Dr. Leah Thornton Hampton
Leah is a Senior Scientist in the Toxicology Department who specializes in characterizing the toxicological effects of environmental contaminants, including microplastics. Her technical expertise includes endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, developmental toxicity and immunotoxicity. Prior to joining SCCWRP, her research focused on the effects of early life stage thyroid suppression on immune function. She holds a Ph.D. in biology from the University of North Texas, an M.S. in biology from Texas Christian University and a B.S. in zoology from Miami University.
Education
Ph.D., biology, University of North Texas, 2020
M.S., biology, Texas Christian University, 2015
B.S., zoology, Miami University, Honors with Distinction, 2013
Professional Experience
Senior Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 2023-Present
Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 2020-2023
Teaching Assistant, University of North Texas, Department of Biology, 2015-2020
Teaching Assistant, Texas Christian University, 2015-2016
Professional Appointments
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America, Chair of North American, Student Advisory Committee, 2018-2019
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America, Vice Chair of North American, Student Advisory Committee, 2017-2018
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America 39th Annual Meeting, Sacramento, CA, Session Chair, 2018
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America 38th Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, Session Chair, 2017
South Central Region Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Student Representative, 2017-2018
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry South Central Chapter Meeting, Fort Worth, TX, Platform Presentation Moderator, 2016
Honors and Awards
University of Southern California Sea Grant. 2022-2024
Presidential Citation for Outstanding Service, Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 2019
University of North Texas Graduate Student Research Award. 2018
University of North Texas Graduate Student Travel Grant. 2017, 2018
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Student Travel Grant. 2015, 2019
Texas Christian University Graduate Student Travel Grant. 2015
Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms Travel Grant. 2015
Adkins Fellowship from Texas Christian University. 2014. Summer Salary
Grant-In-Aid of Research from Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. 2014
Publications
Journal Articles
Snow DD, Chakraborty P, Uralbekov B, Satybaldiev B, Sallach JB, Thornton Hampton LM, Sellin Jeffries MK, Kolok AS, Bartlet-Hunt SB. Legacy and current pesticide residues in Syr Darya, Kazakhstan: Contamination status, seasonal variation and preliminary ecological risk assessment. Water Research 2020, 184, 116141, DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116141.
Thornton Hampton LM, Martyniuk CJ, Sellin Jeffries MK, Venables BJ. Advancing the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) as a model for immunotoxicity testing: Characterizing the renal transcriptome following Yersinia ruckeri infection. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 2020, 103, 472-480, DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2020.05.008.
Thornton Hampton LM, Sellin Jeffries MK, Venables BJ. A practical guide for assessing respiratory burst and phagocytic cells activity in the fathead minnow, an emerging model for immunotoxicity. MethodsX 2020, 7, 100992. DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2020.100992.
Thornton LM, Path EM, Nystrom GS, Venables BJ, Sellin Jeffries MK. Embryo-larval BDE-47 exposure causes decreased pathogen resistance in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Fish and Shellfish Immunology 2018, 80, 80-87. DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2018.05.059.
Thornton LM, LeSueur MC, Yost AT, Stephens DA, Oris JT, Sellin Jeffries MK. Characterization of basic immune function parameters in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), a common model in environmental toxicity testing. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 2017, 61,163-172. DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2016.12.033.
Yost AT, Thornton LM, Venables BJ, Sellin Jeffries MK. Dietary exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether 47 (BDE-47) inhibits development and alters thyroid hormone-related gene expression in the brain of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 2016, 48, 237-244. DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2016.11.002.
Thornton LM, Path EM, Nystrom GS, Venables BJ, Sellin Jeffries MK. Early life stage exposure to BDE-47 causes adverse effects on reproductive success and sexual differentiation in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Environmental Science and Technology 2016, 50, 7834-7841. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02147.
Thornton LM, Path EM, Venables BJ, Sellin Jeffries MK. The endocrine effects of dietary BDE-47 exposure, measured across multiple levels of biological organization, in breeding fathead minnows. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2016, 35, 2048-2057, DOI: 10.1002/etc.3351.
Thornton LM, Path EM, Nystrom GS, Venables BJ, Sellin Jeffries MK. Embryo-larval BDE-47 exposure causes decreased pathogen resistance in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Fish and Shellfish Immunology 2018, 80, 80-87. DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2018.05.059.
Thornton LM, Lesueur MC, Yost AT, Stephens DA, Oris JT, Sellin Jeffries MK. Characterization of basic immune function parameters in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), a common model in environmental toxicity testing. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 2017, 61,163-172. DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2016.12.033.
Yost AT, Thornton LM, Venables BJ, Sellin Jeffries MK. Dietary exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether 47 (BDE-47) inhibits development and alters thyroid hormone-related gene expression in the brain of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 2016, 48, 237-244. DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2016.11.002.
Thornton LM, Path EM, Nystrom GS, Venables BJ, Sellin Jeffries MK. Early life stage exposure to BDE-47 causes adverse effects on reproductive success and sexual differentiation in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Environmental Science and Technology 2016, 50, 7834-7841. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02147.
Thornton LM, Path EM, Venables BJ, Sellin Jeffries MK. The endocrine effects of dietary BDE-47 exposure, measured across multiple levels of biological organization, in breeding fathead minnows. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2016, 35, 2048-2057, DOI: 10.1002/etc.3351.