๐ Tell us about yourself?
I am an international Ph.D. student at the Dept. of Physical and Environmental Sciences at UTSC. I moved to Toronto from Tijuana, Mexico to pursue this research program a year ago. I'm currently studying the effects of temperature on mercury methylation and demethylation on wetland soils from harvested areas in Northern Ontario. I like working in collaboration with CERA because it opens opportunities for interdisciplinary work and is very complementary to my work on the effects of temperature related to the changing climate. In my free time, I like to craft anything from sewing projects to kombucha, play squash, and enjoy a good bowl of popcorn.ย
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๐ย What are your research interests & what are you currently researching?
I was introduced to research through the study of wastewater treatment technologies. After other immersive research experiences, I also studied the interactions of biomolecules with metal oxide nanoparticles. Currently, my research is very far from both of these subjects but they have built a good introduction to research for me. Now I study how biotic and abiotic factors in the environment impact mercury methylation and demethylation.ย
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๐ What is the significance of your current research?ย ย
Methylmercury is a toxic compound produced through mercury methylation in the environment. It has high neurotoxic properties and can cause severe birth defects. Studying mercury methylation and demethylation is expected to allow better modeling of mercury cycling processes with respect to climate and other environmental changes in boreal regions. The relevance of this research is also due to the eventual transport of methylmercury to major watersheds and aquatic species, bio-accumulating and -magnifying this compound, and exposing other wildlife and humans to MeHg through consumption of these. Furthermore, addressing the impacts of harvesting activities on methylation and demethylation activity will invite a conversation regarding better management practices for a safer community.ย ย
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๐ What aspirations do you have for your research? How do you see it being utilized?ย
I'm excited to obtain data for mercury cycling models, this will be incredibly useful for all areas of study related to mercury in the environment. By accurately modeling the effects of temperature and anthropogenic activities in these biogeochemical processes, we can characterize the implications of a changing climate, which has yet to be described in previous work. Additionally, being able to correlate the effects of harvesting activities with net methylmercury-produced wetland soils from impacted areas will be incredibly useful for better management practices for harvesting companies. ย
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