Research Team

Nearly 50 students have conducted research in the Costanza-Robinson Lab. Many continue on to scientific and medical careers, and many others utilize their research experiences as a foundation for diverse careers related to the environment, health, and education.

Current Research Team

* = thesis student ^ = publication co-author

Sarah Kotin (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2020) Development of a HS-SPME GCMS method for the acetylene reduction assay

Former Team Members (and where they are now)

2016-

Emma Wilcox (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2019), Ethylbenzene adsorption to novel surfactant-modified montmorillonite.

^ Gabrielle Davis (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2019), Lead in drinking water in Addison Central School District Schools, Addison County VT

^ Jennifer Ortega (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2018), Lead in drinking water in Mary Hogan, Bridport, and Shoreham Elementary Schools, Addison County VT

* Katharine Fortin (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2018), Synthesis of 2-hexyldecyltrimethylammonium bromide for enhanced removal of organic contaminants from water by organically-modified clay. Intern at Indigo Agriculture

* Stephanie Blair (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, 2018), Investigating the effects of prenatal xenoestrogen exposure on digit and metetarsal development. Client operations at Wellframe

* Emory Payne (Chemistry, 2018) Influence of surfactant head-group charge density on removal of aromatic contaminants from water by surfactant-modified montmorillonites. Ph.D. Candidate, Analytical Chemistry, U. Michigan, Ann Arbor MI

Audrey Bangs (Biochemistry, 2018) Effect of prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals on bone development in the CD-1 mouse. Research Assnt, Massachusetts General, Boston MA 

^ Mairin Wilson (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2017.5) Lead in drinking water in Middlebury Union High School, Middlebury VT. Associate at Responsible Sourcing Network

^ Nina Buzby (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2017) Lead in drinking water in Middlebury Union High School, Middlebury VT. Staff Scientist at San Francsico Estuary Institute

Mariah Dawson (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, 2017) Disrupting unhealthy policy: The
lack of endocrine disruptor salience in public health policy at a state level

* Andrew Grant (Biochemistry, 2017) Mechanism of bone sensitivity to xenoestrogenic exposures. Research Assistant at Laboratory for Molecular Medicine

Rachael Morris (Chemistry, 2017) Influence of surfactant loading on sorption of triclosan to organo-montmorillonites. Cellar Technician at The Rare Barrel

Katie Weatherseed (Conservation Biology, 2016.5), Measurement of novel indicators of endocrine disruption in rodents

* Kae Fink (Chemistry and Economics, 2016.5) Effects of surfactant loading and contaminant structure on interlayer behavior of hexadecyltrimethylammonium-modified montmorillonite. M.S. Candidate in Chemical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden CO

Hannah Gelderman (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2016) Investigating the role of SMOC1 in bone development induced by environmental estrogens.

* Betty Kobia (Chemistry, 2016) Investigating a novel indicator of developmental endocrine disruption in animal models. Pharm. D. Candidate, U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC

2011-2015

Linnea Burnham (History and French, 2015) Chemical and Sensory Investigation of Cheese.

Alison Maxwell (Biochemistry, 2015), Write Like a Scientist website development. Ph.D. Candidate, Biochemistry at U. California San Francisco, San Francisco CA

Mary Richards (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2015) Socioeconomic factors and environmental endocrine disruption. Intern, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA

* Jack Kerby-Miller  (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2014.5) Investigation a novel indicator of population-level endocrine disruption in humans. Environmental Consulting at the Stone House Group, Bethlehem PA

Emily Auran  (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2014) Temporal trends in human population-level endocrine disruption. Medical School, Columbia U. New York NY

Kristina Conroy (Psychology, 2014) Temporal trends in human population-level endocrine disruption. Research Coordinator, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA

* Elaine Dellinger (Biochemistry, 2014)  Interlayer characterization of HDTMA-modified montmorillonite for use in contaminant remediation. Medical School, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn NY

Lauren Pincus (Chemistry and Geology, 2014) Influence of montmorillonite weathering on its suitability as a substrate for organic modification and contaminant remediation. Ph.D. Candidate, Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven CT.

Connor Stoll (Biochemistry, 2014) Mechanisms of contaminant uptake by HDTMA-modified montmorillonite. Medical School, Baylor U., Waco TX.

Kiya Vega-Hutchens (Environmental Studies-Chemistry, 2014) Temporal trends in human population-level endocrine disruption. 

Alyssa Kronen (Environmental Biology 2013) Soil extractions and maple sap collection for chemical analysis. Medical school, U. Washington

*^ Malcolm Littlefield (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2013) Characterization of alkyl trimethylammonium bromide modified montmorillonite for organic contaminant remediation. Environmental Consulting at Borrego Solar

Annie Mejaes (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2013) Investigating the microstructure of HDTMA-modified montmorillonite for environmental contaminant remediation. Outreach Intern, Oceana, Washington D.C.

Angela Todd (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2013) Molecular size effects on uptake of nonpolar aliphatic contaminants by minimally surfactant-modified montmorillonite.

Bianca Dragone (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2012) Maple sap collection and characterization (spring) and Trace metal determination and inorganic analysis of maple sap. Masters student, MBA and M.S. in School of Environment and Sustainability, U. Michigan, Ann Arbor MI

Amy Prescott (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2012) Bhopal: An ongoing tragedy. Medical School, Georgetown U., Washington D.C.

Ali Siegel (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2012) Quantitative determination of alkyl pyrazines and other flavor compounds in maple syrup using headspace solid-phase microextraction-GCMS. Program Empowerment Director at DREAM Winooski VT

David Fouhey (Computer Science 2011) Computer automation of X-ray microtomography image processing. Ph.D. candidate in Robotics at Carnegie Mellon U.

Eleanor Horowitz (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2011) Chemical relationships between sugar maple sap and underlying soil: Seeking sap indicators of soil quality

* Alice Wisener (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2011) Semiquantitative determination of alkyl pyrazines in maple syrup using headspace SPME and GC/MS. Staff at EnerNOC, Boston MA

*^ Zheng Zheng (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2011) Surfactant effects on solute transport and retention in unsaturated porous media. Ph.D. Analytical Chemistry, U. Michigan, Ann Arbor MI. Analytical Scientist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals

 2006-2010

*^ Bobby Levine (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry 2010) Neochloris oleoabundans grown on anaerobically digested dairy manure for concomitant nutrient removal and biodiesel feedstock production. Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, U. Michigan. Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Algal Scientific, Plymouth MI

Emma Johnson (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2010) LC-MS identification and quantification of amino acids in maple sap. M.D., U. New Mexico; Dermatology Residency, Rochester MN

*^ Benjamin Estabrook (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2009) The influence of surfactant-induced flow on air-water interfacial area measurements. Masters of Public Policy, Georgetown U., Washington oDC; MBA, Yale U., New Haven CT; Consultant Bain & Company, Washington DC.

Elizabeth Kelley (Environmental Policy 2009) Senior research analyst, applying to graduate school in public health

Emily Picciotto (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2009) Investigation of small-scale variability in maple sap chemistry. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts U. Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists, Buzzards Bay MA

Ian Burgin (Environmental Nonfiction, 2008) Conceptual modeling in environmental science: a final project for ES 112.

Ryder Musselman (Geology 2008) Characterization of Maple Sap Particulate. Environmental geology consulting

Laura Kuhl (Conservation Biology and Sociology/Anthropology 2007) Metal accumulation in clams in the Estuary of Caráquez, Ecuador

*^ Ross Lieb-Lappen (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2007) The influence of surface roughness on air-water interfacial areas in porous media. Ph.D. Engineering, Dartmouth College. Assnt Professor of Science, Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center VT

* Katie Harrold (Environmental Studies-Chemistry 2006.5) Measurement of air-water interfacial areas in unsaturated water-wet porous media using synchrotron X-ray microtomography. M.S. in Environmental Chemistry at U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC

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