Sanjai J. Parikh Ph.D.

Associate Professor

My research addresses a wide-range of biogeochemical processes at solid-liquid interfaces in the soil and water environment. Examples of my research interests include: (1) examining transport and degradation mechanisms for pharmaceuticals, nanoparticles, hormones, and personal care products in soil and water (i.e., ground, surface, wastewater); (2) identifying persistent degradation products of primary pollutants (organic and inorganic) and determining their bioavailability; (3) determining reaction rates of contaminant oxidation/transformation at mineral and bacteria surfaces; (4) elucidating the role of bacterial surface biomolecules in cell adhesion and biomineralization/dissolution reactions; (5) investigating the role of extracellular polymeric compounds in heavy metal biogeocycling; and (6) evaluating the potential of biochar soil amendments to impact soil fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, dust generation, and contaminant transport.