Babita Bhatta

Graduate Student
Contact: bbhatta@nd.edu

I am a master’s student advised by Dr. Daniele de Almeida Miranda and co-advised by Dr. Gary Lamberti. My research focuses on understanding the bioaccumulation and distribution patterns of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fish.
PFAS are a class of synthetic organic compounds widely used in products such as pesticides, non-stick cookware, and cosmetics, as well as stain and water-resistant textiles and packaging.

PFAS are mobile, bioaccumulative, and toxic, which raises concerns for their impact on ecosystems and public health. Lake Michigan has been contaminated with PFAS, and my work investigates how different PFAS compounds accumulate and distribute across native and invasive fish species that occupy different trophic levels. This work aims to improve our understanding of PFAS behavior in aquatic food webs and inform future environmental monitoring and mitigation strategies.