Dr. Maria S. Sepúlveda
Professor and Principal Investigator
Dr. Maria Sepúlveda’s main area of research is ecotoxicology. Over the last two decades, she has conducted extensive research evaluating the sublethal effects of a wide-range of environmental contaminants on the physiology of numerous terrestrial and aquatic species. She earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine degree from Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; her MS from University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (Wildlife Ecology); and her PhD from the same University (Veterinary Sciences/Toxicology). Dr. Sepúlveda’s research focuses on understanding the sublethal effects of legacy and emerging pollutants to fish and wildlife. Her laboratory uses a diverse number of animal models and techniques to advance the field of aquatic toxicology.
Tyler Hoskins
Research Assistant Faculty and Principal Investigator
Ty obtained his B.S. in Biology from Butler University in Indianapolis and his Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology from Miami University, in Oxford OH. He is studying accumulation and effects of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) on aquatic and estuarine wildlife. Current projects include establishment of PFAS toxicity reference values for amphibians, effects of PFAS on brain accumulation and neurotransmission, assessment of biosolid-derived PFAS in farm pond ecosystems, evaluation of PFAS toxicity to blood midges with emphasis on developing QSAR models for hemoglobin binding, and in vitro metabolism of precursor PFAS in aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates.
Deise Cruz
Laboratory Manager
Deise received her PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Animal Behavior from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she researched toad auditory behavior. She earned her MS from the Universidade Federal da Bahia in Brazil, focusing on frog morphology and natural history. She also assisted with the MZUFBA Natural Museum Collections, documenting specimens and collecting morphological and acoustic data. Currently, her research focuses on methods, at macro- and molecular-level, to understand the effects of environmental contaminants on aquatic animals, such as tadpoles, fish, and aquatic invertebrates.
Nathan Mak
Laboratory Manager
Nathan received his B.S. in Biological Sciences and Entomology from Cornell University in 2022. His work focuses on the effects of stream water temperature and industrial effluent on fish stress and molecular responses.
Jennifer McAdams
Laboratory Manager
Jennifer manages the Aquatic Sciences laboratories in the Purdue Forestry building. Her current research focus in the Sepulveda lab is the structural effect of PFAS on human hemoglobin molecules. She previously worked as a lab manager in a behavioral neuroscience lab studying vagal PNS innervation and the therapeutic effects of vagus nerve stimulation.
Andrew Todd
Graduate Student
Andrew obtained his B.S. in Biology from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro, TN and his M.S. in Biology from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. Previously, he conducted research on fecal indicators (E. coli and Bacteroidales) and associated pathogens (S. aureus and MRSA) in freshwater beach sand, as well as on the use of riparian spiders as sentinels of aquatic methylmercury (MeHg) contamination. He is investigating the ecological factors that influence per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) accumulation, transfer, and fate in aquatic and terrestrial food-webs.
Hallie Jackson
Undergraduate Student
Hallie is a junior majoring in Ecology with minors in Chemistry and Wildlife Sciences. Hallie is working on a project examining gene expression in fathead minnows exposed to an oil refinery effluent. She is also helping on a project that is genetically sexing Xenopus laevis to examine the importance of sex on toxicity responses.
Jenna Shoonmaker
Undergraduate Student
Jenna is a junior at Purdue University majoring in biochemistry and minoring in wildlife science, bioinformatics, and Spanish. She started in the Sepulveda lab in the spring of 2023 but took the fall semester off to study abroad in Ireland. In the future, Jenna plans to earn a PhD in ecotoxicology and continue her research.
Olivia Zaragoza
Undergraduate Student
Olivia is a junior majoring in Natural Resources and Environmental Science with a focus on marine biology and sustainability. She is currently helping with a project on midges and the effects of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure to discover more about aquatic ecotoxicology.