Field Notes

In this episode of the Lake Doctor podcast, Suzie Light and Dr. Nate Bosch welcome Dr. Ty Hoskins, Research Assistant Professor at Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. Ty breaks down PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as “forever chemicals”—explaining why their ultra-strong carbon-fluorine bonds make them so useful in everyday products and so persistent once they reach the environment.

He shares his research on PFAS in largemouth bass living in Indiana farm ponds near fields that receive agricultural biosolids. The conversation covers how these chemicals move from wastewater sludge into soils and nearby waters, why ponds are both understudied and highly relevant, and how bioaccumulation and biomagnification can concentrate PFAS in the fish people catch and eat. Ty also clarifies the science in plain language, from surfactant properties to indicator species, giving listeners a clearer picture of a complex and important water-quality issue.

Ty’s work highlights an often-overlooked piece of the water-quality picture: the thousands of small ponds scattered across Indiana farmland. By focusing on these systems and the fish that live in them, his research helps connect everyday agricultural practices to potential human exposure and shows why understanding “forever chemicals” in local waters is becoming increasingly important for both scientists and communities.

Dr. Tyler Hoskins is the research assistant professor in Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. His work mainly focuses on the effects of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals) on the environment, especially aquatic species like amphibians and fish. He attained his B.S. in Biology from Butler University and eventually went on to get his Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology from Miami University in Ohio. He’s published several scientific articles regarding data collected through various projects.