Interns develop projects in environmental studies

In the photo, judge Richard Zollars, professor and chair of WSU chemical engineering, left, looks on with grad student mentor Irra Sundran, right, as undergraduate Rachel Sampang of California discusses her poster and project on windblown dust. (Photo by Shelly Hanks, WSU photo Services)

WSU graduate students have gained experience through mentoring eight undergraduate students from across the nation this summer in research focused on understanding how chemicals move through and interact with the environment.

The program, conducted by WSU’s Center for Multiphase Environmental Research (CMER), is part of the National Science Foundation-sponsored Interactive Graduate Education and Research Training program.

As a part of the program, the students recently presented posters about their projects.

“The IGERT program exemplifies the quality of research programs here at WSU,” said David Yonge, director of the CMER in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “This event provides a great opportunity to meet these outstanding students and their graduate student mentors, all of whom are conducting their research in concert with our outstanding faculty.”