Author Archives: Naomi Hirsch

New Trainee Highlight: Cleo Davie-Martin

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Hi! My name is Cleo Davie-Martin, and I am a recent arrival from Dunedin, New Zealand. I am a new Post-doctoral Scholar in the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology at Oregon State University working with Dr. Staci Simonich under Project 5 of the SRP.

Cleo Davie-Martin
Cleo Davie-Martin, PostDoc, Project 5

I obtained my B.Sc.(Hons) in chemistry and more recently, my Ph.D. in environmental and analytical chemistry from the University of Otago under the supervision of Dr. Kimberly Hageman and Dr. Yu-Ping Chin. My research investigated the local- and global-scale atmospheric distribution of organic contaminants, including pesticides and brominated flame retardants.

On my weekends, you are likely to find me backpacking through the mountains, camping under the stars, and/or exploring the coast (and when this beautiful weather ends… perhaps indoors on the climbing wall or playing badminton and squash).

Grad Students Teach High School Students About Environmental Pollution

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blair teaching mcnary 2
Blair Paulik discussing toxicology in the classroom

Blair Paulik and Jamie Minick, both SRP Trainees working on their PhDs in Dr. Kim Anderson’s lab (Project 4), traveled to McNary High School in the Salem, OR area on April 10th to teach students about environmental pollution.

This opportunity was initiated when a teacher from McNary contacted the Community Outreach & Engagement Core of the Environmental Health Sciences Center (EHSC). The opportunity was then given to the Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology’s graduate student organization, TEAM Tox. This is a great way for grad students to get out into classrooms.

Blair and Jamie’s interactive presentation highlighted where environmental pollution comes from, why environmental pollution is of concern, how humans are exposed to pollutants, and how scientists at Oregon State University are studying pollutants in the environment.

Jamie Minick presenting on environmental pollutants.
Jamie Minick presenting on environmental pollutants.

Throughout the day, Blair and Jamie taught 129 high school students from six different classes including chemistry, biology, and environmental science. The students showed genuine interest in the subject matter, asking questions about specific environmental pollutants and about science and college in general.

Trainee Ivan Titaley Awarded Funds for Externship at PNNL

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Chemistry graduate student Ivan Titaley has been immersed in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) research within SRP Project 5 – Formation of Hazardous PAH Breakdown Products in Complex Environmental Mixtures at Superfund Sites under Dr. Staci Simonich.

Ivan Titaley
Ivan Titaley

Recently, Ivan was selected by Dr. Dayle Smith as a sponsored fellow at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to get hands-on training in modeling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This program is through the Office of Science and Engineering Education (SEE) at PNNL. The selection is commendable, and will allow Ivan to apply new modeling techniquesl in his own research on OPAHs and OHPAHs transformation processes.

To financially support Ivan on this unique training opportunity, he has been awarded an SRP Trainee Externship Award through the SRP Training Core. This activity provides important synergy between Project 5 and Core C – Biostatistics and Modeling.

Dr. Smith will provide mentoring for Ivan to perform computational chemistry work to predict the formation of oxygenated-PAHs (OPAHs) and hydroxy-PAHs (OHPAHs) from higher molecular weight parent PAHs. More specifically, Ivan will be working using the NWChem 6.5 computational chemistry software. Using thermodynamic data on potential OH-PAH-adduct, he will be able to show which compounds will form based on thermodynamic stability.

Congratulations, Ivan!

 

New Trainee Highlight – Holly Dixon

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Holly
Holly Dixon

My name is Holly Dixon, and I am a new PhD student in the Dept. of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology (EMT) at Oregon State University (OSU). I grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon and completed my undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington in 2014.

During my undergraduate career, I had the opportunity to complete a nuclear forensics internship at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and a chemical mixtures internship at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. By completing summer internships, I not only discovered that the field of toxicology is the perfect blend of my biology, chemistry, and research interests, but also that one of my career goals is to better understand people’s environmental exposure to toxicants.

I am excited by all of the opportunities I have had at OSU so far – both in my classes and research. I cannot wait to gain more specialized knowledge in toxicology and take part in a long-term research project.  Through the EMT program’s supportive and motivated environment, I know I will grow as a student, researcher, and collaborator.   I am currently working in Dr. Kim Anderson’s lab and learning about her different SRP projects (Project 4).

Recently I had the privilege of being recognized as an OSU ARCS Scholar. This award is for a new PhD student in the College of Agricultural Sciences. As an ARCS Scholar, I receive a stipend for three years to support my graduate studies.

Outside of studying and conducting research, I enjoy playing tennis and exploring the Pacific Northwest. I look forward to spending the next few years in Corvallis.

Blair Paulik Receives SRP Trainee Award for SETAC Europe Meeting

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The SRP Training Core is pleased to support externship opportunities for SRP trainees to provide added experiential training specifically benefiting the trainee’s career goals. This new funding opportunity began in 2014.

Blair Paulik, a Trainee with Project 4, is the first to receive an Externship Award. Blair is receiving travel and lodging support to attend SETAC Europe 25th Annual Meeting, which will be held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, from May 3-7 2015.  

Blair Paulik
Blair Paulik

Attending this meeting will build her leadership and networking skills. She will also have the opportunity to present a part of her PhD research at this international meeting. Blair will be presenting about the impact of unconventional natural gas extraction on air quality.

Blair was elected to be the Vice Chair of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America Student Advisory Council (NASAC) for a 3-year term beginning fall 2014. She will be one of only a few students from North America to formally represent NASAC and SETAC North America on this global stage.

Blair will come back and share her experience with other SRP Trainees through the upcoming OSU SRP-led quarterly “brown-bag” web conferences with other SRP programs. She also plans to write about her experience to support other students. This opportunity will help Blair become a stronger mentor and bring visibility to our NIEHS SRP Trainee network.