Project Description: The overarching project integrates environmental exposure science, community-engaged research, and research translation to understand and reduce health risks from contaminated dust, soil, water, and food in mining-impacted and climate-affected communities across Arizona. Our work spans laboratory characterization of particulate matter from mine tailings and wildfire-impacted landscapes to participatory community science programs for all ages that co-create data, build environmental health literacy, and translate results into actionable information that improves environmental health literacy and supports decision-making. Key efforts include community science programs and youth engagement, evaluating contaminants in soil, dust, water, and/or garden produce, and research that characterizes metal(loid)-bearing particulate matter to determine how particle size, chemistry, and weathering influence bioaccessibility and inhalation risk.
NASA Relevance: This internship aligns with the Science Mission Directorate by investigating the sources, transformation, transport, and exposure potential of metal(loid)-bearing dust in arid and mining-impacted regions, directly contributing to Earth system science on aerosols, land–atmosphere interactions, and environmental change. The work integrates field sampling, laboratory characterization, and geospatial data to better understand how climate-driven processes such as drought, wildfire, and extreme weather influence dust, particulate matter dynamics, and human exposure, supporting NASA Earth Science and Applied Sciences priorities.
The project also has relevance to the Space Technology Mission Directorate through the evaluation of fine particulate properties, bioaccessibility, and toxicity, which serve as terrestrial analogs for understanding health risks associated with dust and for informing the development of low-cost, field-deployable environmental monitoring approaches.
In addition, the internship strongly supports the STEM Engagement Mission Directorate by providing hands-on, transdisciplinary research training, integrating community-engaged science, and building pathways for undergraduate students—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—into Earth and environmental science careers.
Work Description: The intern would gain experience in both laboratory and community-engaged research. Activities may include:
• Assisting with collection and processing of environmental samples (soil, dust, water, vegetation, particulate matter)
• Supporting laboratory preparation and analysis of samples and related physicochemical properties
• Contributing to particulate matter generation and characterization workflows
• Assisting with data entry, quality control, and basic data visualization
• Helping develop educational and report-back materials that communicate results to community participants in accessible formats
• Participating in outreach events, trainings, or community science activities that build environmental health literacy
The intern will receive transdisciplinary training in exposure science, environmental monitoring, communication, and community-based participatory research while contributing to projects that address environmental health risks in impacted communities.
Open or Reserved Project: Open, 2 positions