Natalia Sandoval Herrera

I am a biologist passionate about understanding how human activities impact wildlife, particularly in neglected species and vulnerable ecosystems. My work bridges the fields of ecotoxicology and conservation physiology, exploring how animals cope with environmental stressors across multiple levels of biological organization.

My research program investigates the causes and consequences of exposure to anthropogenic pollution, integrating fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and analytical approaches to reveal the mechanisms linking environmental stress, physiology, and behavior. Ultimately, I aim to develop knowledge and tools that support evidence-based wildlife conservation and management decisions.

I am particularly interested in behavioral ecotoxicology, exploring how pollutants alter animal behavior in natural environments and what these changes reveal about underlying physiological stress. A core aspect of my work focuses on developing and applying non-lethal, cost-effective sampling methods that allow for comprehensive assessments of wildlife health without harming individuals. I am also passionate about advancing open-source and low-cost technologies to make conservation research more accessible and scalable, particularly in regions where resources are limited. In addition, I integrate environmental forensics approaches using high-throughput tools such as proteomics and metabolomics, enabling us to detect, from just a single drop of blood, both the contaminants an organism has encountered and their potential health effects. 

Most recently, I have begun incorporating a One Health perspective into my work, examining how environmental pollutants may influence antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic disease risks in wildlife. I am currently leading a research project at the intersection of pollution and disease ecology in bats, integrating cutting-edge molecular tools and environmental monitoring to better understand how environmental stressors shape wildlife health and ecosystem resilience.

If you are interested in a bachelors thesis or a master's thesis? Contact me by email to see what research projects I have on the go and how you can get involved for your thesis work. Likewise, if you are interested in Ph.D. or postdoctoral experience, email me and we can discuss project and funding ideas.