School of Plant Sciences Seminar Series
Dr. Cherie L. De Vore
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Abstract: Inorganic metals like arsenic (As) and uranium (U) are present in the environment due to mining, smelting, ore processing, and industrial activities, causing potential exposure to human health and the environment. The physical and biogeochemical characteristics of As and U affect their fate and transport in the environment. Mechanisms for addressing environmental contamination in ecosystems due to these metals include ion exchange, adsorption, bioremediation, and advanced oxidation. Previous work has shown the potential for As and U adsorption using biopolymers, but there is a need to understand removal from environmental systems with these mixed metals and environmentally relevant ions like phosphate. This project integrates laboratory batch experiments, geochemical modeling, spectroscopy, microscopy and microbiology tools to determine metal speciation and rate of adsorption onto biotic and abiotic biopolymers at pH 4 and 6 under surface oxidizing conditions. Biogeochemical insights gained from this project will help us differentiate between abiotic and biotic processes involved in the removal of mixed metals in environmental systems near rural communities impacted by contamination.
Bio: Dr. Cherie De Vore, Diné, is from the community of Crownpoint, NM in eastern Diné (Navajo) Nation. Her clans are Red Bottom People, Atop the Mountain Towering House, Salt People and Tangle People. She received her Ph.D. in civil & environmental engineering at the University of New Mexico under the mentorship of Professor José Cerrato. She was awarded a National Science Foundation Earth Science Postdoctoral Fellowship to conduct research at Stanford University from 2020 to 2023. Her interdisciplinary research examined ecological post-fire recovery in metal-rich and non-serpentine wildland landscapes in California. Cherie was also an associate postdoctoral fellow at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory investigating colloidal transport of metals in the Floodplain Hydro-Biogeochemistry research focus group. Her current work investigates biogeochemical mechanisms that affect the accumulation of metals and microbial community changes in areas impacted by inorganic contaminants and wildfires. Dr. De Vore leads the Níhí Biogeochemistry Environmental Engineering laboratory group as Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering at UA. Cherie is also an associate faculty member of the Indigenous Resilience Center and looks forward to working with communities in Arizona on environmental restoration research. Cherie enjoys archery, martial arts, playing/collecting records, and participating in ceremonies at home.