April 2026 - Ese-faculty-list

Save the Date: 20th Annual ESE Symposium – September 18, 2026
by Amy L Ledman 27 Apr '26

27 Apr '26

Please save the date for the 20th Annual Ecological Sciences and Engineering (ESE) Symposium on Friday, September 18, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM Pfendler Hall, Dean’s Auditorium, Room 241. Our theme is One Planet, One Health, discussing the relationships of environmental, human, and animal health through an interdisciplinary lens. This symposium will feature an interdisciplinary panel discussion with coffee and refreshments, a 3MT competition, and lunch & learn. Please see the attached flyer, more details will be provided soon. We hope you will join us! Best regards, Erick J. Negrón-Álvarez, B.S. Biology On behalf of the ESE Symposium Planning Committee Graduate Student (Ph.D.) in Sustainability Engineering & Environmental Engineering (SEE) and Ecological Science & Engineering (ESE) The Proctor Laboratory (www.theproctorlab.com/home<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepro…>) Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), Purdue University 225 S University St, West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S 47907 Email (Academic): enegrona(a)purdue.edu<mailto:enegrona@purdue.edu> LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/erickjnegronalvarez<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linked…> [cid:8062c60d-88fd-4635-808d-5f4ba3992c22]

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ESE End of Year Celebration - 4/28
by Amy L Ledman 27 Apr '26

27 Apr '26

Afternoon! Please plan to join us on Tuesday, April 28th from 1:00-3:00 PM in Whistler 116 to celebrate another year. We'll have light refreshments and present our ESE Research and Teaching Awards at 2:00 PM. [cid:image001.png@01DCCCDA.CEDE1530] Hope to see you there! Amy Amy Ledman She/Her/Hers Lead Graduate Program Specialist Ecological Sciences and Engineering Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Ernest C. Young Hall, Rm 825 155 S. Grant St. West Lafayette, IN 47907 o: 765-494-5865 f: 765-496-6271 Schedule a meeting: calendly.com/aledman<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.…> [cid:image002.png@01DCCCDC.F05B02C0]<https://www.purdue.edu/?utm_source=signature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=…>

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OIGP Spring Reception - Judges still needed Wednesday
by Amy L Ledman 20 Apr '26

20 Apr '26

Hello! I'm still in need of a few more judges for the Poster Session at the OIGP Spring Reception, this Wednesday, April 22nd. We have 111 poster presenters. If you can encourage faculty or research staff to help with judging that would be amazing. The following is the link to sign up to judge posters: Judging Survey<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpurdue.ca…> Poster Judging takes place this Wednesday, April 22nd, from 9:30-11:30 AM in the PMU South Ballroom. If you aren't available for 2 hours, then 1 hour will work! Thank you, Christal Christal Musser Director Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Young Hall, 821 155 S. Grant Street West Lafayette, IN 47907 o: 765-494-2102<tel:7654942102> Schedule a Meeting<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.…> www.purdue.edu/gradschool/OIGP<http://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/OIGP> [cid:image001.jpg@01DCD0BC.D210AED0]

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Three Upcoming ESE Dissertation Defenses
by Amy L Ledman 13 Apr '26

13 Apr '26

The following are three upcoming ESE dissertation defenses taking place this week and next. Detailed announcements are attached. Amanda Lopez PhD Dissertation Defense Machine Learning for Intelligent Bioprocessing of Unicellular Photosynthetic Systems Major Professor: Dr. George Zhou Tuesday April 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM | CIVL G212 Ecological Sciences and Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program School of Sustainable Engineering and Environmental Engineering Abstract: Translating biofuel technologies into commercially viable conditions is bottlenecked by bioreactors that operate as black-box systems. We know the inputs and can measure the outputs, but the intracellular dynamics in between, driving biosynthesis of biofuel-precursors molecules, remain impossible to control. There is a lack of real-time tools capable of monitoring intracellular biochemical dynamics and anticipating metabolic stress before cultures undergo irreversible shifts. Motivated by this gap, I dedicated my Ph.D. to developing an intelligent, non-destructive low-cost PAT system for early-warning detection of intracellular chlorophyll-to-lipid dominance shift in microalgal bioreactors. I wired the optical sensing hardware, configured the bioreactor platforms, programmed the data acquisition architecture, and implemented a continuous real-time processing AI pipeline. Built upon a physics-informed, time-aware machine learning model, this pipeline is grounded in optical dynamics. It uses causal modeling of light-matter interactions and temporally structured signal deviations to infer intracellular lipid droplet formation and chlorophyll dynamics. Despite a total hardware cost of just $270, the platform achieved predictive accuracies >90% when benchmarked against measurements obtained using $60,000 epifluorescence microscopy instrumentation. Importantly, this system functions as an anticipatory stress detector. It identifies metabolic transitions prior to full phenotypic manifestation and enables proactive adjustment of bioprocess conditions to maintain optimal productivity. Laying the foundation for intelligent, self-driving bioreactors. Carly Frank PhD Dissertation Defense Reframing Climate Risk: From Physical Processes to Social Dimensions Major Professor: Dr. Matt Huber Thursday April 16, 2026, at 9:30 AM | HAMP 2201 | Zoom<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpurdue-ed…> Ecological Sciences and Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Abstract: Climate risk is commonly understood as the product of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability, yet each of these components is shaped by choices about measurement, indicators, and aggregation. This dissertation argues that what is measured, and by whom, determines what is recognized as climate risk and what remains invisible. Drawing on multiple empirical approaches, this research shows how structural inequalities influence whose scientific knowledge enters the global record, how conventional temperature metrics can obscure widespread warming, and how alternative measures incorporating humidity reveal different patterns of heat risk. It further demonstrates that these dynamics are not confined to a single region but emerge across diverse hydroclimatic settings through interactions between soil moisture and atmospheric processes. Through a case study of community-led air quality monitoring in Superior, Wisconsin, this dissertation shows how residents can produce knowledge that makes otherwise unrecognized environmental exposures visible and actionable within governance systems. In all, this work shows that climate risk is constructed across multiple scales, from physical measurement to institutional practice, shaping not only how risk is understood, but whose knowledge counts. Nathan Shoaf PhD Dissertation Defense Exploring Risk Perceptions and Management of Soil Contaminants Among Indiana Urban Farmers Major Professor: Dr. Zhao Ma Friday April 24, 2026, at 12:00 PM | PFEN 120 Ecological Sciences and Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Abstract: Increased interest in urban agriculture has grown throughout the United States and Indiana to support local food production, food security, and improve the health of community residents. As urban farmers grow crops on former industrial, residential, and vacant land, they encounter soil conditions from decades of land use changes and industrial activity. Soil contamination exposure is often perceived as a threat, particularly heavy metals (e.g., lead and arsenic), with lower concern and awareness of other contaminants (e.g., pesticides and PFAS). Despite the presence of these contaminants on some urban farms and the potential for public health risks, they are often invisible and difficult to detect without laboratory testing. The perceived threat of soil contaminants is influenced by farmer knowledge of testing procedures, interpretation of test results, and management of soils to reduce future exposure pathways. Many farmers grow crops in raised beds and purchase soils and amendments from commercial nurseries hoping these materials provide a safe alternative for crop production relative to their native soils. However, soil testing remains limited, and farmers often rely on local knowledge, visual assessments, and community knowledge to influence their perceptions of contamination. This dissertation explores gap between contamination awareness and protective behavior among Indiana urban farmers by integrating the Psychometric Paradigm, the Health Belief Model, the Theory of Planned Behavior, and the Norm Activation Theory frameworks in a qualitative study and the Protection Motivation Theory framework in a subsequent quantitative study, as well as applying multi-stressor approaches to urban farmer soil contamination management. This research provides insight into how urban farmers perceive, interpret, and respond to complex contamination risks. Amy Ledman She/Her/Hers Lead Graduate Program Specialist Ecological Sciences and Engineering Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Ernest C. Young Hall, Rm 825 155 S. Grant St. West Lafayette, IN 47907 o: 765-494-5865 f: 765-496-6271 Schedule a meeting: calendly.com/aledman<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.…> [cid:image001.png@01DCCB4C.9B64F4B0]<https://www.purdue.edu/?utm_source=signature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=…>

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Congratulations Dr. Weber!
by Brady S Hardiman 09 Apr '26

09 Apr '26

All, Please join me in congratulating Dr. Troy Weber on the successful defense of his dissertation research "Urban Ecology as a System Integrating Climate, Biodiversity, and Urban Forest Management.” Special thanks to Drs. Zhao Ma (FNR), Lindsey Payne (SEE), and Mallory Barnes (SPEA, IU) for their excellent mentoring and expert guidance for Troy over the past 4 years. Nice job, Troy! Keep going! Brady -- Brady Hardiman Associate Professor Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) School of Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering (SEE) Purdue University

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ESE MS Thesis Defenses
by Amy L Ledman 03 Apr '26

03 Apr '26

The following are two ESE MS Thesis Defenses taking place in April. Their defense announcements are attached. Angelly Guarin MS Thesis Defense Lysimeter assessment of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance leaching in a First-time Biosolids-Applied Field Plot Major Professor: Dr. Linda Lee Wednesday April 15, 2026, at 9:00 AM | Lilly 2-425 Ecological Sciences and Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Department of Agronomy Abstract: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants found worldwide in water, soils, and living organisms. One pathway for PFAS release into the environment is the land application of municipal biosolids, which are widely used to amend agricultural soils. This field-based study evaluates the early-stage vertical transport of PFAS following a first-time, single application of biosolids to pastureland. Soil and pore water samples were collected over one year to track the transport and transformation of different PFAS compounds to depths of up to 1.2 m. Results reveal contrasting behaviors among PFAS classes, with more mobile compounds exhibiting deeper transport through the soil profile. Over time, the transformation of PFAS precursors increased the presence of mobile PFAS in pore water, highlighting potential risks to groundwater. Comparisons with a long-term biosolids-amended site further indicate that repeated biosolids applications can lead to greater PFAS accumulation within agricultural systems. These findings underscore the need to better evaluate biosolids management practices in the context of PFAS mobility and long-term environmental risk. Ronnie Bernard MS Thesis Defense Drainage Water Recycling Impacts on Amphibian Populations in a Wetland Ecosystem Major Professor: Dr. Laura Bowling Thursday April 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM | Lilly 2-425 Ecological Sciences and Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Department of Agronomy Abstract: Drainage water recycling (DWR) is used in agricultural landscapes to manage water resources, but its effects on wetland ecosystems and amphibian populations are not well understood. This study focuses on a depressional wetland located at Purdue University's Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE) in central Indiana, where subsurface tile drainage from surrounding crop fields enters the system. Amphibian activity, water quality, and wetland hydrology were monitored throughout the 2025 field season to evaluate how DWR influences habitat conditions. Amphibian surveys conducted from April through September documented species presence, calling activity, and capture observations. Cope's Gray Treefrog was the most frequently observed species, while Spring Peepers and Green Frogs showed more seasonal patterns. Following the installation of DWR, water levels remained elevated for longer periods, extending surface water presence by approximately 8 to 12 weeks compared to pre-control conditions. This increase in hydroperiod improved the availability of aquatic habitat during key breeding and larval development periods. Water quality monitoring identified several commonly used agricultural herbicides, including atrazine, metribuzin, metolachlor, and 2,4-D. Concentrations were highest early in the sampling period and declined over time, reflecting seasonal application and runoff patterns. Although some differences between sampling locations were observed, they were not statistically significant. Results indicate that DWR can enhance wetland hydrology in ways that support amphibian habitat while also introducing agrochemical exposure. These findings highlight the importance of considering both ecological benefits and potential risks when evaluating water management practices in agricultural systems. Amy Amy Ledman She/Her/Hers Lead Graduate Program Specialist Ecological Sciences and Engineering Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Ernest C. Young Hall, Rm 825 155 S. Grant St. West Lafayette, IN 47907 o: 765-494-5865 f: 765-496-6271 Schedule a meeting: calendly.com/aledman<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.…> [cid:image001.png@01DCC36E.D6A83900]<https://www.purdue.edu/?utm_source=signature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=…>

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Dissertation Defenses
by Amy L Ledman 01 Apr '26

01 Apr '26

Below are two upcoming ESE PhD dissertation defenses. Their announcements are also attached. Ariana Montoya-Lozano PhD Dissertation Defense Water Governance in Latin America: The Dynamics of Community-based Water Management Institutions Major Professor: Dr. Tara Grillos Wednesday April 8, 2026, at 10:30 AM | BRNG 2243 Ecological Sciences and Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Department of Political Science Abstract: This dissertation examines gendered participation in Community-Based Water Management (CBWM) across Latin America, focusing specifically on the climate-vulnerable Honduran Dry Corridor. While these local institutions are vital for resilience, women remain disproportionately excluded from leadership roles. Using survey data from four Latin American countries, this study demonstrates that a 10% female representation on water boards significantly improves environmental conservation and management efficiency. To understand the persistent exclusion of women, this research operationalizes the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework and a participation typology in the Honduran Dry Corridor. The findings reveal that restrictive formal rules, such as land tenure, create a "proxy effect" where women act as passive participants rather than active decision-makers. Finally, a conjoint experiment proves there is no systemic community bias against female leadership; respondents prioritize institutional design over a president's gender or education. Ultimately, this research concludes that women are key to advancing water governance in rural Latin America and that they can be effectively included through intentional changes in institutional design. Troy Weber PhD Dissertation Defense Announcement Urban Ecology as a System Integrating Climate, Biodiversity, and Urban Forest Management Major Professor: Dr. Brady Hardiman Thursday April 9, 2026, at 11:00 AM | PFEN 120 Ecological Sciences and Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program School of Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering Abstract: Urban forests are important components of city ecosystems, as they provide environmental benefits that improve urban resilience and quality of life. Trees moderate local temperatures, reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and support biodiversity. However, urban forests are increasingly shaped by two major influences, climate change and humans. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and increasing atmospheric moisture demand are altering the climatic conditions in which urban trees grow. At the same time, historical patterns of development, economic and social inequality, and urban management influence where trees are planted, which species are present, and who has access to the ecosystem services that trees can provide. Understanding how these ecological and social forces interact is necessary for developing sustainable and equitable urban forestry practices and strategies. In this dissertation, I explored how biome shifts, social vulnerability, and urban forest management interact to influence future forestry practices across the United States. I found that climate projections indicate many urban areas are expected to experience substantial shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns, potentially altering biome conditions and affecting urban vegetation through increased physiological stress. I also found that urban biodiversity is unevenly distributed within cities and that community science plays an important role in documenting urban tree diversity. Finally, I identified institutional characteristics that influence how municipalities plan for and manage urban forests. While many municipalities recognize the need for climate adaptation strategies, implementation varies depending on local resources, governance structures, and planning capacity. Together, these findings illustrate that urban forests cannot be understood through climate or ecology alone. Rather, urban forestry emerges from the interaction of ecological change, social inequality, and institutional decision-making, shaping how cities manage and sustain urban tree systems in a changing climate. Amy Ledman She/Her/Hers Lead Graduate Program Specialist Ecological Sciences and Engineering Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Ernest C. Young Hall, Rm 825 155 S. Grant St. West Lafayette, IN 47907 o: 765-494-5865 f: 765-496-6271 Schedule a meeting: calendly.com/aledman<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.…> [cid:image001.png@01DCC1EA.F7CD09B0]<https://www.purdue.edu/?utm_source=signature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=…>

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2023 ESE Research and Teaching Awards
by Ledman, Amy L 01 Apr '26

01 Apr '26

Good afternoon, Below are the links to nominate an ESE student for the 2023 Research Award and Teaching Award. The deadline to submit nominations for theses awards will be Wednesday, April 19th at 5 PM. Let me know if you have any questions regarding nominating your ESE students! 2023 ESE Research Award: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8e8iT6hFHn41gPk 2023 ESE Teaching Award: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_etVNaaKSLEywvwG Sincerely, Amy Amy Ledman She/Her/Hers Lead Graduate Program Specialist - Ecological Sciences and Engineering Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs - The Graduate School Ernest C. Young Hall, Rm B40 155 S. Grant St. West Lafayette, IN 47907 o: 765-494-5865 f: 765-496-6271 Schedule a meeting: calendly.com/aledman<https://calendly.com/aledman> [cid:image001.png@01D96E27.458B0960]<https://www.purdue.edu/?utm_source=signature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=…>

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