NIGEL LASCELLES

Nigel Lascelles Jr. is a Coastal and Marine System Science Program Ph.D. student Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi who hails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (ACS Certified) from Florida A&M University. He is NOAA Fellow within the Center for Coastal & Marine Ecosystems Cooperative Science Center at Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. His research focuses on using his extensive background in analytical and instrumental chemistry to understand the role of contaminants in microplastic pollution in coastal areas and their impact on those aquatic systems. While he is early in his Ph.D., his current focus is to examine tire wear particles, small bits of rubber that are released from car tires as they wear can be used as a passive sampler to better understand contaminants in the aquatic systems in South Texas. Nigel has been highlighted by NOAA for his work on characterizing microplastics during his NOAA Experimental Research & Training Opportunities (NERTO) at the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) in Sandy Hook, New Jersey. He hopes to use his chemistry background to help bring change to the area of coastal and marine science.