Current Group Members

Postdoctoral Fellows

​Razegheh (Raz) Akhbarizadeh
  • Postdoctoral fellow. Department of Earth Sciences. University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
  • Postdoctoral fellow. The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
  • Postdoctoral fellow. Department of Earth Sciences. Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
  • Ph.D. Environmental Geology. Department of Earth Sciences. Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
  • M.Sc. Mining Engineering. Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
  • B.Sc. Mining Engineering. Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
 
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.
Min Liu
  • Postdoctoral fellow. Department of Earth Sciences. University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • Ph.D. In Environmental Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • M.Sc. In Environmental Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
  • B.Sc. in Environmental Engineering, University of Petroleum, Dongying, China
​
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
Anna Shalin
  • Ph.D. Candidate in Earth Sciences, University of Toronto
  • M.Sc. Environmental Science, ETH Zürich
  • B.Sc. Environment & Toxicology, University of Toronto
​
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
Kayla Simpson 
  • Ph.D. Candidate. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • M.Sc. in Marine Biology, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Texas, United States
  • B.Sc. in Biology, Texas A&M University, Texas, United States

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

Natalie Minda
  • ​M.Sc. Student. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • B.Sc. Honours Spec. Environmental Science, Major in Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada​
​
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 :)

Undergraduate Students