Education

  • Postdoctoral, Clemson University
  • Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  • M.S. Youngstown State University
  • B.S. Dicle University

Areas of Expertise

  • Biogeochemistry
  • Coastal wetlands
  • Mercury cycling

Background

I am an environmental health scientist and biogeochemist in the Environmental Studies Department at Davidson College. I am committed to using scientific research to better understand and solve our various environmental problems, especially chemical pollution. I focus on mercury (Hg) because it is a global pollutant with high neurotoxicity to humans and wildlife.

During my Ph.D., I studied how global climate change (saltwater intrusion and hurricanes) impacts Hg cycling in the coastal wetlands of the Carolinas. As a postdoctoral research associate, I investigated the impact of forest management on microbial Hg methylation in forested wetland watersheds at Santee Experimental Forest in South Carolina.

Overall, I am interested in studying the fate, toxicity, and biomagnification of contaminants in the natural food web of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Here at Davidson College, I teach Environmental Pollution as well as Ecosystem Processes & Biogeochemistry.