Students and post-doctoral associates in the Chandler
Lab conduct research in estuarine ecotoxicology, reproductive/endocrine
disruption in invertebrates (principally crustaceans), effects of
emerging contaminants such as nanomaterials and pharmaceuticals on
benthos, sediment biogeochemistry and toxicant bioavailability, deep-sea
foraminiferal culture linked to questions in paleoceanography and
climate change, and genetic/molecular-scale responses of crustaceans to
toxic chemicals. We have two "pet" organismal groups that we work with
- harpacticoid copepods and benthic foraminifera - and both taxa are
important members of the meiobenthos (i.e., highly abundant
invertebrates less than 1-mm in size). Meiobenthos occur in all ocean
sediments and often form a critical trophic link to larger predators,
and they are also important in the mineralization of sediment carbon via
their feeding on bacteria/diatoms/protists. We have several unique
high-density culturing facilities for toxicological and carbonate-system
experiments with these minute taxa. Our research has been funded
continuously since 1999 by the NSF, EPA and NOAA. Several student
assistantships are available on a competitive basis.
