Item talk:Q45891

usgs_staff_profile:

 meta:
   status_code: 200
   timestamp: '2023-09-30T15:18:52.475614'
   url: https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/thea-m-edwards
 profile:
   abstracts: []
   affiliations: []
   education:
   - Ph.D. Biology, University of Florida 2005
   - M.S., Botany, University of Florida, 1997
   - M.S., Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, 1994
   - B.S., Horticulture, Virginia Tech, 1991
   email: tedwards@usgs.gov
   expertise_terms:
   - Contaminant Biology
   - Environmental Health
   - Ecotoxicology
   - Aquatic Toxicology
   - Endocrine Disruption
   - Fisheries Biology
   - Water Quality
   - Environmental DNA
   honors: []
   intro_statements:
   - Dr. Thea Edwards is a Supervisory Research Biologist at the Columbia Environmental
     Research Center.
   name: Thea M Edwards, PhD
   name_qualifier: null
   orcid: 0000-0002-6176-2872
   organization_link: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/columbia-environmental-research-center
   organization_name: Columbia Environmental Research Center
   personal_statement: "Her current research investigates the effects of environmental\
     \ stressors on aquatic animals. She has particular expertise in endocrine disruption\
     \ and nitrate-related ecotoxicology. Before joining USGS, Dr. Edwards represented\
     \ the United States as a Fulbright Scholar in the Okavango Delta in Botswana.As\
     \ a group, CERC\u2019s Biochemistry and Physiology Branch conducts diverse biological\
     \ studies to understand how environmental stressors and water quality affect\
     \ the health of fishes, amphibians, and freshwater mussels. Current projects\
     \ investigate hypoxia, contaminants, and nutrient deficiencies. The group is\
     \ especially interested in how stressors change gene expression and physiology\
     \ to induce disease, inflammation, infertility, or other negative health outcomes\
     \ in aquatic wildlife.Additionally, Branch environmental DNA (eDNA) projects\
     \ provide powerful information for resource managers as they address invasive\
     \ and endangered species challenges. With eDNA technology, our scientists can\
     \ detect the presence of a species by taking a water sample. This makes detection,\
     \ monitoring, and management of both endangered and invasive species less expensive\
     \ and more effective.To accomplish our mission, we collaborate broadly with\
     \ other USGS scientists, academic partners, and private companies on mutually\
     \ beneficial research and development needs. The work of our dedicated and experienced\
     \ staff is supported by the world class aquaculture and laboratory facilities\
     \ at CERC. We share and disseminate our findings through scientific publication\
     \ and public outreach, and, working with USGS data release protocols, we are\
     \ making all our data universally accessible to current and future stakeholders."
   professional_experience:
   - "2018 \u2013 present: Branch Chief, Biochemistry and Physiology, USGS Columbia\
     \ Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO"
   - "2014 \u2013 2018: Research Assistant Professor, Biology, University of the\
     \ South, Sewanee, TN"
   - '2016: Fulbright Scholar, U.S. Department of State and the University of Botswana
     Okavango Research Institute, Maun, Botswana'
   - "2011 \u2013 2014: Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech\
     \ University, Ruston, LA"
   - "2009 \u2013 2011: Research Assistant Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology\
     \ and Pharmacology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA"
   title: Supervisory Research Biologist