Morgan Lizabeth Bender, PhD

Curriculum vitae

morgan.lizabeth.bender@gmail.com                    

Born:  Anchorage, Alaska  

Nationality: American

Language: English, Norwegian proficient                  

Research Interest

My research interests the study of Arctic marine biology with a focus on physiology and the effects of pollutants on early life stages and reproduction of fish. Combining Arctic field ecology with experimental methods from ecotoxicology to elucidate ecological effects of pollution and other environmental stressors in our changing Arctic is my aim.

Education

2016 - 2020: PhD candidate in Biology, focus in Arctic marine ecotoxicology at UiT-The Arctic University of Norway

2013 – 2015: Masters Degree in Biology, concentration in Marine ecology and biodiversity at UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, thesis on toxicity of crude oil to reproduction in polar cod, Boreogadus saida, supervisor Jasmine Nahrgang

2009- 2013: B.S. in Biological Sciences and B.S. in Fisheries at University of Alaska, Fairbanks, graduated with honors, 3.93/ 4.0 GPA

2011-2012: Two semesters at University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) studying Arctic Biology, 4.0 GPA

Published Works

Bender, M.L., Giebichenstein, J., Teisrud, R.N. et al. Combined effects of crude oil exposure and warming on eggs and larvae of an arctic forage fish. Sci Rep 11, 8410 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87932-2

Nahrgang J, Bender ML, Meier S, Nechev J, Berge J, Frantzen M. 2019 Growth and metabolism of adult polar cod (Boreogadus saida) in response to dietary crude oil. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.04.082

Bender et al., 2018. Effects of acute exposure to dispersed oil and burned oil residue on long-term survival, growth, and reproductive development in polar cod (Boreogadus saida). Marine Environmental Research. 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.09.005

Ireen Vieweg , Eider Bilbao, James Meador, Ibon Cancio, Morgan Lizabeth Bender, Miren P. Cajaraville, Jasmine Nahrgang. 2018. Effects of dietary crude oil exposure on molecular and physiological parameters related to lipid homeostasis in polar cod (Boreogadus saida). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology. 10.1016/j.cbpc.2018.03.003

Bender, M.L., Frantzen, M., Vieweg, I., Falk-Petersen, Johnsen, H.K., Rudolfsen, G., Tollefsen, K.E., Dubourg, P., Nahrgang, J., 2016. Effects of chronic dietary petroleum exposure on reproductive development in polar cod (Boreogadus saida). Aquatic Toxicology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.10.005

Eidesen P.B., Müller E., Lettner C., Alsos I.G., Bender M., Kristiansen M., Peeters B., Postma F. & Verweij K.F. 2013. Tetraploids do not form cushions: association of ploidy level, growth form and ecology in the High Arctic Saxifraga oppositifolia L. s. lat. (Saxifragaceae) in Svalbard. Polar Research 32, 20071, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v32i0.20071

Presentations

Future Oceans 2 Conference in Brest, France, June 2019. "How sensitive are Polar cod early life stages to a changing Arctic?” Platform presentation, awarded Student Travel Grant

Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO) Conference in Charleston SC, USA May 2019. “How sensitive are Polar cod early life stages to a changing Arctic?” Platform presentation, awarded Student Travel Grant and Student Presentation Award

ARCEx- The Research Centre for Arctic Petroleum Exploration Annual Conference. “Effects of increased water temperature and water-soluble crude oil exposure on early life stages of polar cod (Boreogadus saida)“. Oct 9-11 Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Presentation

Ecosystem Studies of the Sub Arctic Seas (ESSAS) Conference. “Effects of increased water temperature and water-soluble crude oil exposure on survival, growth, and feeding success of early life stages of polar cod (Boreogadus saida)“. Fairbanks Alaska USA June 10-12th. Platform Presentation

ARCTOS Research School August 2018, Presentation. “How sensitive are polar cod to oil pollution?”

Bender, M.L., Frantzen, M., Vieweg, I., Falk-Petersen, Johnsen, H.K., Rudolfsen, G., Tollefsen, K.E., Dubourg, P., Nahrgang, J., 2016. Effects of chronic dietary petroleum exposure on reproductive development in polar cod (Boreogadus saida).Norwegian Environmental Toxicology Symposium. 27th Oct 2016 in Olso Norway

Nahrgang J., Bender M.L., Meier S., Mackee A., Berge J., Frantzen M., Wasbotten I., Christiansen J.S. 2014. Physiological responses to dietary crude oil in the Arctic key species polar cod (Boreogadus saida) at POLARISATION meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark April 6 2014.

Poster presentations

ARCEx- The Research Centre for Arctic Petroleum Exploration Annual Conference. “Polar cod early life stages under a warming scenario exhibit extreme sensitivity to low levels of crude oil “. Oct 24-26 Sommarøya, Norway. Poster

Framdagen. "How sensitive ar polar cod to a changing Arctic?” Tromsø Norway August 2018. Poster.

Ecosystem Studies of the Sub Arctic Seas (ESSAS) Conference. “Potential effects of petroleum pollution and increasing water temperature on life-history traits in polar cod (Boreogadus saida)“. Tromsø Norway June 2017. Poster

Bender M.L., Vieweg I. Frantzen M. Falk-Petersen I.B., Johnsen H. K., Rudolfsen G. Nahrgang J. Long term physiological effects of dietary petroleum exposure on reproduction in polar cod (Boreogadus saida) at PRIMO conference in Trondheim, Norway May 24-27 2015.

Honors and Awards

PhD Student presentation Award at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium (AMSS) in 2020

Best Poster at ARCEx 2019

Student Presentation and Travel Award recipient for PRIMO20 in 2019

Participant in Researcher Grand Prix 2018

Arctic Field Grant Recipient 2018

Best Student Platform Presentation at Norwegian Environmental Toxicology Symposium (October 2016)

UA Scholar Chancellor’s List (UAF)    

UNIS student (North2North)

SFOS Dean’s List (UAF)       

Chancellors Scholarship (UAF)            

Manga Cum Laude Honors (UAF)

Employment Experience

2021-Present: Senior Aquatics Scientist: Owl Ridge Natural Resource Consultants in Anchorage, Alaska

2021: Researcher (Postdoc) at UiT- UiT-The Arctic University for Norway, Tromsø Norway

2016-2020: PhD Candidate in Arctic Marine Ecotoxicology at UiT-The Arctic University for Norway, Tromsø Norway, with teaching responsibilities, main supervisor Jasmine Nahrgang

July 2017 & 2018 - Trip leader for Chugach Children's Forest Sea kayaking expedition with 9 teenagers in remote environment, Alaska, responsible Alaska Geographic

Summer 2016, 2015 and 2013: Sea kayak guide for day trips in Prince William Sound with Lazy Otter Charters. Instructional courses also given.

2015-2018: Sea Kayak Instructor at basic and Immediate level, Tromsø Norway (approx. 5 16-hr courses held per year)

2014-2015: Field assistant for Svalbard reindeer population estimation aboard sailing vessel around Eastern and Southern Svalbard Archipelago, responsible Mathilde Le Moullec

2013-2015: Scientific assistant in fish ecotoxicology lab at UiT The Arctic University for Norway, Tromsø Norway, responsible Jasmine Nahrgang

2013-2014: Marine benthic invertebrate technician for MAREANO project at Institute for Marine Research (Havforskning Instituttet) Tromsø Norway, responsible Børge Holte

2012: Field Assistant for Jørgen Berge on Master course “AB 322 Energy flux between sea and land", looking at plankton, seabirds, and vegetation on Svalbard

2011-2012: Laboratory Technician at UNIS resp. Jørgen Berge and Jasmine Nahrgang working with polar cod, Boreogadus saida

2011: Fisheries Technician for Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Prince William Sound, Alaska, work on spawning sockeye salmon with two months on remote weir site;  Fisheries Lab Technician for the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Fairbanks, Alaska, work on larval lamprey

2010: Fisheries Technician for Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Cordova, Alaska, focus on biological sampling of Pacific salmon species, minor work with herring and eulachon

Field Experience

2022: Sailed personal vessel SY Arctic Kiwi 2000 nm along the coast of Norway, Shetland Islands, Faroe Islands, and Iceland (co-captain, co-navigator, mechanic, purser)

2019: Lead student marine research cruises in Northern Norwegian Fjords

2018: Captained sailing vessel from Brittany, France to Tromsø, Norway in winter (40 days, 3 crew) ; Research Cruise to Sea Ice Zone in Northeastern Barents Sea (14 days)

2017: Research Cruise to Seasonal Sea Ice Zone in Northeastern Barents Sea (Nov, 12 days)

2016: Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic in the Brooks Range; Sea kayak guide in Prince William Sound.

2015: Skiing trip to Southwestern Svalbard (3 people, 7 days); Sea kayaking trip across North Gulf of Alaska (3 people, 14 days, 400 km); Research expedition across Barents sea to Southeastern Svalbard to count reindeer aboard sailing vessel (4 people, 30 days)

2014: Research cruise to Western and Northern Svalbard (20 days); Fieldwork on sea ice in Western Svalbard (10 days); Research expedition on foot across Western Svalbard to count reindeer (3 people, 21 days); Research cruise to Northern Svalbard to study zooplankton communities

2013: Ski traverse of Eastern Alaska Range, Alaska (4 people, 4 days, 160 km); Sea kayaking trip across Prince William Sound, Alaska (3 people, 450 km)

2012: Skiing and dog mushing trip across Eastern Svalbard, Norway (2 people, 12 day, 350 km); Skiing and dog mushing trip across western Svalbard, Norway (2 people, 10 days, 300 km)

2011: Research expeditions around Svalbard and Northeastern Barents Sea to study Arctic terrestrial and marine ecosystems

Coursework

Adverse Outcome Pathways; Pedagogical techniques; Arctic Marine Pollution, Ecotoxicology, Ecophysiology of Arctic Fishes, Arctic Marine Zooplankton, Ice covered ecosystems, Biostatistics, Ichthyology, Marine Arctic Biology, Animal Physiology, Fisheries Management, Arctic Ecology and Population Biology, Arctic Environmental Management, Terrestrial Arctic Biology, Climate Change, Fish and Fisheries of Alaska, Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Evolution, Marine Fisheries Techniques, Scanning electron Microscopy, Analysis of Variance and Regression, Multivariate Statistics