• 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)

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.

I am a plant physiologist fascinated by how certain plants have evolved the ability to tolerate and accumulate concentrations of metal(loid)s that are toxic to most other species. My research seeks to understand the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms that control the uptake, transport, sequestration, and metabolism of these elements, with a particular interest in hyperaccumulation and plant adaptation to metalliferous environments. I am particularly interested in connecting this fundamental understanding of plant biology with sustainable applications such as phytomining and phytoremediation, and in exploring how the natural capabilities of plants can be used to recover valuable elements and restore mining-affected environments.

I am a Ph.D. student in Environmental Science focusing on plant metal tolerance and the phytoremediation potential of toxic contaminants. My research investigates how plants and microorganisms interact through organismal physiology and gene regulation. I completed my M.S. in Environmental Sciences with a focus on food safety research. Before joining the University of Arizona, I worked as a research associate, conducting studies on various aspects of vegetable breeding and disease management. In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors and capturing nature through photography.

I am a Ph.D. student in Environmental Science with a concentration in sustainability, leadership, and communication. My primary interests include plant ecology and adaptation, the plant-soil nexus, land reclamation, and environmental policy. I have worked on projects involving plant-metal uptake and community garden soil health, and I hope to continue exploring diverse facets of the environmental sciences.

I am a Ph.D. student in Environmental Science at the University of Arizona. My research focuses on understanding nickel hyperaccumulation in a U.S.-native plant through advanced hydroponic experiments, phenotyping, chemical analyses, and genomic approaches. My work aims to identify populations and traits with the greatest potential for future nickel phytomining applications in the United States. I am also involved in research on plant–soil–microbe interactions, particularly in mining-impacted environments.

I am a graduate student in Environmental Science at the University of Arizona. My research focuses on geochemical analysis of contaminated post-mining sites, where natural vegetation establishment is limited. I aim to evaluate differences in vegetation response and identify plant species capable of germinating and potentially establishing on mine tailings. More broadly, I am interested in applying science to address pressing environmental challenges and promote sustainable ecosystem management.

I am an M.S. student in Environmental Science at the University of Arizona. My research focuses on sustainable restoration and plant-soil interactions in mining-impacted and highly contaminated environments. I am interested in understanding how plants respond to stressful soil conditions and how this knowledge can help support ecological restoration and recovery.

I graduated from the University of Arizona in 2026 with a B.S. in Environmental Science. I started working in Dr. Alicja's Plant-Soil-Environment lab as an undergraduate research assistant during the fall of my sophomore year. Following graduation, I've been fortunate enough to continue working in this wonderful lab as our Laboratory Coordinator. As I do not conduct my own research, my sole focus is to ensure that all members of the lab can accomplish their goals. I help organize and facilitate research efforts in coordinator with, and between, all lab members, while taking care of daily administration tasks so our team may focus on doing the best research possible.