Shalom Entner

Current Research:

Shalom Entner is a PhD candidate in the Finnerty lab of the Biology department, specializing in Ecology, Behavior, & Evolution and Marine Biology. Her research examines the toxicological effects of plastic pollution, using the estuarine anemone Nematostella vectensis as a model organism. She examines how polystyrene-derived chemical leachates and particulate matter impact N. vectensis physiological health, alter microbial communities, and drive differential gene expression. Her work combines metagenomics, transcriptomics, and phenotypic analyses to better understand organismal responses to anthropogenic stressors in coastal environments. Beyond the lab, Shalom has participated in training programs and an internship where she has built skills in considering anthropogenic environmental issues, their impact on communities and ecosystems, and policy to form actionable steps to solutions. She is especially interested in cross-sector collaboration and science-informed policy approaches.