UA SRC Welcomes 2020-2021 Training Core Fellows!

Aug. 24, 2020

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From left to right, top to bottom: Alma Anides Morales, Kendra Bonsey, Hui Li, Pengfei Liu, Kamila Murawska-Wlodarczyk, Ben Yang, Aryatara Shakya, Ma'in Zaid Alghzawi, and Kira Zeider.

The University of Arizona Superfund Research Center (UA SRC) welcomed nine graduate students and post docs to our Training Core during the Fall 2020 semester. The objective of the UA SRP Training Core is to produce interdisciplinary graduates who are equipped to solve complex environmental hazardous waste problems. Our approach to helping UA SRC Trainees develop as professionals has evolved throughout the years and has been crafted in partnership with former Trainees.

Training Core instruction has been formalized as a two-semester seminar class, ENVS 696P: Hazardous Waste Risk and Remediation in the U.S. Southwest. The course is co-taught by Dr. Monica Ramirez-Andreotta (Research Translation Lead Investigator), Dr. Raina Maier (UA SRC Director), Dr. Donna Zhang (UA SRC Associate Director), and other invited speakers. 

The year-long seminar class requires participation in the monthly UA SRC Colloquium, as well as weekly professional development activities. Trainees are taught how to compose an effective research abstract, how to deliver an elevator pitch, how to effectively develop a visual abstract, and how to write effective news highlights about their research. Each trainee also receives a $2,000 scholarship.

All Trainees are required to present their background and elevator pitch in a radio interview (“Thesis Thursday”) on local station KXCI (91.3 FM) with Dr. Ramirez-Andreotta as host. Additionally, all Trainees are required to participate in a research translation and/or community engagement activity of their choice.

To learn more about our incoming Trainees, visit our Trainee Directory!