Alan Vajda

Alan Vajda photo
Ph.D. • Associate Professor • Biology Research Faculty
Department of Integrative Biology

Mailing Address:
Department of Integrative Biology
Campus Box 171
P.O. Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217-3364

Physical Location:
1150 12th Street
SI 4104
Denver, CO 80204

Office Hours:

Wednesday 11:00am-12:00pm,  and by appointment

Expertise Areas:
Endocrine Disruption Environmental Toxicology Ecological Developmental Biology

Ph.D. Environmental Endocrinology, University of Colorado at Boulder, CO
M.A. Environmental Toxicology, University of Colorado at Boulder, CO
B.A. Biology; Science, Technology, and Society, Pomona College, CA

The focus of our laboratory is on the emerging eco-human health issue of endocrine-active  chemicals in our environment.

Studies include: neural mechanisms underlying reproductive disruption by estrogenic mixtures, ecosystem responses to major engineering upgrades, and the role of water management decisions in mitigating adverse impacts of environmental chemicals on the health of humans and wildlife.

Barber, L.B., Hladik, M, Vajda, A.M., Fitzgerald, K., Douville, C. (2015). Effects of a full-scale wastewater treatment facility conversion from chlorine to ultraviolet light disinfection on the formation of halogenated disinfection byproducts. Sci. Tot. Environ.  529:264-274.

Narrowe, A.B., Albuthi-Lantz, M., Smith, E.P., Bower, K.J., Roane, T.M., Vajda, A.M., Miller, C.S(2015). Perturbation and restoration of the fathead minnow gut microbiome after low-level triclosan exposure.  Microbiome. new Biomed Central journal (2013), 3(1), 6.

Vajda, A.M., Kumar, A., Woods, M., Williams, M., Doan, H., Tolsher, P., Kookana, R.S.,Barber, L.B. (2015). Integrated assessment of wastewater treatment plant effluent estrogenicity in the upper Murray River, Australia, using the native Murray Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis). Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 34: 1078-1087.

Schwindt, A.R., Winkelman, D.L., Keteles, K., Murphy, M., Vajda, A.M. (2014). Population failure caused by an environmental estrogen is long-lasting and regulated by direct and parental effects on survival and fecundity.  J. Appl. Ecol. 51: 582-591.

Barber, L.B., Vajda, A.M., Douville, C, Norris, D.O.  Writer, J.H. (2012). Fish endocrine disruption responses to a major wastewater treatment facility upgrade.  Environ. Sci. Technol., 46, 2121–2131.

Vajda, A.M., Barber, L.B., Gray, J.L., Bolden, A.M., Lopez, E.M., Schoenfuss, H.L., Norris, D.O. (2011) Demasculinization of male fish exposed to estrogenic wastewater effluent. Aquat. Toxicol.

McGree, M., D.L. Winkleman, N.K.M. Vieira, Vajda, A.M.  2010.  Reproductive failure of the red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis) after exposure to an exogenous estrogen. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 67. 1730-1743.

Vajda, A.M. and Norris D.O. 2010. Endocrine disruption in fishes. In D.O. Norris and K. Lopez, eds. Reproductive Endocrinology of Vertebrates. Oxford University Press, New York.

Schultz, M.M., Furlong, E.T., Kolpin, D.W., Werner, S.L., Schoenfuss, H.L., Barber, L.B., Blazer, V.S., Norris, D.O., Vajda, A.M. 2010. Antidepressant pharmaceuticals in two U.S. effluent-impacted streams: occurrence and fate in water and sediment, and selective uptake in fish neural tissue. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44(6):1918–1925.

Painter, M.R., M.A. Buerkley, M.L. Julius, A.M. Vajda, D.O. Norris, L.B. Barber, E.T. Furlong, M.M. Schultz, H.L. Schoenfuss. 2009. Antidepressents adversely effect predator avoidance behavior of larval fish. Environ. Toxicol. Chem.Dec; 28(12):2677-84.

 McGee, M.R., M.L. Julius, A.M. Vajda, D.O. Norris, L.B. Barber, H.L. Schoenfuss. 2009. Predator avoidance performance of larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) following short-term exposure to estrogen mixtures. Aquat. Toxicol. 91: 355–361.

Brinkman, S.G., J.D. Woodling, D.O. Norris, A.M Vajda. 2008. Chronic toxicity of ammonia to early life stage rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 138: 433-440.

Vajda, A.M., J.L. Gray, L.B Barber, E.M. Lopez, J.D. Woodling, Norris, D.O. 2008. Reproductive disruption in fish downstream from an estrogenic wastewater effluent. Environ. Sci. Technol. 42: 3407-3414.

Norris, D.O. and Vajda, A.M. 2007. Endocrine active chemicals (EACs) in wastewater: Effects on health of wildlife and humans. Impact 9: 15-16.

Vajda, A.M. and D.O. Norris. 2006. Endocrine Active Phytochemicals: Environmental signaling context and mechanisms.  In: D.O. Norris and J.A. Carr, eds. Endocrine Disruption:  The biological basis for health effects in wildlife and humans. Oxford University Press, New York. pp. 390-423.

Woodling, J.D., E.M. Lopez, T. Maldonado, D.O. Norris, and A.M. Vajda.  2006. Intersex and other reproductive disruption of fish in wastewater effluent dominated Colorado streams.  Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C. Toxicol. Pharmacol.  144(1): 10-15.

Vajda, A.M. and D.O. Norris. 2005. Effects of steroids and dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) on the developing wolffian ducts of the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum). Gen. CompEndocrinol. 141(1):1-11.

BIOL 3225 - Human Physiology
BIOL 4460/5460 - Environmental Toxicology
BIOL 4674/5674 - Endocrinology
BIOL 7010 - Topics in Integrative and Systems Biology