• Plant adaptation to environmental stress,
• Metal tolerance and hyperaccumulation,
• Population genetics,
• Plant-soil interactions,
• Phytoremediation and restoration of arid lands,
• Director of The Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining (CESM)

Priyanka earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Florida International University, Miami, FL and her dissertation work was focused on understanding the soil microbial functional capacity in urbanized soils. Priyanka’s current research is focused on investigating plant-microbe interactions that help facilitate plant survival in metal-contaminated soils. Additionally, she is interested in understanding plant adaptation strategies that enable plants to grow in nutrient-limited and metal-contaminated soils. She hopes to apply the gained knowledge to improve mine-tailings rehabilitation and restoration of arid lands. She loves being outdoors, indoor climbing, cooking Indian food, and is a chai lover.

I received my Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Queensland, Australia, where my research focused on the biogeochemistry of ultramafic environments and the physiology of the hyperaccumulator plants that inhabit them. My current research interests, much like those I pursued a decade ago, include the discovery of new hyperaccumulator species and the study of their unique physiology in support of emerging technologies such as agromining. I have recently developed a strong interest in advancing strategies that capitalize on the natural ability of plants to decontaminate soils in industrial and urban settings. Outside of research, I enjoy running, playing team sports, and reading a variety of non-fiction literature.

I investigate the interactions between plants and soil microorganisms​ to better understand their input in the successful remediation and restoration of anthropogenically disturbed habitats. I am particularly interested in adaptation of plants to unfavorable and changing conditions at metalliferous sites, as well as in genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying metal-tolerance and metal-hyperaccumulation traits.

Tomasz Wlodarczyk is a PhD student pursuing degree in Environmental Science at the University of Arizona. His research focuses on the identification and study of native plant species that accumulate and tolerate heavy metals. In his PhD program, Tomasz is collaborating with researchers from The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the intersection of phytoremediation and green chemistry. He also conducts research within the Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining at the University of Arizona (CESM).

Hello, I am Manzeal Khanal (pronouns, He/Him). I am a Ph.D. student (Environmental Science), and Dr. Alicja Babst-Kostecka is my academic advisor. I aim to explore the plant metal tolerance and phytoremediation potential of toxic contaminants by studying how plants and microorganisms interact in terms of organismal physiology and gene regulation. I have completed my MS in Environmental Sciences with a focus on food safety research. Before joining U of Arizona, I also worked as a research associate where I conducted studies on the various aspects of vegetable breeding and disease management. During my free time, I relish going outdoors in nature and capturing some instances in photographs.

I graduated from the University of Arizona in 2022 with a BS in Environmental Science. Currently, I am working on a project involving phytoremediation of mining sites in tandem with photovoltaic technology, soon to be known as “Phytovoltaics.” My personal interests involve ecological remediation, engineering, and art, among other things.

Andréa is currently pursuing her MS of Environmental Science while working with the Maier and Babst-Kostecka labs. She is a part of UA's Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining (CESM), with research interests in mine site remediation and revegetation. She is particularly interested in sites located in arid climates.

Jacob is a PhD student of Environmental Science with a concentration in sustainability, leadership, and communication. He is primarily interested in plant ecology and adaptation, the plant-soil nexus, land reclamation, and environmental policy. He has worked on projects involving plant-metal uptake and community garden soil health, and hopes to continue to explore more facets of the environmental sciences.

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. This experience prompted her to deepen her scientific understanding of our environment, particularly in soil science. She is particularly interested in the implications of plant, soil and microbial interactions in progressing land reclamation and revegetation efforts.