Project:
Developing a generic version of an environmental multimedia fate and transport model

Research Location:
Michigan Tech

Faculty Advisors:
Dr. Qiong Zhang,
Dr. Jim Mihelcic,
and Dr. David Hokanson

Dr. Zhang developed a fate and transport model for the Great Lakes region which has been linked to some economic-input output life cycle assessment models that allow a decision maker to evaluate issues of sustainability on a regional basis (Chemosphere, 50(10), 1377-1397, 2003). My primary objective this summer is to make a generic version of the model that would be of greater use to the scientific community outside of the Great Lakes region. After the generic model is developed, we will apply a case study that is related to sustainability. The case study will involve evaluating the risk of an emerging chemical that is significant to either sustainable technology or human health and the environment.

Personal Information

I am originally from Milford, Michigan and will be finishing up my undergraduate degree next spring. This past semester I was on a national student exchange in Logan, Utah at Utah State University. This was my second semester studying abroad; my first exchange was in Perth, Australia at Curtin University. I am an outdoor enthusiast and especially enjoy biking (mountain and road). In the summer I usually race in the local mountain bike races (in the U.P. of Michigan and in upper Wisconsin) and will be doing my first team 24-hour mountain bike race the last weekend in July.
Last summer I participated in an environmental engineering REU program in Boulder, Colorado at the University of Colorado. My project dealt with the Filtron (a clay water filter used in developing countries) and I specifically looked at the disinfection properties of the colloidal silver that is applied to the filter. In August of this year I will be traveling to Santa Cruz, Bolivia for my senior design project. My team will be looking at the numerous wetland areas that are currently being used as makeshift dumps. This project is the first of its kind and very broad in its scope.
At MTU I am involved with the Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) and the alternative transportation subcommittee. The alt. trans. committee is working to start a bike program at MTU. Two years ago I helped initiate our first Drop and Shop event to reduce the amount of items that are thrown out by students leaving for the summer.