Ben Schmandt

Ben grew up in Winchester, MA and lived in Lewiston, Maine for five years before returning to Boston in 2023 to join the Claussnitzer lab. He obtained his B.S. from Bates College where he studied the toxicology of plastic pollutants in the zebrafish model. This research fueled his scientific passion for the interplay between individual and population genetics and the environment.  He has also made forays into the cow microbiome, plant germination, and freshwater sponge ecology. Currently Ben is working on the dissection of the complex 9p21 locus, which is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Outside the lab, Ben enjoys photography, birdwatching, and plant identification. He also loves cooking and is excited to bake anything that includes chocolate!