Andrew Barton is an Associate Professor in the Integrative Oceanography Division at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. His research focuses on marine plankton physiology and ecology, climate impacts on marine ecosystems, and interactions between plankton and biogeochemical cycles. He holds a BA from Cornell University, an MS from Cornell, and a PhD from MIT. Education: B.A. Science of Earth Systems, Cornell University M.S. Geological Sciences, Cornell University Ph.D. Climate Physics and Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research interests include marine macroecology, biogeography, biodiversity, and the physiological responses of marine microbes to environmental changes. His work emphasizes the interplay between plankton communities and global biogeochemical cycles under climate variability. Recent studies explore microbial dispersal mechanisms, harmful algal bloom drivers, and Arctic Ocean plankton dynamics. Publications highlight advancements in trait-based modeling frameworks (e.g., XSO and Phydra libraries) and interdisciplinary approaches to understanding plankton behavior and ecosystem resilience. His research integrates field observations, satellite data, and computational models to address pressing marine ecological questions.
Krzysztof Deoniziak is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Biology, University of Białystok, specializing in bioacoustics, behavioral ecology, and urban ecology. He holds a PhD in Biology from Adam Mickiewicz University (2017) and an MSc in Environmental Protection from the University of Białystok (2011). His research focuses on avian communication, microplastic pollution impacts, and conservation strategies in anthropogenically altered habitats. Current roles: Erasmus+ Program Coordinator (2019–2023), Ornithological Section Supervisor, and Bird Ringing Network Representative. Grants: Coordinated projects on amphibian ecology (OPUS 16), avian agonistic signals (SONATA 18), and noise pollution effects (PRELUDIUM 5). Research highlights include studies on microplastic ingestion by birds, urban soundscapes during the pandemic, and butterfly metapopulation dynamics. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles and actively participates in conservation initiatives, including bird ringing and public outreach programs like 'Popołudniowa Kawka z Mlekiem.'
Atin Adhikari is a Full Professor in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences at Georgia Southern University's Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. His career spans over two decades with prior roles as Associate Professor (2019–2024) and Assistant Professor (2014–2019) at the same institution, following a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cincinnati's Department of Environmental Health (2000–2005). Research Interests focus on environmental health sciences, particularly air quality, bioaerosol exposure assessment, and respiratory health. His work examines traffic-related air pollutants' impact on children's respiratory microbiomes, occupational hazards in construction and agricultural settings, and sustainable solutions for indoor air quality improvement in historical buildings. Scientific Contributions include leading CDC-NIOSH-funded studies on farm worker respiratory diseases, HUD/NIH-NIEHS grants on pesticide exposure, and current Partnership for Inclusive Innovation projects for air quality interventions. His research spans microbial ecology, climate change health impacts, and innovative detection methods for pathogens. Honors and Grants include multiple NIOSH, NIH, and NIEHS grants as Principal Investigator. He has served on national/international grant review panels for CDC, NIH, NSF, and foreign research councils.
Dr. Fisher Wang is an ARC DECRA Senior Research Fellow at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences at The University of Queensland. He also holds affiliate positions with the Minderoo Centre for Plastics and Human Health. His research focuses on human exposure pathways to environmental contaminants, with particular expertise in plastics, PFAS, flame retardants, and other emerging pollutants. Dr. Wang completed his PhD at The University of Queensland with research on emissions of semivolatile organic chemicals from biomass burning. His educational background established the foundation for his current work in environmental exposure science and human health risk assessment. His research interests span environmental health sciences, exposure science, and environmental toxicology, with a strong emphasis on biomonitoring and human exposure assessment. Dr. Wang investigates how environmental contaminants enter the human body through various pathways including indoor environments, food contact materials, and occupational settings. His work on firefighter exposure has been particularly influential in understanding occupational health risks in this population. Analysis of Dr. Wang's recent publications reveals a strong trend toward plastic pollution research, particularly microplastics and associated chemicals. His work combines analytical chemistry with public health perspectives, often focusing on vulnerable populations including children and occupational groups. The research spans from method development to human biomonitoring and risk assessment. ARC DECRA (Discovery Early Career Researcher Award) Dr. Wang actively supervises numerous PhD students as both principal and associate advisor, with research topics focused on environmental contaminants and human health. His current projects include studies on PFAS exposure pathways, plastic additives migration, microplastics in air, and chemical contaminants in the brain. He has successfully completed supervision of three PhD students with research on firefighter exposure risks, combustion products, and organophosphate esters. His research is supported by multiple grants from ARC, NHMRC, and other funding bodies, totaling millions of dollars in active funding. Dr. Wang leads research within the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, collaborating with teams focused on plastics research, environmental contaminants, and human exposure assessment. His work often involves multi-institutional collaborations across Australia and internationally, particularly with Griffith University and international partners in the Pacific region.
Dr. Riccardo Massei is a Scientist and Co-PI at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ , Leipzig, since July 2023. He serves as a Data Steward in the NFDI4BIOIMAGE initiative for high-content screening (HCS) data management and metadata annotation in toxicology and ecotoxicology. Previously, he held postdoctoral positions at UFZ's Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology (2021–2023) and the Department of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Antwerp (2020–2021). Education: Doctoral degree in Natural Sciences (2018) from RWTH Aachen, focusing on pesticide mixtures and neuroactive chemicals in EU river basins. Research Expertise: Development of automated workflows for HCS data, metadata analysis, and FAIR-compliant image data storage using Python, KNIME, and Galaxy. His research spans ecotoxicology, computational biology, and environmental analytical chemistry , with over 30 publications since 2015. Recent work focuses on high-throughput effect-directed analysis, zebrafish embryo toxicity testing, and data-driven toxicology , particularly in the 2025_nanoINHALE and 2024_SafePol projects. Scientific achievements include the Young Scientist Award at SETAC 2016 and leadership in organizing sessions on "Fish model species in toxicology" since 2017. His publications cover topics like neurotoxicity of complex environmental mixtures biotransformation impacts on chemical toxicity automated behavioral assays for embryos sediment contamination analysis genotoxicity assessment in water systems Dr. Massei administers UFZ's OMERO instance and provides advisory services for research data management (RDM) concepts in toxicology.
Cornelia Kienle is a scientist at the Ecotox Centre, affiliated with Eawag and EPFL. She has been working in aquatic ecotoxicology since 2008, focusing on in vitro and in vivo bioassays for monitoring aquatic ecosystem health. University: Eawag Expertise: Aquatic ecotoxicology, bioassay development, wastewater treatment impact assessment Her research spans aquatic toxicology , environmental risk assessment , and biomonitoring . She specializes in evaluating chemical micropollutants, endocrine disruptors, and stressor interactions in freshwater systems using advanced bioassay batteries and biomarker analysis. Recent publications highlight her work on micropollutant elimination via ozonation, biological early warning systems , and molecular biomarker applications . She contributes to Swiss and EU water quality frameworks through test system design and multi-assay evaluation. Key project areas include: Effect-based water quality monitoring Post-treatment wastewater analysis Ecotoxicity of facade runoff Integrated stream water quality management
Dr. Tvrtko Smital is an Assistant Professor and Head of the Laboratory for Molecular Ecotoxicology at the Ruđer Bošković Institute (Division for Marine and Environmental Research). He holds a PhD in Biology-Ecotoxicology from the University of Zagreb and teaches courses including Ecotoxicology at the University of Osijek and Biological Effects of Pollutants at the University of Zagreb. His research focuses on molecular ecotoxicology, particularly the role of transport proteins (e.g., ABC transporters, OATPs) in detoxification mechanisms of aquatic organisms. Key interests include: Multixenobiotic resistance in fish and invertebrates Interactions of environmental contaminants (pharmaceuticals, microplastics, cyanotoxins) with cellular transporters Biomarker development for environmental risk assessment His recent publications (2018–2024) predominantly explore zebrafish models to investigate detoxification pathways, pollutant biodegradation, and transporter inhibition mechanisms. Trends include advanced molecular characterization of solute carriers (SLCs), ecotoxicological profiling of emerging contaminants, and novel methods for toxicity screening. He leads significant projects, including an EU-funded initiative on Ecotoxicological Characterization of Marine Environment Samples (2017–2021) and a Croatian Science Foundation project on SLC/MATE Transporters in Zebrafish (2020–2023). His laboratory utilizes cell lines (PLHC-1), molecular tools, and in vivo models to study contaminant impacts.
Dr. Jason H. Davison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at The Catholic University of America's College of Engineering, Physics, and Computing. His research bridges water cycle modeling, climate change, and environmental policy, with recent work focusing on microplastic transport and computer vision for pollution detection. PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo (2017) M.S. in Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology, Stanford University (2011) B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology (2008) Current research includes microplastic dynamics in rivers , AI-driven plastic detection software , and STEM education initiatives for marginalized communities. His lab, AnthroHydro, integrates hydrological modeling with social impact. Recent publications emphasize 3D water cycle integration , computer vision , and STEM diversity . Grants from the Office of Naval Research and Chesapeake Bay Trust fund his RAISE program and pollution tracking projects. The AnthroHydro lab team includes PhD students Andrew Heller, Grace Pooley, and Masters student Alexia Menezes. His work combines technical innovation with community engagement to address environmental challenges.
Adriano Fiorucci is an Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI) at Politecnico di Torino. He serves on the Commission for the Promotion of Library, Archive and Museum Heritage and holds a scientific sector classification in Applied Geology (GEOS-03/B) under Earth Sciences (Area 0004). Specializations : Carbonate Aquifers, Karst Systems, Rare Earths, Water Geochemistry, Geohazard Assessment ERC Sectors : PE10_11 (Geochemistry), PE10_20 (Geohazards), PE10_5 (Geology), PE10_17 (Hydrogeology) SDG Alignment : Goal 6 (Clean Water), Goal 12 (Responsible Production), Goal 15 (Life on Land) His research focuses on hydrogeological interactions in karst systems, including projects like the GEORESOURCES AND GEOENERGY ENGINEERING course and commercial contracts for water inflow analysis in mines/quarries. Current projects include GEOPEACE (Geohazard Mitigation in Georgia) and the Nuovo Tunnel del Colle di Tenda groundwater protection initiative. He supervises PhD students Luca Biamino (hydrodynamic-karst interactions), Gabriele Baldassarre (critical materials recovery), and Valentina Balestra (microplastics in karst environments). Articles emphasize radon as hydrodynamic indicator , mining waste valorization, and climate change impacts on slope stability.
Dr. Jenifer McIntyre is an Associate Professor at Washington State University's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, based at the Puyallup Research and Extension Center. She holds a Ph.D., M.S., and B.Sc. in environmental biology and toxicology. Her research focuses on aquatic toxicology, specifically the impacts of urban runoff and chemical mixtures on Pacific Northwest species. She leads the Puget Sound Stormwater Science Team, collaborating with US Fish & Wildlife Service and NOAA to develop green infrastructure solutions. Research Interests: Her work examines toxic impacts of urban runoff, source control of pollutants, and biological effectiveness of green stormwater infrastructure to protect aquatic wildlife like Pacific salmon. Publications Focus: Recent articles investigate stormwater toxicity mechanisms, tire wear pollutants, wastewater impacts on salmon, and bioremediation techniques. Her work consistently addresses anthropogenic chemical impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Laboratory: Directs the Aquatic Toxicology Lab investigating contaminant effects on fish physiology and behavior.
Tom Sizmur is a Professor at the University of Reading, specializing in soil science, environmental toxicology, and biogeochemical processes. His research focuses on soil microbial dynamics, biochar applications for contaminant remediation, mercury cycling, and the ecological impacts of earthworms on heavy metal mobility. Key Research Areas: Biochar for soil recovery, nitrogen and carbon cycling, earthworm-plant-soil interactions, and floodplain/marine ecosystem health. Recent Publications (2022–2025): Sizmur's work examines how biochar and organic amendments immobilize heavy metals in contaminated soils, the role of soil microbial biomass in nitrogen retention from anaerobic digestate, and the influence of climate factors like temperature oscillations on soil respiration and microbial activity. He investigates microplastic fibers as mercury vectors and evaluates sustainable farming practices such as Zero Budget Natural Farming in India. Collaborative Efforts: Sizmur collaborates with international researchers on topics spanning cocoa agroecosystems, heathland restoration, and pollutant source diagnostics in marine sediments. His studies often integrate multidisciplinary approaches to address soil fertility, contaminant management, and ecosystem sustainability.
Claire Gwinnett is a Professor in Forensic and Environmental Science at Staffordshire University. She leads the Forensic Fibre and Microplastic Research Group, focusing on improving recovery, analysis, and interpretation of polymers for criminal justice and environmental applications. Her work spans forensic trace evidence, microplastic pollution, and quality assurance in forensic practices. Education: Holds a PhD from Staffordshire University ('The Use of Inexperienced Personnel in the Production of a Synthetic Fibres Database'), alongside postgraduate certificates in higher education and research methods. Research Interests: Specializes in forensic fibres and microplastics, contamination prevention, forensic database development, and pedagogy. Her research impacts industry, policy, and academia through projects like proficiency testing schemes and novel fibre analysis systems. Notable work includes the 'Easylift' tape system for evidence retrieval and collaborations on wildlife crime investigations. Publications and Projects: Over 50 publications and funded projects include £36,000 for a forensic fibres analysis system (patent-pending) and £27,000 for online CPD resources. She has managed international projects on microplastic standardization and forensic education networks. Awards: Recognized in the 2023 Whatuni Student Choice Awards for Facilities and Social Inclusion. Research Excellence Framework 2021 rated her work as 'World Leading' in impact. Professional Roles: Staffordshire Trent Valley Catchment Partnership Lead (2018–ongoing), Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and former Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences Council Member. Teaches forensic analysis, trace evidence, and statistical methods at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Labs/Teams: Forensic Fibre and Microplastic Research Group focuses on multidisciplinary approaches for environmental and forensic particulate analysis. Projects include forensic undersuit contamination reduction and barefoot print databases.
Genoa Warner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Their research focuses on environmental toxicology, particularly the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals like phthalates and tributyltin on reproductive health, placental development, and ovarian function. Dr. Warner leads federally funded projects investigating phthalate toxicity mechanisms, supported by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Key collaborations include studies on microplastic detection via mass spectrometry and single-cell RNA sequencing of granulosa cells to understand phthalate-induced toxicity. Media coverage highlights their work on nanoplastics' impact on placental health and the risks of common disinfecting products. Dr. Warner also contributes to educational initiatives through courses like EVSC 416/616 in environmental toxicology. Research interests span environmental contaminants' effects on reproductive aging, artificial turf toxicity, and sustainable alternatives to harmful chemicals. Recent studies address phthalate replacements, plasticizer environmental data, and catalytic oxidation solutions for water treatment. Their findings have implications for public health policies and green chemistry innovations. Advising and grants highlight ongoing NIH-funded projects (2020–2025) exploring ovarian toxicity mechanisms. Media engagement includes discussions on infertility crises and chemical safety, reflecting a commitment to bridging scientific research with societal impact.
Silvia Dossena, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Interim Director at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Paracelsus Medical University. Her research focuses on oxidative stress mechanisms in cellular aging, genetic determinants of hearing loss, and the pathophysiology of pendrin (SLC26A4) protein variants in Pendred syndrome/DFNB4 disorders. Active in molecular pharmacology and toxicology Supervisor of pharmacy research projects Her work spans molecular biology, genetics, and pharmacology, with a strong emphasis on antioxidant therapies and ion transport systems. Recent studies highlight her exploration of proteasome inhibitors for rescuing pendrin function and natural compounds like Acai berry extract in combating erythrocyte aging. She has received multiple prestigious awards from Paracelsus Medical University, including the Platinum Price for Research (2014). Key projects include "Identification of novel therapeutic targets in Pendred syndrome/DFNB4" Active in peer-review and editorial work for journals like Current Molecular Pharmacology
Zhenyu Yang is an Associate Professor at Aalborg University's Department of Energy within The Faculty of Engineering and Science. He specializes in control theory, AI-driven automation, and industrial process control, with a focus on offshore energy and water treatment systems. He leads the Offshore Process Control and Cybernetics Research Group and chairs the Mission for Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals, and PtX. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to clean energy and environmental protection. Education: B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. in Control Theory from Shandong University and Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Postdoctoral training at Delft University of Technology and Aalborg University. Completed pedagogic education for assistant professors and interdisciplinary leadership training. Research interests include fault-tolerant control systems, hybrid dynamical systems, AI for process automation, and water treatment technologies. He has supervised 6 PhD students, including M. Kashani. Notable awards include Teacher of the Year 2012 and ABB Best Application Award Finalist 2009. Key projects involve high-temperature heat pumps, offshore produced water treatment automation, and microplastics capture using hydrocyclones. He has authored 198 publications and actively participates in academic committees and international conferences. Collaborations span institutions globally, emphasizing sustainable energy solutions and advanced control systems.
