Education:

 

2003 B.S. in Conservation Biology – Brigham Young University , Provo , Utah , USA .

 

2004 Research Student for 1 semester – Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

 

 

Research Focus:

 

My research focuses on the bioavailability of pyrethroid insecticides in sediments. Pyrethroids are a highly hydrophobic class of neurotoxins used worldwide for pest control. They enter aquatic systems through spray drift and runoff and are acutely toxic to a broad spectrum of non-target aquatic organisms, such as fish and invertebrates. Because sediment toxicity is related to the bioavailability of these chemicals, we are studying the use of solid-phase microextraction as a means to measure bioavailable concentrations. The main objective is to develop a robust, yet simple and inexpensive, method to aid regulators and scientists in risk assessment of pyrethroid-contaminated sediments.

 

 

Study Abroad:

 

During spring quarter, 2007, I worked with Dr. Philipp Mayer and Fredrik Reichenberg, National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus , Roskilde , Denmark . We investigated uses of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) passive samplers for analyzing environmentally and toxicologically relevant concentrations of hydrophobic contaminants.

 

 

Book Chapters:

 

Hunter W, Yang W, Spurlock F, Gan J. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) methods to measure bioavailable concentrations in surface waters . In Synthetic pyrethroids: occurrence and effects in aquatic environments. Gan J, Spurlock F, Hendley P, Weston D. 2008. American Chemical Society, Washington , DC , USA .

 

Publications:

 

Hunter W , Yu Y, Reichenberg, F, Mayer P, and Gan J. 2008. Measuring freely dissolved pyrethroids in sediment porewater using matrix-solid phase microextraction. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. (In Press).

 

Hunter W , Xu Y, Spurlock F, Gan J. 2008. Using disposable polydimethylsiloxane fibers to assess the bioavailability of permethrin in sediment. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 27:568-575.

 

Yang W, Hunter W , Spurlock F, Gan J. 2007. Bioavailability of permethrin and cyfluthrin in surface waters with low levels of dissolved organic matter. Journal of Environmental Quality 36:1678-1685.

 

Yang W, Gan J, Hunter W , Spurlock F. 2006. Effect of suspended solids on bioavailability of pyrethroid insecticides. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 25:1585-1591.

 

Invited Platform Presentations:

 

Hunter W , Yang W, Gan J, Bondarenko S, Spurlock F. Bioavailability of pyrethroids in surface water and sediment. 232 nd ACS National Meeting and Exposition. September 10-14, 2006, San Francisco , California , USA .

 

Hunter W , Yang W, Gan J. 2005. Bioavailability of pyrethroids in sediments and estimated with biomimetic polydimethylsiloxane fibers. Society of Toxicology and Chemistry North America 26 th Annual Meeting. Nov. 13-17, 2005, Baltimore , Maryland , USA .

 

 

Other Platform Presentations:

 

Hunter W, Yang Y, Reichenberg F, Mayer P, Gan J. Measuring Freely Dissolved Pyrethroids in Sediment Porewater Using Matrix-Solid Phase Microextraction. Environmental Toxicology Graduate Student Annual Symposium, June 2008, University of California , Riverside , California , USA .

 

Hunter W , Yu Y, Gan J. Measuring freely dissolved pyrethroids in Sediment Porewater Using Matrix-Solid phase Microextraction. Platform presentation. Southern California Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Annual Meeting. May 5-6, 2008. Ocean Institute, Dana Point , California , USA .

 

Hunter W , Xu Y, Spurlock F, Gan J. Measuring the Bioavailability of pyrethroids in sediment using disposable PDMS fibers. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Europe 17 th Annual Meeting, 20-24 May, 2007, Porto , Portugal .

 

Hunter W , Xu Y, Spurlock F, Gan J. Measuring the bioavailability of pyrethroids in sediment using disposable PDMS fibers. Environmental Toxicology Graduate Student Annual Symposium, June 2007, University of California , Riverside , California , USA .

 

Hunter W , Yang W, Bondarenko S, Gan J, Spurlock F. Bioavailability of Pyrethroids in Surface Water and Sediment. Environmental Toxicology Graduate Student Annual Symposium, July 2006, University of California , Riverside , California , USA .

 

Hunter W , Yang W, Gan J. Bioavailability of pyrethroids in sediment: Estimated with biomimetic polymer. Environmental Toxicology Graduate Student Annual Symposium, July 2005, University of California , Riverside , California , USA .

 

 

Poster Presentations:

 

Hunter W , Yu Y, and Gan J. Sampling pyrethroid bioavailability with disposable PDMS fibers. 2008. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry World Congress, Aug. 3-7, 2008, Sydney , Australia .

 

Gan J, Hunter W , Xu Y, Bondarenko S, Spurlock F. Bioavailability of strongly adsorbing pesticides in sediment. Hawaii . 2008.

 

Hunter W , Xu Y, Spurlock F, Gan J. Measuring the Bioavailability of pyrethroids in sediment using disposable PDMS fibers. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Europe 17 th Annual Meeting, 20-24 May, 2007, Porto , Portugal .

 

Hunter W , Xu Y, Gan J, Spurlock F. Using biomimetic PDMS fibers to determine the bioavailability of pyrethroids in sediment. 232nd ACS National Meeting and Exposition. September 10-14, 2006, San Francisco , California , USA .

 

Hunter W , Xu Y, Yang W, Gan J. Bioavailability of permethrin in sediments: Estimated with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME). Southern California Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2005 Annual Meeting. 12-13 May 2006. Pepperdine University , Malibu , California , USA .

 

Hunter W , Yang W, Gan J. Bioavailability of permethrin in sediments: Estimated with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME). Southern California Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2005 Annual Meeting. 20-21 May 2005. Loyola Marymount University , Los Angeles , California , USA .

 

Yang W, Hunter W , Gan J. Bioavailability of synthetic pyrethroids in surface water. Southern California Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2005 Annual Meeting. 20-21 May 2005. Loyola Marymount University , Los Angeles , California , USA .

 

Hunter W , Yang W, Gan J. Bioavailability of permethrin in sediments and estimated with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME). Society of Toxicology and Chemistry North America 26 th Annual Meeting. Nov. 13-17, 2005, Baltimore , Maryland , USA .

 

 

Awards:

 

2008: Best Student Poster Presentation.

5 th SETAC World Congress, Sydney , Australia , Aug. 3-7, 2008.

Hunter W , Yu Y, and Gan J. Sampling pyrethroid bioavailability with disposable PDMS fibers.

 

2008: Student's Choice Best Platform Presentation, 1 st place.

ENTOX Graduate Student Annual Symposium, University of California , Riverside , California , USA , Jun. 2008.

Hunter W . Yang Y, Reichenberg F, Mayer P, Gan J. Measuring Freely Dissolved Pyrethroids in Sediment Porewater Using Matrix-Solid Phase Microextraction.

 

2008: Best Student Platform Presentation.

SoCalSETAC Annual Meeting, Ocean Institute, Dana Point , California , USA , May 5-6, 2008.

Hunter W , Yu Y, Gan J. 2008. Measuring freely dissolved pyrethroids in Sediment Porewater Using Matrix-Solid phase Microextraction.

 

2008: Graduate Student Association Conference Travel Grant.

To attend the SoCalSETAC Annual Meeting, Ocean Institute, Dana Point, California, USA, May 5-6, 2008.

 

2007: Student's Choice Best Platform Presentation, 2 nd place.

ENTOX Graduate Student Annual Symposium, University of California , Riverside , California , USA , Jun. 2007.

Hunter W , Xu Y, Spurlock F, Gan J. Measuring the bioavailability of pyrethroids in sediment using disposable PDMS fibers.

 

2006: Best Student Poster Presentation.

SoCalSETAC Annual Meeting, Pepperdine University , Malibu , California , USA , 12-13 May 2006.

Hunter W , Xu Y, Yang W, Gan J. Bioavailability of permethrin in sediments: Estimated with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME).

 

2006: American Chemical Society Conference Student Travel Award.

To attend the 232nd ACS National Meeting and Exposition, San Francisco , California , USA , Sept. 10-14, 2006.

 

2005: Best Student Poster Presentation.

SoCalSETAC Annual Meeting, Loyola Marymount University , Los Angeles , California , USA , 20-21 May 2005.

Hunter W , Yang W, Gan J. Bioavailability of permethrin in sediments: Estimated with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME).