Graduate Students

Laura is from Churchville, NY and recieved her Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry from Niagara University. As an undergraduate, Laura worked on research with Dr. Robyn Goacher on identification of weathering and degradation products from wood-polymer composites using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). In the Aga Lab, her research focuses have been on the fate of pharmaceuticals in the environment and ecological effects of advanced oxidation processes in wastewater treatment. Her work includes the analysis of wastewater effluent, surface waters, animal tissues and plasma using liquid chromatography with low resolution and high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Laura is currently an ORISE fellow at the EPA in Cincinnati working with Dr. Angela Batt on development of a non-targeted analysis workflow for water samples. In her spare time, Laura enjoys reading, and spending time with her puppy, Tessa.

Email: laurabru@buffalo.edu

Rebecca is from Saratoga Springs, NY and received her Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Geosciences from the University at Buffalo, SUNY. As an undergraduate, she worked in ecological restoration and engineering with Buffalo Niagara River-keeper. Additionally, she did undergraduate research with Dr. Christopher Lowry in hydrology and water quality assessment while developing techniques for citizen science on Lake Erie. As a second research task, with Dr. Mary-Alice Coffroth, she studied algal-coral symbiosis focusing on the regional relationship between Symbiodinium spp. and Briareum asebestinum from the Florida Keys. In the Aga lab, Rebecca’s research focus is in developing techniques for the assessment of contaminants of emerging concern in agricultural samples as a result of alternative fertilization practices. This includes liquid and gas chromatography pair with low resolution and high resolution mass spectrometry (LC/GC-MS) as well as fluorine – nuclear magnetic resonance (¹⁹F –NMR). In her spare time, she loves baking, being on the water, and exploring new places.

Email: radickma@buffalo.edu

Jena has lived in Buffalo her whole life, growing up in Boston, NY and attending Canisius College for her undergraduate studies. At Canisius, she earned her Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry, where she worked in Dr. Peter Schaber’s analytical chemistry lab analyzing for lead content in soil samples collected around Lake Erie. Upon joining the Aga lab, Jena began working in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Iowa State University (ISU) as part of the STRIPS (Science Based Trials of Rowcrops) team, on the global issue of antimicrobial resistance. The goal of the STRIPS team is to evaluate prairie strips at preventing antimicrobial resistant bacteria/genes and antimicrobials from moving downstream of manure amended crop fields. At the University at Buffalo, Jena analyzes both manure and water samples for antimicrobials utilizing liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) techniques. When she isn’t in the lab, Jena enjoys creative projects and spending time with her cat, Cinderella.

Email: jenacong@buffalo.edu

Logan is from Philadelphia, NY and received his Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry from Potsdam College. Logan was directed to analytical chemistry by his undergraduate advisor, Dr. Maria Hepel. His undergraduate research involved the use of gold nanoparticles for the transport of anti-cancer drugs. Once at the University at Buffalo, Logan choose to have dual advisors, working with both Dr. Diana Aga and Dr. Ekin Atilla-Gockumen. His current research involves the biological effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using various techniques, including chemical derivatization and analysis with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In his free time, Logan enjoys biking, running, and playing Pokemon Go.

Email: loganrun@buffalo.edu

Zach is from Springville, NY and received his Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry from Niagara University. In his undergraduate, Zach did research under Dr. Robyn Goacher on wood polymer composite weathering. After completing his B.S., Zach got a job at FMC working as a lab technician, and then as an analyst. His work included analyzing production samples using gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector as well as mass spectrometry (GC-FID and GC-MS) and liquid chromatography vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy (LC-VUV). Zach is now part of the Aga Lab, working on several projects, including metal analysis in environmental samples using ICP-MS, and the analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). His many hobbies include photography, wood working, and D&D.

Email: zacheria@buffalo.edu

Lahiruni is from Kandy, Sri Lanka, and received her Bachelor's of Science from the University of Sri Jayewardenapura in 2018. During her time in Sri Lanka, she worked as a volunteer research assistant in environmental analytical chemistry as well as in nano-chemical fields. In the Aga Lab, she is currently focusing on method development for contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) widely found in wastewater treatment plant effluents and influents using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) techniques. In her spare time, she enjoys watching documentaries, listening to music, enjoying the environment, and exploring new food.

Email: lahiruni@buffalo.edu

Dino is from Bosnia and earned his Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington. As an undergraduate, he worked with Dr. Macaluso with inorganic complexes and with Dr. Schug on a myriad of projects, including proteins, friction reducers, phthalates, and surfactants using GC-MS/MS, GC-VUV, MALDI-TOF-MS and LC-MS/MS. In the Aga Lab, his research focuses have been on the analysis of PFAS in water samples, as well as characterizing legacy and emerging PFAS alternatives. His work includes the analysis of wastewater effluent and surface waters using LC-MS/MS, LC-HRMS, GC-MS/MS, and 19F-NMR.

Email: dinocamd@buffalo.edu

Mindula is from Kandy, Sri Lanka, and received her Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry from University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2019. As an undergraduate, she worked in the analytical field with the use of SPME-GC/MS. In the Aga lab, her research focuses is in developing a technique to analyze different type of metals in blood samples which are in special absorbing papers including metal extraction and analysis with ICP-MS.

Email: mindulaw@buffalo.edu