Our faculty are extending research technologies and approaches for measuring chemical stressors. We conduct advanced sensing of environmental exposure to anthropogenic contaminants, pollutants and other natural stressors, such as harmful algal blooms.
Francisco Fernandez-Lima, Lead: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Yong Cai: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Piero Gardinali: Chemistry and Biochemistry
William Anderson: Earth and Environment
David Kadko: Applied Research Center
Shekhar Bhansali: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Natalia Soares Qinete: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Our driving hypothesis is that the improved detection of environmental contaminants at relevant levels - using cutting-edge technologies with a high degree of specificity and at ultra-low concentrations - will ultimately lead to the recognition of important pathways, interactions, and changes along environmental gradients, which could negatively affect ecosystem function via anthropogenic activities, natural forces and altered biogeochemical cycles.
The research done by contaminant detection and identification will:
- Develop sensing technologies to determine known traditional or emergent pollutants at environmentally-relevant concentrations (parts per billion to parts per-trillion) in multimedia samples (biotic and abiotic).
- Take advantage of recently developed cutting-edge analytical chemistry tools to assess changes in the overall molecular composition of target, suspect and unknown components present in environmental samples through a relevant ecosystem boundary.
- Apply knowledge of molecular biology to simultaneously assess the genetic and functional responses of relevant organisms or receptors, to identify the role these pollutants and stressors play in the creation of adverse outcome pathways that may influence ecosystem functioning.
We aims to develop and apply a set of innovative molecular sensing technologies following a three-tier approach. In doing so, we will provide unique hands-on research and discovery experiences for minority students (undergraduate and graduate) and postdoctoral researchers, exposing them to state-of-the-art research in analytical chemistry, genetics, toxicology and molecular biology.
Additionally, our major goals is to trace relationships between stressors and biological responses using these tools. This work will set a framework for applying these results in environmental biomonitoring, improving quickness and sensibility of pollution detection. Therefore, one societal impact will be the transfer of these technologies, and the vast information they generate, to end-users and stakeholders, fostering collaboration with industry partners and helping the decision making process for managers and policymakers.
Our students are tackling a variety of challenges in detecting and identifying anthropogenic contaminants, pollutants and other natural stressors. Their research is improving sensing technologies and methodologies, through mass spectrometry imaging and other advanced analytical techniques.
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