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.
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.
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.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Dulce gallardo owens
Dulce is a current student at Oklahoma State University, pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering with a focus in Environmental and Natural Resources. She works as an undergraduate research assistant for the GE3 group, assisting Andrea with her experimental runs. A fun fact about Dulce is that she has two Rottweiler’s she considers her sons.
Gwen Tipling
Gwen is pursuing her bachelor's degree in Environmental Science at Oklahoma State University. She works for the GE3 group as an undergraduate research assistant focusing on microplastics in soils. When not in the lab she enjoys crocheting, playing with her dog at parks, and dance.
Wesley Cochran
Wesley is an undergraduate research assistant current pursing degrees in Physiology and Biology. Within the GE3 research project he assists Andrea and her project of understanding microplastic generation. After college Wesley’s goal is to attend Medical School.
Avery Gibson
Avery is an Undergraduate student at OSU studying Chemistry and Microbiology. She is working on the GE3 research project observing the cytotoxic effects of microplastics in fish gut cells. Avery has a passion for science and it is her goal to attend Medical School to become an OB/Gyn!
Hazel badillo
Hi, I'm ana hazel. I'm an exchange student. I'm in my third year of environmental engineering. I have always been interested in preserving the world we live in. I am passionate about understanding and observing what impacts the world. I am supporting Karen's project, creating microplastics.
Carson mcbrayer
Hello, I am Carson McBrayer. I am an undergraduate research assistant helping Dhanuka research Cadmium interactions with microplastics. I am working on degrees in chemistry and microbiology. My goal is to attend Pharmacy school and become a licensed Pharmacist.
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 currently performing a one-year research fellowship at Oklahoma State University working on a project related to a microplastic generation mechanism. Andrea’s home institution is the University of the Americas Puebla in Mexico and has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the same institution. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and yoga.