Graduate Students

I study environmental controls on the bioavailability of arsenic and toxic metals, investigating how environmental processes controlling the speciation and distribution of contaminants are linked to contaminant bioaccessibility in mine tailing sites.

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I use QSPR to predict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) adsorption to carbonaceous materials.

My research focuses on microbial soil contamination and potential health risks due to historic sewage overflows in the bordertown of Naco, Arizona. I also work on qualitative research for Project Harvest, where I assess environmental self- and community efficacy among Spanish-speaking participants.

My research is at the intersection of environmental justice, pollution and public health. I am interested in researching how the impact of heavy metals exposure on the health of communities living in mining communities.

Pronouns: She/her

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Panamanian Ph.D. student, working on contaminant transport in mine tailings with Dr. Jon Chorover and Dr. Bo Guo.
Fulbright Alumni 2020 - 2022

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My research will focus on understanding the effects of disturbance and stress on ecosystems, especially on thawing permafrost and arid soils. I will use multi-omic approaches to study the changes in carbon fluxes and microbial composition.

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My work in the Tfaily Lab centers on investigating the metabolic dynamics at play in complex microbial ecosystems, as well as their responses and feedbacks to global change.  Currently, I'm using the tools of systems biology to study the carbon cycle in thawing permafrost peatlands.

Sustainable Viticulture in Arizona

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My research examines the biophysiochemical characteristics and soil health indices of various soil materials in southern Arizona to understand the effects of long term burial and stockpiling on soil health and quality. These materials include both natural and stockpile materials that may potentially be used as capping material on copper mine sites to control dust emissions and enhance vegetation establishment during site reclamation.

My research in Tfaily Lab will revolve around understanding the relationship between microbial community composition, their metabolic activity, and the effect of environmental change on organic matter. I will also address the biotic effect (microbial life, non-vascular and vascular plant life) on hydrology and geochemistry. My research will use a full “omics” approach to understand gene to ecosystem functioning.

My research will focus on stabilizing potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the rhizosphere through phytoremediation, with particular emphasis on the role of plant root exudates.

My research will be looking at the impact of microplastics in soil systems and the influences that these contaminants confer. Further, I'll be looking at the abiotic morphological processes necessary for microplastics to undergo in soil systems to be available for biodegradation.

Pronouns: He/Him

My research is on phytoremediation.

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I am using metabolomics and metagenomics to uncover the microbial impacts of invasive plants on soil health and native plant fitness.

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My research focuses on identifying potential sources of heavy metal and radiogenic contamination in soil, dust, and rainwater across Arizona, with a strong emphasis on community-based science. I participate in the STEAM in Action program and intergenerational report-backs, mentoring local youth in environmental justice communities and helping translate scientific findings into accessible, community-centered communication. 

My research focuses on contaminant chemistry.

Pronouns: She/her

My research is on environmental water microbiology.

Anika is pursuing an M.S. in Environmental Science. She served in Peace Corps Senegal as a Sustainable Agriculture Extension Agent from 2018-2020 and was involved with the promotion of food security initiatives by supporting improved agricultural practices. While in Senegal, she had direct exposure to the severe impacts of depleted arid landscapes and their contribution to soil erosion and poor vegetal growth.

I am a bioinformatician and microecologist currently experimenting with the effectiveness of microbial inoculants in promoting plant growth and soil aggregation. I am interested in the plant-soil-microbial interface. 

The working title of my dissertation research is "Examination of Root Border Cells in Medicinal Plants Exposed to Heavy Metals and their Antibiotic Resistance of the Rhizosphere."

I am interested on the communities of microorganisms that inhabit the soil and their relationship with soil processes and ecosystem services. My goal is to study these communities, their structure, dynamics and ecology to learn about their role in arid ecosystems.

Pronouns: She/Her

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Research

"Contaminant Behavior in the Indige-FEWSS nexus: Addressing the concentration- discharge relationship in the Little Bighorn River watershed, Crow Reservation, Montana"

I conduct interdisciplinary work in soil science/pedology, geosciences, and anthropology. I'm specifically interested in reconstructing Quaternary paleoenvironments, better understanding prehistoric human-ecosystem interactions, and deciphering the ways in which landscape dynamics alter the archaeological record."

Pronouns: He/Him