B.S. in Biology, Bemidji State University

My current role in the lab of Rebecca Klaper affords me the opportunity to study the toxicity of various nanomaterials on the sediment-dwelling, aquatic larvae of Chironomus riparius. Flies in the family Chironomidae, which includes C. riparius, are highly relevant model organisms for sediment toxicity.  The relevance of this organism stems from: 1) their global distribution, 2) their central position as a prey item in aquatic ecosystems, and 3) their capacity to survive in extremely degraded and polluted freshwater systems such as urban estuaries where contact with nanomaterials, and other potential toxins, is likely.