Chemical Aspects of Environmental Pollutants

 

Chemical Aspects of Environmental Pollutants

Mentor(s):
Paul G. Tratnyek (Professor), possibly with postdoctoral front-line mentors for in person lab work.

Location:
Oregon Health & Science University. In person laboratory research at the OHSU main campus on Marquam Hill, Portland, OR, or virtual data mining and analysis from any place.

Background:
Dr. Tratnyek (’80) is a Professor in the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. His teaching and research concern many aspects of environmental chemistry, especially the fate and remediation of contaminants, but also their effects on human/ecological health and a variety of natural biogeochemical processes. For more information, see https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://tratnyek.org/__;!!Mi0JBg!e857L3clG4Zk4fhwNJ6CEOMOyq5Sk5M94Wj8_Kq8Y4vYK2r9hCilM682Iwc4KjY0$ .

Internship Activities:
This are a variety of ways that summer interns could contribute to the on-going research in the Tratnyek lab at OHSU. A specific plan of research will be developed based on the intern’s skills and interests, availability of postdocs to serve as front-line mentors, and project goals and priorities.

In person laboratory research would most likely involved the development of a novel approach to degradation of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are the “forever chemicals” that have recently emerged as one of the most concerning classes of chemical pollutants. The ideal background for this would be a laboratory course in physical chemistry.

Remote (virtual) research would involve data mining and analysis (possibly using machine learning) on the environmental degradation of contaminants, including either chlorinated solvents in groundwater or riot control agents used on protestors during Summer 2020. The ideal background for this would include both chemistry and computer science.

Applications:
Email a cover letter and CV to Paul Tratnyek ([email protected]). Finalists will be asked to arrange several references.

———
Paul G. Tratnyek, Professor
OHSU-PSU School of Public Health
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
Email: [email protected] | Group: tratnyek.org