Preparatory Studies

Our program prepares students for careers as environmental scientists, educators and managers.  Students entering the Environmental and Aquatic Animal Health program should possess a degree in an applicable natural science (e.g. biology, chemistry) or a related sub-discipline.  Since departmental research and educational programs are interdisciplinary, incoming students are expected to have strong backgrounds in biology and chemistry.  Courses in advanced biology (e.g. biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics), chemistry (inorganic and organic), physics, and quantitative courses including calculus and probability/statistics are among those recommended.  Strong writing and oral communication skills are also desirable.  Students considering the Department are encouraged to discuss their academic backgrounds, research interests and career objectives with prospective mentors before applying.

Typical Course of Study

Following satisfactory completion of the institutional core curriculum, students can pursue courses and research in any of the major program areas.  The department offers a number of relevant courses including:

• Protein Biochemistry in Marine Organisms (MSCI 558)
• Parasitology (MSCI 559)
• Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology (MSCI 560)
• Water Pollution (MSCI 562)
• Environmental Chemistry (MSCI 563)
• Aquatic Toxicology (MSCI 564)
• Principles of Pathobiology (MSCI 565)
• Diseases of Marine Organisms (MSCI 566)
• Comparative Immunology (MSCI 567)
• Environmental Microbiology (MSCI 573)
• Molecular Genetic Data Analysis
• Bioinformatics (MSCI 583)
• Fish Histology and Histopathology (MSCI 638)
• Quantitative Ecotoxicology (MSCI 640)
• Environmental Risk Assessment (MSCI 641)

Academic Programs

Environmental Chemistry

Research addresses the sources, transport, fate, bioavailability and impacts of contaminants in marine and estuarine systems. Some recent efforts include the behavior of anti-foulants, use of geographic information systems (GIS) for modeling spatial distributions of environmental data and development of environmentally friendly analytical procedures. Emerging contaminants are a particular interest. The faculty collaborates with international researchers, federal and state agencies (e.g. EPA, NOAA, DOE, and VA Dept of Environmental Quality VA Dept. of Health) and private industry. Recent student research has examined the binding of pesticides to natural organic matter and subsequent impact on bioavailability and toxicity; bioremediation of tributyltin-contaminated sediment in a created wetland; factors influencing the degradation rate of crop protectants in natural waters; the utility of supercritical fluid extraction for the determination of flame retardants in fish.

Environmental Microbiology

This program studies indicator or pathogenic microorganisms in waters used for recreation, aquaculture, and shellfish industries. Research includes development and validation of methods for detection of microorganisms of human health significance in marine environments, and studies to understand processes that contribute to eutrophication and microbial contamination of receiving waters. A particular strength of this program is multidisciplinary research on microorganisms that are pathogenic to fish.

Toxicology

Effects of toxic chemicals in water and sediment are measured at the molecular to population levels. Endpoints include 1) uptake and elimination of pollutants by individual organisms, 2) vital processes (mortality, growth, reproduction), and 3) mechanisms of internal distribution, biotransformation, and clearance of hazardous chemicals. Molecular, cellular, and whole organism responses are being evaluated as a basis for predicting population effects at sublethal concentrations.

Diseases of Marine Animals

Research in this field 1) focuses on infectious and noninfectious diseases of fish and shellfish, 2) determines the mechanism(s) by which pathogens cause disease in the host organisms, 3) examines pathological consequences of exposures of estuarine animals to contaminants, 4) studies etiology and epidemiology of pathogens in estuarine and marine organisms, 5) investigates host defense mechanisms in order to develop diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for use in aquaculture, and 6) seeks to understand the impact of toxic materials on disease processes. The pathobiology group has developed an Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory using modern histological, microbiological, immunological, and molecular techniques to study diseases in shellfish and fish. Additional studies focus on marine genomics and disease mechanisms, molecular phylogenetics, population genetics and the development of molecular diagnostics for pathogens.

Environmental Risk Assessment

Risk assessment tools are applied to evaluate the risk associated with exposure to hazardous chemicals, pathogens, bacterial agents, both individually and collectively in complex mixtures. The goal is to provide a conceptual framework that will improve environmental management.