Dr. Marisol Sepúlveda is a Professor of Ecotoxicology in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University. Her work focuses on understanding how environmental contaminants affect the health of wildlife and ecosystems, bridging toxicology, ecology, and veterinary science to address complex environmental challenges. At ISF, she is co-lead of the PFAS Strategic Research Team.
Marisol Sepulveda
Associate Head for Research and Professor of Forestry and Natural Resources, Co-Lead of PFAS Strategic Research Team
Education
Ph.D., Toxicology and Veterinary Sciences – University of Florida M.S., Wildlife Ecology – University of Florida D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) – Universidad de Chile
Research Interests
Dr. Sepúlveda’s research centers on ecotoxicology, with a focus on the effects of environmental contaminants on fish and wildlife populations. Her work examines a wide range of pollutants—including heavy metals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, and emerging contaminants such as PFAS—and their impacts on biological systems.
By integrating veterinary science with environmental toxicology, her work strengthens the ability to diagnose, monitor, and mitigate the impacts of pollution on wildlife populations, contributing to more informed environmental policy and management decisions.
Research Impact
Dr. Sepúlveda’s work advances understanding of how environmental stressors affect ecosystem and organism health, providing critical insight into risk assessment, environmental monitoring, and conservation strategies. Her research supports improved evaluation of contaminant exposure and its long-term ecological consequences, particularly in aquatic systems. her work strengthens the ability to diagnose, monitor, and mitigate the impacts of pollution on wildlife populations, contributing to more informed environmental policy and management decisions.