Congratulations to Elissa for presenting their thesis topic at the NST-NRT Bootcamp on  "Extracting Rare Earth Elemenents and Critical Resource Recovery from Electronic Waste." Their work will explore ways to recover these valuable materials from electronic waste, helping reduce reliance on newly mined resources and promote a more circular economy.

Another big scholarship win! Congratulations to our graduate student, Alyssa Wentzel, has been selected for the 2026 Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) Scholarship. Alyssa will be funded to work on "DOM-Driven PFAS Mobility: Decomposition Stage and Redox Transitions as Drivers of Secondary Releases"  

Her research investigates how dissolved organic matter (DOM), organic matter decomposition, and changing redox conditions influence the mobility and potential secondary release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This work aims to improve understanding of the biogeochemical processes governing PFAS fate and transport and their implications for environmental contamination.

Congratulations to Dr. Ajakaiye on his publication "Historical reconstruction and projection of produced water volumes in Texas (2000–2070): Implications for future water needs"! To see the full paper, please click on the following link:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214714426013693?dgcid=author

This paper develops a district-level framework to evaluate future produced water availability, treatment needs, and its potential role as a supplementary non-potable water resource for Texas. 

Congratulations to Dr. Matthew Kolade O. Ajakaiye on his successful completion of a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering! Matthew has been co-advised by Dr. Tonoy Das and Dr. M. R. Riazi investigating produced water management in Texas, including forecasting, techno-economic evaluation, treatment and reuse, and environmental impact assessment. Way to go doctor!

Through a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture-funded collaborative research training program, our undergraduate and graduate students gained hands-on experience in micro- and nanoplastic research in soil and water. Their projects examined plastic pollution along Coastal Bend beaches in relation to urbanization and hydrodynamic conditions, as well as microplastic contamination in fresh vegetables. Students also participated in training visits to Texas A&M University, Northwestern University, and the Citrus Center at TAMUK, and presented their work at our annual research symposium at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Congratulations to our graduate student Alyssa Wentzel for leading this effort, and to our outstanding undergraduate students Alberto Cantu, Noah Lara, and Kaylee Howell, and high school student Taniska, for a great summer of microplastic research and learning. 

A big shout-out to our graduate student, Alyssa Wentzel, for receiving the 2026 John Ries Scholarship from ESCSI! Through this project, Alyssa will investigate the use of expanded shale, clay, and slate (ESCS) media to remove emerging contaminants, including PFAS, microplastic from stormwater. Congratulations, Alyssa, on this well-deserved achievement! A big thank-you to Expanded Shale, Clay and Slate Institute for supporting our student and this important research. 

Alyssa Wentzel has been awarded the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) Solid and Hazardous Waste Research Scholarship, a nationally recognized award that supports outstanding students pursuing research in environmental engineering and waste management.

In addition to financial support for educational and research-related expenses, the award includes a one-year student membership in A&WMA, providing access to professional networking, technical resources, and opportunities to engage with leaders in the field.

Alberto had the amazing opportunity to visit the DoW facility in Jackson, Texas! During his time there, he was able to give a presentation on his ongoing research where he focuses on electrical chemical treatment to remove organic pollutants. 

Way to go Alberto!

Dr. Tonoy Das and Alyssa Wentzel travelled to Golden, Colorado to present at the NSF-National Research Traineeship Annual Meeting! Alyssa presented their work in a poster talk titled "Characterization of Dissolved Organic Matter Composition and Sources Across the Nueces/Corpus Christi Bay" and an oral talk on "An Organic Matter Based Framework for Predicting PFAS Partitiong Across Aquatic Systems." 

We had a great time learning from other NRT programs around the country to share research and collaborate on innocative solutions!

Alyssa traveled with fellow NRT-TREAWS students to the SAES Conference in Mission, Texas, where she presented collaborative research conducted by the EFR team titled “Quantifying and Characterizing Microplastics in Fresh Produce.”

Her presentation was recognized with Second Place in the oral competition, highlighting the strength and impact of the team’s work.

Congratulations to Alyssa on this outstanding achievement!

Following his first-place win, Matthew represented our university at the Regional Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, hosted by Louisiana State University in February 2026.

At the regional level, Matthew presented his doctoral research on evaluating the economic and environmental sustainability of produced water management in oil and gas systems, with particular emphasis on treatment technologies, reuse opportunities, and reinjection practices across Texas.

We are proud of Matthew’s accomplishments and grateful for his outstanding representation of our university!