May 2018: Rachel Mullen

Rachel Mullen, 5th-year PhD student in Prof. Aga’s group

• First-author publication in Analytical Methods, one of the outcomes of a multi-disciplinary collaborative WERF funded 2-year project that has evolved into a larger NSF grant.
• My current research is funded through a two-year N.Y. Sea Grant Fellowship. I am defending my thesis this month and I have accepted a position beginning in June as an Analytical Scientist at Regeneron.

"Pharmaceuticals usage is increasing globally, and they are commonly detected in wastewater treatment plant effluents, where they may negatively impact fish behavior in the aquatic environment. As a NY Sea Grant Scholar, my current research uses liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to investigate the removal efficiency of conventional and advanced wastewater treatment systems for a variety of pharmaceuticals.

I appreciate the helpful faculty and staff, the exciting research, and the instrumentation available at UB. I especially enjoy the research in Dr. Aga’s lab and how it addresses global environmental research questions.

Outside of the lab I enjoy traveling, reading, playing piano and baking. I also have seasonal hobbies including longboarding, swimming, biking and snowboarding."