Dr. Alvina Mehinto
Dr. Alvina Mehinto is the head of the Toxicology Department at the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP), where she oversees a variety of projects related to molecular toxicology, traditional toxicity testing, and ecological risk assessment. Her research focuses on the linkage between exposure to specific stressors (e.g. emerging contaminants, plastics) and effects on health of aquatic organisms, and on the development of molecular screening assays – namely bioanalytical tools and RNA-based biomarkers - for monitoring the impact of chemical stressors in fresh- and coastal waters, recycled waters, and sediment.
She received her B.S. in marine biology from the University of Portsmouth in 2005 and Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University of Exeter in 2010. She joined SCCWRP in February 2013.
Education
Ph.D., biological sciences, University of Exeter, United Kingdom, 2010
B.S., marine biology, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, 2005
Professional Experience
Head Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Costa Mesa, CA. 2020-present
Principal Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Costa Mesa, CA. 2019-2020
Senior Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Costa Mesa, CA. 2016-2019
Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Costa Mesa, CA. 2013-2016
Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Berkeley. Berkeley, CA. 2012
Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Florida. Gainesville FL. 2010-2012
Camp Instructor, CAP Monde. Louveciennes France. 2010
Visiting PhD Student, University of Sussex. Falmer, United Kingdom. 2008
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Exeter. United Kingdom. 2005-2009
Professional Appointments
National Water Research Institute’s Bioanalytical Implementation Advisory Group, ex officio member (2019-present)
Co-Secretary, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Southern California Chapter. 2018-present
Editorial Board, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 2017-present
Reviewer for Chemosphere, Environmental Science and Technology, Environmental Pollution. 2014-present
Honors and Awards
KC Donnelly Externship Award, NIEHS Superfund Research Program (2011)
CVM Spring Faculty Research Grant, University of Florida (2011)
SfAM President’s Fund Award (2008)
Student Travel Grant, Society for General Microbiology (2008)
Student Travel Grant, Society for General Microbiology (2007)
Wiley-Steentoft Prize for Marine Biology, University of Portsmouth (2005)
Professional Societies and Certifications
Society of Toxicology
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Selected Presentations and Conference Proceedings
Mehinto, A.C. Bioanalytical tools for water quality monitoring: Assessing emerging contaminants in recycled and ambient waters. American Water Works Association California-Nevada Section Annual Fall Conference. October 23, 2019. San Diego, CA.
Mehinto A.C., Maruya K.A. Pilot testing cell-based receptor assays to screen for emerging contaminants and assess risks in aquatic ecosystems. SETAC North America Focused Topic Meeting on High-throughput Screening and Environmental Risk Assessment. April 16-18, 2018. Durham, NC.
Mehinto A. 2017. Linking bioanalytical methods to biological effects. State Water Board Workshop on Constituents of Emerging Concern and Aquatic Ecosystem Monitoring. May 1, 2017. Sacramento, CA, USA.
Mehinto A. 2017. New bioanalytical screening tools to monitor constituents of emerging concern. California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region, April 12, 2017. San Diego, CA.
Mehinto A.C. VanDervort D., Kroll K., Bay S., Denslow N., Maruya K. 2016. Cell-based receptor assays to screen for endocrine disrupting chemicals and infer toxicity in California waters. Oral presentation at 37th North American Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Conference, Orlando, FL.
Mehinto A.C, Jayasinghe B.S., Kroll K., Bay S., Maruya K., Denslow N. 2014. Linkages between in vitro assays, molecular biomarkers and traditional toxicity endpoints using the inland silverside Menidia beryllina. Oral presentation at 35th North American Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Mehinto, A.C., B. Gaytan, R.C. Colli-Dula, V. DeLa Rosa, C. Vulpe, and N.D. Denslow. 2012. Comparative toxicogenomic analyses to elucidate the mechanisms of toxicity of SRP chemicals. Invited speaker at the 25th Annual Superfund Research Program Conference. Raleigh, NC.
Mehinto, A.C., D. Martinovic-Weigelt, and N.D. Denslow. 2012. Estrogenic contribution of wastewater effluent and its impact of fish transcriptomic profile. Presented at the 7th International Symposium on Fish Endocrinology. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Mehinto, A.C., K.J. Kroll, D.S. Barber, and N.D. Denslow. 2011. Assessment of cadmium toxicity in the liver and gonads of adult largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) using microarrays. Presented at the SETAC 32nd North American Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Conference. Boston, MA.
Mehinto, A.C., H.E. Elks, E.M. Hill, S.K. Burton, and H.M. Lappin-Scott. 2008. Fate of human pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment: biodegradation and toxicity on aquatic microbes. Presented at the Society for General Microbiology Spring Meeting. Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Mehinto, A.C., E.M. Hill, S.K. Burton, and H.M. Lappin-Scott. 2008. Ecotoxicity and biodegradability of the pharmaceutical diclofenac in the aquatic environment. Presented at the 12th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology. Cairns, Australia.
Publications
Journal Articles
Mehinto, A.C., C.J. Martyniuk, D.J. Spade, and N.D. Denslow. 2012. Applications for next-generation sequencing in fish ecotoxicogenomics. Frontiers in Genetics 3:62.
Lorenzi, V., A.C. Mehinto, N.D. Denslow, and D. Schlenk. 2012. Effects of exposure to the β-blocker propanolol on the reproductive behavior and gene expression of the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas. Aquatic Toxicology 116-117:8-15.
Sellin-Jeffries, .M.K., A.C. Mehinto, B. Carter, N.D. Denslow, and A.S. Kolok. 2012. Taking microarrays to the field: Differential hepatic gene expression of caged fathead minnows from Nebraska watersheds. Environmental Science and Technology 46:1877-1885.
Huang, T., H.V. Deoghare, B.K. Smith, T.M. Beaver, H.V. Baker, A.C. Mehinto, and D.A. Martin. 2011. Gene expression changes in the human diaphragm following cardiothoracic surgery. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 142:1214-1222.
Mehinto, A.C., E.M. Hill, and C.R. Tyler. 2010. Uptake and biological effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical diclofenac in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Environmental Science and Technology 44:2176-2182.