Dr. Heyland’s laboratory uses novel functional genomics approaches to study the endocrine and neuroendocrine systems of aquatic invertebrates, primarily sea urchin and Daphnia species. Specifically he investigates the function and evolution of hormonal and neurotransmitter signaling systems in the regulation of development and metamorphosis. More recently his research program has applied eco-toxicogenomic approached to understand endocrine disruption in aquatic ecosystems. Specifically his lab is using Daphnia and sea urchins as molecular multi-cellular indicators for water quality assessment. These approaches are integrated with several national and international collaborations focusing on risk assessment for emerging pharmaceuticals as well as the development of novel technologies to remove such compounds from drinking water.

Find out more about specific projects in the Heylandlab: