EPA fellow researches PFAS toxicity levels in migratory fish populations
Meet Izak Hill

As an ORISE fellow with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Izak Hill conducts research on migratory fish populations in Atlantic estuaries. (Photo Credit: Anna Robuck, Ph.D./EPA)
Izak Hill has been curious about humanity’s relationship with the natural world for as long as he can remember.
“As a kid, I was always outdoors and active — to which I give my parents and older brother a lot of credit,” Hill says.
Hill’s family introduced him to fishing, a sport that became a lifelong passion and a profound influence on his career direction in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“I chose a career in STEM because it gives me opportunities to satisfy my curiosities about direct and indirect human influence on the natural world — especially on the aquatic ecosystems I’ve grown to know and love,” Hill explains. “Our fisheries give so much to us through ecosystem services, so I feel a career in STEM dedicated to environmental and fisheries sciences is a great step in giving back to fisheries.”
Through his university email listserv, Hill learned about research opportunities with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). He applied because he recognized that an ORISE fellowship with the EPA would be a great opportunity to advance his knowledge of analytical chemistry and its applications in environmental and fisheries sciences.
The EPA Research Participation Programs provide college students, recent graduates and university faculty opportunities to participate in current environmental research in areas such as air and radiation, water quality, solid waste and emergency response.
Under the guidance of mentor Anna Robuck, Ph.D., Hill is part of the EPA’s Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division. His research is focused on the growing environmental concern of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (also known as PFAS). These substances have gathered a lot of attention within the last decade because of their toxic health effects and widespread use.
“PFAS are known to accumulate in a wide variety of fish species, with some species being popular for harvest,” Hill explains. “Yet, little is known about the accumulation of PFAS in fish that undergo vast migrations between marine, brackish and freshwater habitats.”
Anadromous fish are known to migrate from saltwater to freshwater to reproduce en masse. For example, the Atlantic striped bass (Morone saxilitis) is a highly migratory fish that spawns in rivers, back bays and estuaries in the spring before moving to New England coastal waters in the summer. This fish is popular for harvest as table fare and has been known to contain high levels of PFAS.
Hill’s research aims to understand the influence of migratory life history on PFAS accumulation in Atlantic striped bass caught throughout the mid-Atlantic and New England.
“My research aims to not only further our understanding of dietary exposure to PFAS but also to understand the patterns of chemical contamination in a migratory fish species that interact across a variety of aquatic ecosystems,” Hill explains.
Hill feels that he has gained many unique experiences as an ORISE fellow.
“Having the opportunity to work under the mentorship of career scientists has been an enlightening experience,” he says. “I've been able to learn new techniques in analytical chemistry that set the foundation for the skillset I need for my scientific career.”
A typical day for Hill starts with team meetings to discuss project updates and tasks to be completed. After preparing samples for testing and running the tests, Hill and his team complete an analysis of contaminant levels for the different samples.
“We all operate at a steady pace, maintaining the research momentum. This keeps the atmosphere very motivating,” Hill says.
Hill highly recommends the ORISE fellowship program to others.
“The skills that I am learning are invaluable and I’ll carry them with me for a lifetime,” he says. “In addition to learning opportunities, I’ve met some brilliant minds and collaborators who I hope to continue working with in the future.”
After his fellowship, Hill hopes to complete his Ph.D. in chemical oceanography before moving on to a state or federal position as a biologist working in marine or great lakes fisheries.
“We’ve really fostered a positive and uplifting environment,” Hill says. “This largely stems from our diverse research backgrounds and interests; we are all inquisitive and interested in similar scientific endeavors. This stimulates a great learning environment where we all contribute to the research and learn something from one another along the way.”
The EPA Research Participation Programs are administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). ORISE is managed for the U.S. Department of Energy by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).