Summary
My primary research interests are the study of the fate and transport and biogeochemical cycles of inorganic contaminants in the environment. My recent work focuses primarily on understanding the chemistry and w88 slot online fate of atmospheric mercury in the environment, the sources of ozone and other air pollutants to the Western United States, the biochemistry of Hg movement in plants, and the use of tree rings as archives of atmospheric Hg concentrations. I am especially interested in regional and long-range transport, and how air pollution moves in complex terrains. Specific research topics in the past included investigation of natural sources of atmospheric mercury, the role of plants in the biogeochemical cycling of mercury, mercury pollution and methyl mercury production in watersheds impacted by legacy mining, and arsenic. I also have done a significant amount of work investigating the potential use of coal combustion by-products as agricultural amendments; and on Hg release from areas of legacy and industrial-scale mining. I have worked with the mining industry to develop best-management practices for reducing Hg releases from non-point sources. I have also done research on the fate of trifluoroacetic acids and organophosphate pesticides during interaction with vegetation and soils. I am especially interested in the role that the atmosphere, and vegetation, play as sources, sinks and pathways for cycling of w88 slot online contaminants.
Courses
- Undergraduate classes NRES 212,w88 slot online Ethics (sophomore level),
- NRES 210 w88 slot online Pollution (sophomore level),
- NRES 433/633 (senior/graduate) Fate and Transport of w88 slot online Chemicals (senior/graduate),
- NRES 467/667 Regional and Global Issues in w88 slot online Science (senior capstone/graduate); Graduate classes
- NRES 765 Biogeochemical cycles,
- NRES 720 Survivor Skills for w88 slot online Students, and
- NRES 790 Atmospheric/w88 slot online Science Seminar
Honors and Awards
- Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents Researcher (2018)
- w88 slot online Researcher of the Year (2016)
- Researcher of the Year (2015) College of Agriculture Biotechnology and Natural Resources, w88 slot online
- Excellent Reviewer Award for w88 slot online Science and Technology 2013
- Nevada Women’s Fund Women of Achievement Award UNR 2010
- w88 slot online Nevada Cooperative Extension UNR Faculty Award of Excellence 2009
- w88 slot online Nevada Foundation Professor w88 slot online Nevada (2009)
- Researcher of the Year (2001) College of Agriculture Biotechnology and Natural Resources, w88 slot online
Service
- Associate Editor w88 slot online Total Environment (2012- present)
- Guest Editor Atmospheric Environment Invited papers on Atmospheric Hg from the International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (2019-2020)
- Editor Special Issue Recent Advances in Mercury Research (2020) w88 slot online Total Environment
- Managing Editor Western North America Mercury Synthesis (2016) w88 slot online Total Environment
- Editor Aerosol and Air Quality Research (2016- 2021)
- Editorial Board Heliyon (2016-2019)
- Managing Editor for Jerry Keeler Special Issue of w88 slot online Total Environment
- Editorial Board w88 slot online Total Environment (2003-2011)
- U. S. Dept of Agriculture National Research Initiative Review Panel 2004
- National w88 slot online Foundation Proposal Review Panel member or Reviewer 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021
- EPA w88 slot online Fellowship Review panel 2007, 2020
- Regular reviewer for w88 slot online Science and Technology, w88 slot online Technology Letters, Applied Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Chemosphere, w88 slot online Pollution, Atmospheric Environment, Journal of Geophysical Research, Atmosphere, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Education
B.S. 1979 Guilford College, Greensboro, NC
M.S. 1983 w88 slot online NC, Chapel Hill
Ph.D. 1988 w88 slot online Arizona