Education Background

Doctorate of Philosophy, Environmental Sciences (Toxicology)
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 2011

Master of Science, Environmental Sciences (Toxicology)
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 2009

Bachelor of Science (cum laude), Biology w/ Environmental Sciences minor
Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, 2005

Contact Information

Sean.Bugel@oregonstate.edu

Interest/Focus

Broadly, my overall goals are to use teleosts (e.g. zebrafish) as model vertebrates to understand the effects of environmental chemicals on vertebrate development and physiology. My research focus is on elucidating the toxicity of chemicals relevant to human exposures and their potential impact on human health, as well as understanding the effects of contaminants pose a risk to aquatic species and ecosystem health. My previous experience is with reproductive endocrine disruption of oogenesis in teleosts and reproductive dysfunction caused by cross-talk between the aryl hydrocarbon and the estrogen receptor pathways. Currently, I am investigating the developmental toxicity of phytoestrogens, which are plant derived hormones with potentially endocrine disrupting properties that may pose a health risk to humans with phytoestrogen-rich diets.

Publications

Bugel, S.M., White, L.A., Cooper, K.R. (2011). Decreased vitellogenin inducibility and 17β-estradiol levels correlated with reduced egg production in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) from Newark Bay, NJ.Aquat. Toxicol. 105 (1-2), 1-12.

Bugel, S.M., White, L.A., Cooper, K.R., (2010). Impaired reproductive health of killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) inhabiting Newark Bay, NJ, a chronically contaminated estuary. Aquat. Toxicol. 96 (3), 182-193

Honors/Awards

3rd Place Presentation, Mid-Atlantic Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, (2011)

Student Travel Award, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, (2010)

Graduate Student Research Grant, NJ Water Resource Research Institute, (2009-2010)

Student Travel Award, NJ Water Resource Research Institute, (2005)