Justin Richardson
Justin Richardson is a soil biogeochemist and assistant professor at the University of Virginia, where he focuses on the crucial interactions between metals in the soil and the health and function of humans and ecosystems. In the context of jumping earthworms, Richardson is exploring two main questions: first how the worms transform nutrient- and water cycling in forests, and how that consequently affects local plant and animal life; second, how these earthworms interact with heavy metals in the soil.
In 2015, Richardson published early evidence demonstrating how, even in remote, supposedly uncontaminated corners of New England, invasive jumping worms can still accumulate toxic metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium in their bodies and become vectors for heavy metal poisoning in other animals. Now he is exploring ways that worm interactions with toxic metals might also affect human health. Richardson also hopes to improve knowledge on jumping worm impacts to essential nutrients for native trees and understory plants, to protect both sensitive wildlife and critical resources such as drinking water reservoirs.
Prior to arriving at UVA, Richardson received his PhD in earth science at Dartmouth College and worked as an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. On the rare occasions in which he is neither in the forests nor the lab, Richardson enjoys playing a few rounds of classical music on the piano. Chopin is a particular favorite.
