Christopher Goodchild OSU Ecotoxicology

About Me

I recently completed my Master's research titled "Application of a bioenergetics framework for assessing sublethal stress of aquatic pollutants in the freshwater mussel Elliptio complanta" at the University of New England. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD in Integrative Biology at Oklahoma State Univeristy in the DuRant Lab.

My research aims to address a persistent question in the field of ecotoxicology: Do physiological effects caused by exposure to pollutants translate to ecologically relevant endpoints? To do so, I employ a bioenergetics approach and examine toxicity on multiple organizational scales- spanning gene expression, whole-animal fitness, and population level effects. My Master's research utilized freshwater and marine invertebrates as model systems, and explored the effects of individual pollutants (e.g., triclosan) and municipal wastewater effluent through field and laboratory experimentation. For my PhD, I am using watersnakes and birds to examine the energetic effects of exposure to crude oil.

During my Master's, I was a NSF GK-12 Fellow in the UNE SPartACUS Program and developed a deep appreciation for making science available to the broader community. I spent two years in K-12 classrooms supporting science educators with expertise and resources, and in return received critical feedback on how to communicate scientific concepts to lay audiences.