Mary-Claire Buell
Assistant professor cross-appointed with the School of the Environment and Department of Forensic Science, School of the Environment, Forensic Science
Areas of Expertise:
Dr. Mary-Claire Buell is an Assistant professor cross-appointed with the School of the Environment and Department of Forensic Science at Trent University. Her research examines the sources, fate, and impacts of environmental contaminants, with a focus on both organic and inorganic pollutants in freshwater and aquatic ecosystems.
Dr. Buell’s work integrates environmental toxicology with impact and risk assessment to better understand how contaminants such as PFAS, mercury, and other pollutants affect water systems, fish, and communities. A core feature of her research approach is community-based and partnership-driven science, working across disciplines and sectors to address complex environmental challenges related to pollution, mining, and resource extraction.
Dr. Buell is the founder and director of the TRransdisciplinary Action confronting Contaminants in the Environment(TRACE) Lab, where she leads collaborative research on environmental contamination, aquatic ecosystem health, and risk assessment. Through TRACE, her work brings together academic researchers, communities, governments, and industry partners to support environmental monitoring and generate science that informs decision-making, environmental protection, and public understanding.