Current Group Members
Postdoctoral Fellows
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Razegheh (Raz) Akhbarizadeh
Urban streams and rivers are important pathways for microplastics (MPs) and other anthropogenic particles (e.g., plastic pellets, foams, tire wear) entering the waterbodies. Well-tested, robust, and replicable sampling and digestion methods are needed to obtain representative and comparable data for use in loadings analysis, benchmarking, source tracking, etc. We are working on a systematic investigation of typical stream sampling procedures to assess sampling efficiency, and digestion extractions to minimize MP degradation while maximizing removal of abundant, complex organic matter (OM). Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citationshl=en&user=dbt9lgUAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate Fun fact: Baking and cooking are my favourite pastimes! If not a researcher, I would be a pastry chef. |
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Min Liu
My research focused on investigating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in building materials, including optimization of the analytical methods, investigating the environmental behaviour and fate of PFAS precursors, estimating the PFAS release to the environment, etc. Publications: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Min-Liu-54/research https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7MnYtLsAAAAJ&hl=zh-CN Fun fact: Passionate about skiing as a beginner level skier. |
Ph.D. Candidates
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Anna Shalin
My doctoral thesis aims to explore safe and just Earth system boundaries for novel entities as part of the broader goals of the Earth Commission. I am using big data approaches to compile a global database of environmental contaminants and assess exceedances of safe benchmarks for these chemicals. I am also using machine learning to identify emerging contaminants of concern. Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=WvJi08wAAAAJ&hl=en Fun fact: I competed at the 2024 "Concours de Castells" aka Human Tower Championships in Tarragona, Spain. If you don't know about castells, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo_EKYPNjQE Lin Boynton
I’m part of the Earth Commission project focused on assessing safe and just Earth System Boundaries for novel entities, including chemical pollution. My goal is to investigate the global or cross-regional impacts of chemical pollution on human populations based on existing biomonitoring data to influence science policy and business. This involves harmonizing global biomonitoring data for comparison to vetted benchmarks, with an emphasis on assembly and inclusion of data from low- and middle-income countries, to enable a comprehensive meta-analysis. Publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9944-3834 Fun fact: I’m part of an association, PLEIAD Kollektiv, that explores how art can bridge the climate knowledge-action gap. Always happy to chat! |
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Kayla Simpson
I am interested in the environmental contamination of nano and microplastics. Currently, my project focuses on the development of the most efficient and reproducible methods for environmental microplastic source identification from waterways. Fun fact: I like to rock climb and surf! |
Master's Students
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Natalie Minda
I’m a part of the project entitled “Source-specific identification, characterization, and control of microplastics across a remote, rural and urban gradient-Harmonized Sampling Protocol: Microplastics in Soil, Streams, and Air” and I am working on identifying sources of atmospheric microplastics and anthropogenic particles in an urban gradient. My research interests include investigating the sources and transport mechanisms of airborne microplastics and anthropogenic particles in urban environments. Currently, my project involves examining the potential transport and deposition of such particles into urban watersheds. Publications: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalie-Minda-2 Fun fact: I play piano, bass guitar, and sing in my free time. Sometimes together with friends :) |
