotechnology applications in cancer treatment Microplastic pollution mechanisms Drug resistance in melanoma Cellular interactions with fibrous materials Recent publications highlight his work on nanovectors for targeted therapy, toxicological assessment of erionite, and microplastic-benzo-a-pyrene interactions. His research combines environmental health and oncological applications through rigorous in vitro studies. Contact information: Email: mario.passalacqua@unige.it Phone: +39 010 353 8128 Office: DIMES Biochemistry Section, Viale Benedetto XV, 1 (first floor), Genoa
Sarah Montesdeoca Esponda is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, affiliated with the Institute of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources (IU of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources). Her research focuses on environmental chemical analysis, particularly emerging pollutants in marine environments. Environmental chemical analysis Emerging pollutants UV filters and stabilizers Marine pollution Biosorption technologies Environmental monitoring Her recent work involves studying UV filters in marine organisms, analyzing antidepressant compounds in fish, and evaluating microplastic interactions with chemical pollutants. She has advised 15+ theses on topics ranging from marine biotoxins to wastewater treatment. Key collaborations include researchers like María Esther Torres Padrón and José Juan Santana Rodríguez. Current projects explore chemical residues in aquatic ecosystems and environmental education methodologies.
José Alberto Herrera Melián is a University Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , affiliated with the IU of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources . He serves as principal investigator in multiple competitive research projects focused on environmental chemistry and water purification technologies. Key affiliations: GIR IUNAT (Photocatalysis and Spectroscopy for Environmental Applications) Research focus: Environmental chemistry, water treatment, organic pollutants, microplastics His work spans natural purification systems, photocatalytic degradation of contaminants, and advanced analytical methodologies. Recent projects include studies on microplastic detection in natural systems and development of TiO2-based photocatalysts . He has secured funding from national and regional programs, including the Ministry of Science and Innovation and Cajacanarias Foundation. Research outputs include development of UHPLC-QToF systems for pollutant analysis and ecosystem-focused water quality assessments . Collaborations frequently involve co-researchers like María Zoraida Sosa Ferrera and José Juan Santana Rodríguez.
Kristine Højgaard Allin serves as an Associate Professor and Physician at the Center for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease , with affiliation to Aalborg University . Her work focuses on pharmacoepidemiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) , leveraging Danish nationwide register-based data for methodological development and long-term outcome studies of pharmacological/surgical therapies. Board member of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organization (ECCO) Epidemiological Committee Vice Chair of the Danish Society for Pharmacoepidemiology Lead Principal Investigator for the Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded OPTICS project on microplastics in Crohn's disease Collaboration with Professor Jes Vollertsen (Aalborg University) on synthetic particles and intestinal inflammation Her research combines interdisciplinary approaches to analyze environmental risk factors (including rural living , antibiotic exposure , and microplastics ) in IBD onset and progression. The 132 publications demonstrate expertise in cohort analysis , C-reactive protein , and hazard ratio calculations. The OPTICS project (2024-2027) investigates synthetic particles' role in Crohn's disease inflammation, reflecting her commitment to environmental health research. She actively promotes data integration through workshops combining Danish biobanks and national registries. Her scientific impact includes: 1 quality-of-life impact with 19 X user posts and 9 Mendeley readers 17 media appearances discussing rural exposure risks and IBD
Prof. Cinzia Chiandetti is an Associate Professor in Psychobiology and Physiological Psychology at the Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste (M-PSI/02). She serves as Coordinator of the Master's Degree Course in Psychology and directs the Laboratory of Animal Cognition (LAC) . Her research spans cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and environmental biology with comparative approaches. University of Padua – Psychology degree University of Trieste – PhD in Neuroscience (BRAIN Center) Postdoctoral experience at CIMeC (University of Trento) Visiting Researcher at Houston Methodist Hospital, University of Cambridge, Hokkaido University, and Ruhr-Universität Bochum Research explores cognitive origins through cross-species comparisons in vertebrates/invertebrates. Key projects include: Biological roots of musical preferences Environmental stressors' cognitive impact Development of brain lateralization Core knowledge systems in animals Research trends show focus on habituation mechanisms , acoustic pattern processing , and gene-environment interactions in cognitive development. Publications span high-impact journals like Psychological Science , Proceedings of the Royal Society B , and Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience . Scientific Awards : L'Oréal Fellowship for Women in Science (2010) Active in public science communication through festivals and media engagements (RadioRai3Scienza, NationalGeographicItalia, Science Daily). Collaborates with institutions across Italy, UK, Japan, and Germany.
