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Kristin Nielsen

  • Assistant Professor
  • Marine Science

.

Profile image of Kristin Nielsen
kristin.nielsen@austin.utexas.edu
MSI
CCOS 100A
Nielsen Lab Curriculum Vitae

Biography

Dr. Nielsen is an aquatic toxicologist with a research focus on the developmental toxicity of ubiquitous environmental contaminants to aquatic biota. She is particularly interested in heavy metal-induced developmental neurotoxicity in fish, the photo-enhanced toxicity of oil to a range of early life stage marine biota, and the effects of chronic exposure to globally prevalent pharmaceuticals on non-target aquatic organisms. Prior to accepting an Assistant Professorship with the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI), Dr. Nielsen worked as a human health and ecological risk assessor, evaluating risk at sites impacted by a wide range of environmental contaminants. She also previously served as the State Toxicologist and Environmental Public Health Program Manager for the State of Alaska Division of Public Health, where she dealt extensively with contamination related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in rural Alaska. Consequently, Dr. Nielsen also has considerable experience in risk communication and public outreach in environmental justice communities.

Research

Dr. Nielsen is an aquatic toxicologist who uses a systems approach to investigate the developmental and reproductive toxicity of anthropogenic stressors to both freshwater and marine organisms. She is particularly interested in linking contaminant-mediated molecular initiating events to higher level adverse effects in fish models, from both an ecotoxicological and translational perspective. She has specific expertise in the toxicological effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals, select pharmaceuticals and their degradation products, as well as the photo-induced toxicity of oil spills to early life stage aquatic organisms. Dr. Nielsen also builds on her experience as a professional ecological and human health risk assessor in a research context, specifically as it pertains to subsistence and sportfishing resources. As part of this work, she develops multiple-lines-of-evidence risk assessment frameworks that consider the role of qualitative determinants of risk (e.g., socio-economic, demographic, traditional, and location-specific environmental factors).

Research Areas

  • Biodiversity, Ecology or Sustainability
  • Oceans and Freshwater

Fields of Interest

  • Aquatic Toxicology

Centers and Institutes

  • Marine Science Institute

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Aquatic Toxicology, University of North Texas (2016 -2018)
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Biology, University of North Texas (2012-2016)
  • Bachelor of Arts, Biology/English, Texas A&M University (2001 - 2005)

Publications

  • PUBLICATIONS

    1. Blandford, N; Palace, V; Rodríguez-Gil, J; Timlick, L; Stanley, M; Frank, R; Campbell, S; Rudy, M; Marshall, S; Wynia, A; Clark, T; Cunningham, J; Alaee, M; Parrott, J; Kidd, K; Stevack, K; Sabourin, L; Renaud, J; Sumarah, M; Nielsen, K; McMaster, M; Ussery, E. (2024) Community-level Responses and Environmental Fate of Metformin in Freshwater In-Lake Mesocosms. Science of the Total Environment. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4872592
    2. Nielsen, K; Schlenk, D; Esbaugh, A; Mondon, J (2024) Potential Environmental Impacts of Coastal Desalination Intake Structures: Urgent Data Gaps and Policy Needs. Environmental Science & Technology Letters. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00228 
    3. Ussery, E; McMaster, M; Palace, v; Parrott, J; Blandford, N; Frank, R; Kidd, K; Birceanu, O; Wilson, J; Alaee, M; Cunningham, J; Wynia, A; Clark, T; Campbell, S; Timlick, L; Michaleski, S; Marshall, S; Nielsen, K (2024) Effects of metformin on wild fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) using in-lake mesocosms in a boreal lake ecosystem. Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172457
    4. Ackerly, K; Roark, K; Lu, K; Esbaugh, A; Liu, Z; Nielsen, K. (2024) Acute Toxicity Testing of 6PPD‐quinone on the Estuarine-Dependent Sport Fish, Sciaenops ocellatus. Ecotoxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-024-02755-x 
    5. Blewett, T; Ackerly, K; Schlenker, L; Martin, S; Nielsen, K. (2024) Implications of biotic factors for toxicity testing in laboratory studies. Science of The Total Environment 908, 168220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168220. 
    6. Ackerly, K; Roark, K; Nielsen, K (2023) Response to: Conway et al. (2023), Red Drum Salinity Tolerance: Comments on Ackerly et al. “Short-Term Salinity Stress During Early Development Impacts the Growth and Survival of Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus).”Estuaries & Coasts: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-023-01305-8 
    7.  Ackerly, K; Roark, K; Nielsen, K. (2023) Short term salinity stress during early development impacts the growth and survival of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Estuaries & Coasts; https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-022-01124-3
    8. Nielsen, K; DeCamp, L; Birgisson, M; Palace, V; Kidd, K; Parrott, J; McMaster, M; Ussery, E. (2022) Comparative effects of embryonic metformin exposure on wild, and laboratory-spawned fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) populations. Environmental Science & Technology: 56 (14), 10193-10203; https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c01079
    9. Ussery, E; Nielsen, K; Simmons, D; Pandelides, Z; Mansfield, C; Holdway, D. (2021) An ‘omics approach to investigate the growth effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of guanylurea exposure on Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), Aquatic Toxicology, 232, 105761; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105761
    10. Nielsen, K*; Furin C; Gerlach B. (2020) Subsistence fish consumption in rural Alaska: Using regional monitoring data to evaluate risk and bioavailability of dietary methylmercury. Science of the Total Environment: 736, 139676; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139676 
    11. Nielsen, K; Alloy MM; Damaré LM; Palmer I; Forth HP; Morris JM; Stoeckel J; Roberts, AP. (2020) Planktonic fiddler crab (Uca longisignalis) are susceptible to photo-induced toxicity following developmental exposure to oiled terrestrial habitat. Environmental Science & Technology: 54 (10), 6254-6261; https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c00215 
    12. Ussery, E., Nielsen, K., Pandelides, Z., Kirkwood, A.E., Guchardi, J. and Holdway, D. (2019), Developmental and Full-Life Cycle Exposures to Guanylurea and Guanylurea–Metformin Mixtures Results in Adverse Effects on Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes). Environ Toxicol Chem, 38: 1023-1028. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4403
    13. Nielsen, K*; Curran TE; Magnuson JT; Barker A; Baxter D; Venables BJ. (2019) Alterations to the vision-associated transcriptome of zebrafish (Danio rerio) following developmental norethindrone exposure. Environmental Toxicology & Pharmacology: 69, 137-142; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2019.04.011
    14.  Nielsen, K; Lay CR; Alloy MM; Gielazyn ML; Morris JM; Forth HP; Takeshita R; Travers C; Oris JT; Roberts AP (2018). Estimating incident ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure in the Northern Gulf of Mexico during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry: 37(6), 1679-1687; https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4119 
    15. Nielsen, K; Krasnec M; Magnuson JT; Morris JM; Gielazyn ML; Chavez R; Roberts AP. (2018) Influence of UV and PAH exposure duration on survival of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) larvae. Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry: 37(9), 2372- 2379; https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4183 
    16. Damaré LM; Nielsen, K *; Forth HP; Lay CR; Morris JM; Stoeckel J; Curran TE; Soulen BK; Alloy MM; Roberts AP. (2018) Photo- induced toxicity in early lifestage fiddler crab (Uca longisignalis) following exposure to Deepwater Horizon spill oil. Ecotoxicology: 27(4), 440-447; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-018-1908-6
    17. Nielsen, K., Venables, B. and Roberts, A. (2017) Effects of dietary methylmercury on the dopaminergic system of adult fathead minnows and their offspring. Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, 36: 1077-1084; https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3630
    18. Alloy MM; Garner TG; Nielsen, K; Mansfield CM; Carney M; Forth HP; Krasnec M; Lay CR; Takeshita R; Morris JM; Oris JT; Roberts AP. (2017) Co-exposure to sunlight enhances the toxicity of naturally weathered Deepwater Horizon oil to early lifestage red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and speckled seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus). Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry: 36(3), 780-785; https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3640
    19. Nielsen, K; Soulen B; Overturf C; Drevnick P; Roberts A. (2016) Embryotoxicity of maternally transferred methylmercury to Pimephales promelas. Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry: 35(6), 1436-41; https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3282
    20. Barst BD; Nielsen, K; Korbas M; Roberts AP; Van Kirk K; McNeel K; Drevnick, PE. (2015) The role of melano‐macrophage aggregates in the storage of mercury and other metals: An example from yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus). Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry: 34(8), 1918-1925; https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3009

    TECHNICAL REPORTS & WHITE PAPERS

    1. Lu, K; Lloyd, J; Xue, J; Tunnell, J; Nielsen, K; Liu, Z. (2024) Evaluating the chemical levels in soil, groundwater, bay water, bay sediment, and oyster tissue in the Port Bay region. Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program
    2. Conder, J; Arblaster, J; Nielsen, K.* (2022) AFFF PFAS Terrestrial Ecological Risk Model Tool (SERDP Project ER18-1614), Department of Defense Technical Information Center; https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD1160988 
    3. Nielsen, K. Proposed Harbor Island Seawater Reverse Osmosis Desalination Facility: A prospective Evaluation of Ecotoxicological Risk (2021) University of Texas at Austin Texas ScholarWorks: 2021 – 03; http://dx.doi.org/10.26153/tsw/12029* 
    4. Conder, J; Arblaster, J; Nielsen, K.* (2021) AFFF PFAS Aquatic Ecological Risk Model Tool (SERDP Project ER18-1614), Department of Defense Technical Information Center; https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD1160985 
    5. Nielsen, K.* (2019) Letter Health Consult: PFAS Exposure Assessment, Pioneer Farm and Alaskan Farm, North Pole, Alaska; State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Anchorage, AK
    6. Lay CR; Morris JM; Takeshita R; Forth HP; Travers CL; Roberts AP; Alloy MM; Garner TR; Nielsen, K.* (2015) Incident Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation and Extinction Coefficients in the Northern Gulf of Mexico During the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. (TOX_TR.06). Boulder, CO. DWH Toxicity NRDA Technical Working Group Report. https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/adminrecord

    FUNDING

    2024 – 2027    Matagorda Bay Mitigation Trust (Co-PI) $496,099, Evaluating Ecological and Human Health Risks of PFAS in Matagorda Bay
    2024 – 2025    Texas Gulf Coast Research Center (PI) $100,000, Characterizing and Pinpointing Sources of PFAS contamination in Texas Bays
    2023 – 2028    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Co-PI) $1,908,340, Developing an Ecosystem-based Conservation framework for Oyster Reefs Across Texas Estuaries
    2023 – 2026    Matagorda Bay Mitigation Trust (PI) $396,691, Reproductive and developmental toxicity of “Forever Chemicals” to Matagorda Bay’s prey fishes
    2022 – 2024    National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (PI) $76,000, Gulf Research Program 2022 Early-Career Research Fellowship
    2022 – 2024    Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program & Aransas County Navigation District (Co-PI) $58,000, Evaluating Ecological & Human Health Risks Related to Potential Contamination of Port Bay
    2022 – 2025    Matagorda Bay Mitigation Trust (PI) $399,965; 2022 – 2025, Assessing the threat of tire leachate and urban runoff on Matagorda Bay fish populations
    2021 – 2023    Stengl-Weyer Endowment (PI) $87,598, Danger Downstream? Investigating indirect mechanisms of urban runoff toxicity using a whole ecosystem approach
    2019 – 2021    Health Canada (Co-PI) $148,000, Chemical Management Plan: Investigating Metformin’s Environmental Fate and Effects
    2018 – 2019    Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (PI) $404,467, ATSDR Partnership to Promote Local Efforts to Reduce Environmental Exposure
    2018 – 2019    Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (PI) $263,278, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
    In Review         Department of Defense, Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (PI) $938,100, Developing a quantitative understanding of the ecotoxicity of complex PFAS mixtures to estuarine sportfish
    In Review         National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (PI) $20,000,000, Mitigating intensifying contaminant exposure through seafood: The ecosystem-health-climate connection.
    In Review         US Environmental Protection Agency (PI) $ $748,856, Forensic Chemistry to Identify PFAS Sources in a Data-Limited Estuary
    In Review         National Institutes of Health/NIEHS (PI) $3,527,471, (R01) Export, bioavailability & socio-environmental implications of mercury released by rapidly retreating coastal glaciers
     

Awards

  • 2022 NASEM Early Career Research Fellowship