Dr. Sarah McKnight is the Principal Investigator of the McKnight Research Group and an Assistant Professor at the University of Dayton. Her research focuses on hydrology, environmental geosciences, and the complex dynamics between resource extraction and water systems, particularly in relation to the environmental impacts of lithium extraction on water resources. With a strong commitment to sustainability, Dr. McKnight’s work addresses critical issues in water quality, resource management, and watershed health. She combines field-based research with advanced analytical techniques to study groundwater-surface water interactions and nutrient transport in various landscapes, including agricultural and mining-impacted regions. Dr. McKnight is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of environmental scientists, guiding students in hands-on research that contributes valuable insights toward sustainable water resource management and environmental protection. 

Blackwell graduated this past May with her undergraduate degrees in Environmental Geology and Sustainability with a concentration in Sustainable Watersheds from the University of Dayton, and is currently working on her Masters of Public Administration degree. She is originally from Franklin, Indiana, a small farm town where she grew up surrounded by nature and animals. Blackwell currently interns for the City of Dayton Water Department in the Environmental Management division and has held this position for the past two years. Here she conducts storm water sampling along the rivers and monitors businesses for compliance, protecting and preserving the city’s vast water resources. Blackwell is working with Dr. McKnight in the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences to model groundwater flow and discharge patterns in lithium-rich brine aquifers. With the boom of the green revolution, more lithium-bearing aquifers will be mined, so understanding how this mining and groundwater extraction will affect these aquifers is crucial in their conservation.   

Mst Proma Sultana Borsha is from Bangladesh and

is a first-year grad student in Public Administration. Her

undergraduate major was Geology. She is deeply passionate about all

areas of earth and environmental science. Her research interests

include hydrogeology, sustainable water resources management, water

pollution, and the social dimensions of environmental decision making.

She is an HSI (Hanley Sustainability Institute) fellow and her current

project, "Perception and Practice: Measuring Wetland Conservation

Efforts and Public Understanding Based on Media Representation," aims

to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of wetland conservation.

Specifically, the project examines how media representation shapes

public perceptions of wetlands and evaluates the actual condition of

wetland water quality. By comparing public perceptions with scientific

assessments, this research seeks to identify gaps between public understanding and scientific reality. 

Tyler is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Geology with a focus on sustainability in watershed systems. He plans to continue his studies by pursuing a master’s degree in the future. A native of Centerville, Ohio, Tyler graduated from Centerville High School, where he developed his interest in environmental sciences through a specialized block program and participated in numerous competitions focused on soil, water, and ecosystems. His research experience includes work on surface water salinity calculations within the McKnight Research Group as a recipient of the Dean's Summer Fellowship. Tyler is also interested in exploring future research in freshwater ecosystems, with a particular focus on wetlands and stream environments. 

Lizbeth Ramos-Ortiz is an undergraduate student from Beavercreek, Ohio. She is studying groundwater-surface water interactions, with a particular focus on the factors influencing nutrient fate and transport between the surface and groundwater. Her research examines the temporal and spatial dynamics of water flow and quality on agricultural land adjacent to the Great Miami River in Middletown, Ohio. The site, characterized by alluvial sediments atop low-permeability Ordovician shale bedrock, faces concerns over nitrogen loading to the aquifer due to consistent precipitation and runoff from crop fields. Through the competitive Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Lizbeth has collected surface and groundwater samples from various locations. Preliminary isotope analysis indicates prolonged water residence times in the lake, a notable sensitivity to precipitation in the tributary, and minimal regional variability in river flow. Lizbeth's work aims to enhance understanding of how agricultural practices and precipitation-driven recharge influence nutrient transport, with the potential to inform better crop management strategies and groundwater-surface water interactions.