Mark Servos

Professor

Location: B2 158A

Biography

Dr. Mark Servos is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo, where his research and teaching program is related to the science underlying risk assessment and management of emerging threats to water resources.

He is an internationally recognized researcher in environmental assessment and risk of emerging contaminants of concern, including endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Servos and his group have conducted numerous studies examining the fate, effects and remediation of emerging contaminants in a variety of sectors including extensive studies on municipal wastewaters. His research also develops innovative technologies to remove these contaminants from water and tests remedial actions to minimize their risks. He is improving frameworks to assess and remediate multiple stressors and their cumulative effects on ecosystems across watersheds. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark and his team pivoted their research on wastewater and environmental DNA (eDNA) to focus on detection of SARS-CoV-2 gene fragments in wastewater systems, supporting public health agencies to understand trends in community infections. This research now extends to the development of wastewater-based surveillance to additional pathogens and high-risk substances such as “drugs of abuse” to better inform public health interventions.

Servos leads discovery as well as applied research examining how environmental contaminants affect the sustainability of watersheds and ecosystems. Drawing on extensive government experience, his work is closely aligned with partners to generate evidence that supports remediation efforts and improved environmental policy for long‑term ecological health. His current work continues to support the protection, remediation and sustainability of aquatic ecosystems locally, nationally and globally.

Research Interests

Ecotoxicology and chemistry
Integrated water resources management
Contamination & remediation: water, soil, air
Impact of emerging contaminants on aquatic ecosystems
Development of innovative treatment technologies
Wastewater-based surveillance of pathogens and high risk substances

Education

1988, PhD Environmental Chemistry of Pesticides, University of Manitoba, Canada
1983, MSc Aquatic Science, University of Guelph, Canada
1981, BSc Fisheries Biology, University of Guelph, Canada

Awards

2024, Outstanding Contribution Award, Canadian Ecotoxicity Workshop (CEW)
2023, Public Works Project of the Year Award (Technical Innovation Category), Ontario Public Works Association
2022, Water’s Next Awards, Category – Early Adoption, Canadian Water Summit
2021, Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities’ Award of Excellence, Everyday Heroes. Recognition for leadership in the COVID-19 wastewater surveillance
2021, Editor’s Choice. Recognized by the editors of the journal Fishes; J. Kidd et al. 2021
2020 – 2025, Canada Research Chair in Water Quality Protection, Department of Biology
2019, 2023, Outstanding Performance Award, University of Waterloo
2019, Stephen J. Klaine Environmental Education Award, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Presented at the Annual Meeting Nov 3, 2019.
2018, Appointed a Proto-Synthesis Visitor (2018-19) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, ETH (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland
2018, Appointed a Fellow of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC Fellow, 2018). This award recognizes (i) significant long-term scientific or science policy contributions and (ii) service and leadership within SETAC. The hallmark of a SETAC Fellow is leadership within the professional and scientific arenas as well as SETAC.
2011, Outstanding Performance Award
2011, Faculty Award for Teaching and Scholarship, University of Waterloo
2006, Presidential Citation, SETAC
2002, 5-NR Award to Leaders in Sustainable Development
2002, Presidential Citation, SETAC
1998, Citation of Excellence, Environment Canada
1993, Awarded a "Canada 125 Medal" (Government of Canada, 1993) for his contribution to the development and enrichment of the community.

Service

Program Director (2013 – 2015), Collaborative Water Program, University of Waterloo. Leading the development of a cross campus (12 departments) collaborative graduate program advancing interdisciplinary concepts in water science and management.
Science Council, Water Research Centre for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), Chile (2014 – 2024).
Expert Panel Member, National Wastewater Panel: Canada’s Needs and Opportunities to Address Contaminants in Wastewater Environment Canada/CWN (2017 – 2018).
Science Advisory Committee Member, Grand River Water Plan that recently published a Water Plan (2012 – 2014).
Committee Member, Global Environment Facility International Waters Science Synthesis and review (2011 – 2013). Co-chair of Lakes Group.
Scientific Director (2003 – 2011), Canadian Water Network. Leading the Canadian Water Network, a national Networks of Centres of Excellence. The CWN is a national partnership of academia, government and industry applying knowledge to create innovation in the water sector to sustained prosperity and quality of life for Canadians.
President SETAC (elected, 2000 – 2002), Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Elected to SETAC Board of Directors (1996 – 1999) and served on numerous committees and working groups over many years. Served on Board of Directors SETAC World Council (2001 – 2002)
President IAGLR (elected,1995-1996), International Association of Great Lakes Research, elected to IAGLR Board of Directors (elected 1993 – 1996); served on Publications Committee (1993 – 97).
President SETAC-NA (elected, 1992 – 1993), Northeastern North America Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, served on Board of Directors (1989 – 1994) and as Newsletter Editor (1990 – 1994).

Professional Associations

Fellow of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Canadian Rivers Institute (Member)

Affiliations and Volunteer Work

Water Institute (Member)
Global Water Futures Observatories (GWFO)

Teaching*

BIOL 470 - Methods of Aquatic Ecology
- Taught in 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

Selected/Recent Publications

For the full list of Mark Servos' publications, please see Google Scholar.
Cardenas-Soraca, D.M., R. Vakharia, S. Salic, M. Kecman, L.M. Bragg, M.R. Servos. (2026). Darters (Etheostoma spp.) as indicators of antidepressant and drug of abuse exposure in an urban watershed. Environmental Pollution 397:127918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127918
Hicks, K.A., M.L.M. Fuzzen, Hadi Dhiyebi, L.M. Bragg, P. Marjan, J. Cunningham, N. Srikanthan, M.E. McMaster, M.R. Servos. (2023). Intersex manifestation in the rainbow darter (Etheostoma caeruleum): are adult male fish susceptible to developing and recovering from intersex after exposure to endocrine active compounds? Aquatic Toxicology 261:106636 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106636
Cheng L1, H. Dhiyebi1, M. Varia, K. Atanas, N. Srikanthan, S. Hayat, H. Ikert, M. Fuzzen, C. Sing-Judge, Y. Badlani, E. Zeeb, L. M. Bragg, R. Delatolla, J.P. Giesy, E. Gilliland, M.R. Servos. (2023). Omicron COVID-19 case estimates based on previous SARS-CoV-2 wastewater load, Regional Municipality of Peel, Ontario, Canada. Emerging Infectious Disease. 2023 29(8) 1580-1588. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2908.221580 1.Equal first authors.
Nikel, K., G. Tetreault, P. Marjan, K. Hicks, M. Fuzzen, N. Srikanthan, E. McCann, H. Dhiyebi, L. Bragg, P. Law, D. Celmer-Repin, S. Kleywegt, J. Cunningham, M. McMaster, M. Servos. (2022). Wild fish responses to wastewater treatment plant upgrades in the Grand River, Ontario. Aquatic Toxicology 255, 106375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106375
Arlos, M.J., W.J. Parker, J.R Bicudo, P. Law; K.A. Hicks, M. Fuzzen*, S. Andrews, M.R. Servos. (2018). Modeling the exposure of wild fish to endocrine active chemicals: potential linkages of total estrogenicity to field-observed intersex. Water Research. 139:187-197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.04.005