Our Team
MASTERS AND DOCTORAL STUDENTS
Rui Cai
Rui has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and a Master’s degree in Ecology from Lanzhou University. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctorate in Civil Engineering at the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology at Oklahoma State University. His research projects include PFAS contamination, the sorption of organics onto microplastics, and the potential PFAS release of tire wear particles.
Kyle Forsythe
Kyle has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Civil Engineering at the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology at Oklahoma State University. His research looks into the removal and environmental effects of microplastics in freshwater water
jim pendred
Jim is a current doctoral student at Oklahoma State University. His research involves citizen science and microplastics in watershed management. Jim’s working with high school students to investigate the presence of microplastics in stream and river environments as an included module in a watershed report card program.
dhanuka Thennakoon
Dhanuka is a current graduate student with the Chemistry Department at Oklahoma State University. He has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Dhanuka’s research focus is exploring the interactions between heavy metals and microplastics.
karen mcGuire-diemer
Karen is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in Civil Engineering at Oklahoma State University. She has bachelors degrees in Chemical Engineering and Peace and Justice from Villanova University and a master's degree in Environmental Engineering from Oklahoma State University. Her research focuses on the impact of microplastics and their leachates on soil biogeochemical cycling.
sabrina farias
Sabrina has a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Oklahoma State University and is currently pursuing a master’s in Environmental Engineering from the College of Engineering Architecture, and Technology at Oklahoma State University. Her research focuses on the detection of released plastic additives from thermally oxidized microplastics.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
emma milsow
Emma is a current student at OSU pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She works as an undergraduate research assistant with the GE3 group, helping with all things in the lab. A fun fact about Emma is that she loves to hike and be outside.
iris borunda
Iris is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. She has also completed a certificate in Pre-Health Care Administration. Iris is an undergraduate research assistant learning about microplastics and environmental techniques.
sophia matthews
Sophia is a current student at Oklahoma State University, pursuing a degree in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics with a minor in Biochemistry. She works as an undergraduate research assistant in the GE3 group. She hopes to pursue medical school after finishing her bachelor's degree. A fun fact about Sophia is that she loves ice skating.
remington fiore
Remington is pursuing a degree in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics alongside the Honors College Degree. He works as an undergraduate research assistant in both the GE3 group and the lab of Sabrina Beckmann. He intends to pursue at least a master’s in Microbiology after finishing his bachelor’s. A fun fact about Remington is that he loves hiking.
Group PI and Postdocs
Jorge Gonzalez Estrella
(Group PI)
Jorge graduated with PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Arizona in January 2015. After his graduation, Jorge worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in a project focused on waste-to-energy. In 2017, he joined the University of New Mexico as a Postdoctoral Research Associate and continued working as a Research Assistant Professor there until the summer of 2020. Jorge joined the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Oklahoma State University as an Assistant Professor in the Fall 2020.
justin scott
Justin works for the GE3 group as an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, investigating the role microplastic and nanoplastic pollutant interactions have on aquatic organisms and human health. His research looks at the development of novel approaches to aquatic toxicity testing, including in vitro and alternative cytotoxicity assays for whole effluent toxicity testing.
andrea arredondo navarro
Andrea is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Oklahoma State University. Her fellowship focuses on microplastic generation mechanisms, and identification of microplastics in environmental matrices. She holds an Environmental Engineering degree and a phD in Water Science from the University of the Americas Puebla, Mexico. Her non-academic interests include hiking, running and yoga.