Environmental Processes and Ecosystem Health
Research in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES) examines how atmospheric processes, water flows, land use, and chemical transport influence organisms and ecosystems. Interdisciplinary teams investigate how chemicals move and change in the environment, how organisms respond to environmental stressors, and how these interactions affect ecological sustainability.
Atmospheric Chemistry
Faculty and students study the sources, reactions, and movement of gases and particles in the atmosphere. Research examines compounds from natural sources and human activities at local, regional, and global scales, with projects spanning Texas, Alaska, California, and Asia.
Biotransformation
Biotransformation describes how organisms chemically modify substances, potentially changing their biological activity or toxicity. Researchers investigate how pollutants and other compounds are metabolized in the liver and other tissues, including how these processes influence bioavailability, chemical interactions, and elimination.
Chemical Transport and Transformation
Researchers examine how natural and human-produced chemicals move through and change within the environment. Measurements in organisms, water, soil, and other environmental media help reveal how chemical properties and environmental conditions influence these processes. Findings support environmental modeling and exposure assessment.
Ecological Genomics
Researchers use genomic tools and measurements of gene activity to understand how organisms respond to their environments. Studies examine natural selection in response to chemical and natural stressors, as well as the biological consequences of complex environmental exposures.
Ecotoxicology
Ecotoxicology research evaluates how chemicals and other stressors affect organisms, communities, and ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on aquatic environments. Researchers assess effects on development, behavior, reproduction, growth, and molecular processes, studying individual compounds, chemical mixtures, and interactions between natural and human-related stressors.
Evolutionary Toxicology
Researchers investigate how long-term contaminant exposure shapes wildlife populations and contributes to the development of chemical resistance. This work examines the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary processes involved, including studies of fish populations in Galveston Bay and bird populations around the Great Lakes.
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