8. Dr Karen Thorpe

Role Title: Senior Lecturer in Ecotoxicology

Address: Institute of Marine Sciences, Ferry Road, Eastney, Portsmouth, PO4 9LY

Telephone: 023 9284 5803

Email: Karen.Thorpe@port.ac.uk

Department: School of Biological Sciences

Faculty: Faculty of Science

Biography

Much of my research to date has focused on developing biological measures to assess the effects of environmental contaminants and their mixtures on the physiology of fish. Following successful completion of my PhD (Brunel University) in 2001, I worked for five years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Exeter on an Environment Agency funded project to develop biological measures for assessing endocrine activity in waste water treatment works effluents. In 2006, I moved to the University of Basel (Switzerland) for a 3.5-year postdoctoral position where I continued to study the effects of endocrine disruptors as well as teaching on the MSc course in Sustainable Development. This was followed by a 1.5-year postdoctoral position at the University of Prince Edward Island (Canada) where, in addition to continuing my research on endocrine disruptors, I was also involved in projects to study the impacts of oil process waters on the immune health of wild fish.

Teaching Responsibilities

I am currently deputy unit leader for the Honours Project (3rd year) and for Ecotoxicology and Pollution (MSc unit). In addition I contribute to the teach team for Biodiversity and Evolution, Experimental Biology, Animal Science, Community Ecology and Residential Field Trip, Ecology and Conservation, and Marine Ecophysiology.

Research Interests

My research focuses primarily on understanding the influence of novel environmental contaminants (endocrine active chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil sands process waters and radiation) on the physiology, reproductive and immune health of aquatic vertebrates. I am also working with Prof. Graham Mills (Pharmacy) and Dr. Zhongyi Zhang (Engineering) to develop methods for assessing the impact of ingesting degraded and non-degraded plastics on the health of fish.

A key aspect of my research also involves development of biological methods that can be applied using embryonic and early life-stages (less neurologically developed) of aquatic vertebrates as replacements for current methods that rely on the use of adult life-stages to detect endocrine activity. This includes work with Prof Guille (IBBS), Dr. Coxhead (Biology) and Dr. Tindall (WatchFrog) to develop transgenic lines that can be used to identify endocrine disruptors in embryonic life stages of frogs (Xenopus) and a native fish species (3-spined stickleback).

3. Write your own self-presentation. Include all possible information connected with your education, career and research interests.

Use the texts above as models. Rely on the phrases and expressions in bold.

Independent work guide модуль V. Методические рекомендации для преподавателя по организации самостоятельной работы студентов