Environmental Science
Our environmental science research focuses on critical biological, geological, and chemical systems and processes. We integrate field research with laboratory analyses and modeling to investigate the intricate relationships between humans, the environment, and the myriad forms of life they support.
Meilian (Maggie) Chen
Teaching Assistant Professor and Laboratory Coordinator
mchen51@utk.edu
Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Environmental Science, Geochemistry
Research Interests: My research interests in environmental biogeochemistry focus on dynamics of dissolved organic matter in inland waters, coastal ecosystems, polar oceans, and sediments.
Sean Fettrow
Assistant Professor (starting August 2026)
he/him
sfettrow@utk.edu
Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Earth System Science, Environmental Science, Geochemistry
Research Interests: I examine the links between soils, vegetation, and the atmosphere, improving predictions of ecosystem responses to a rapidly changing climate and identify mechanisms that regulate ecosystem greenhouse gas uptake vs emission.
Hairuo Fu
Gerald D. Sisk Assistant Professor (starting August 2027)
He/him/his
Website
Research Discipline: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Petrology, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I combine geochemical analysis and geophysical modeling to understand how elements and isotopes behave during high-temperature processes and what they reveal about planetary evolution, including giant impacts, magma oceans, and differentiation.
Dan Hembree
Professor
he, him, his
865-974-3788, dhembre2@utk.edu
Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Paleontology, Paleobiology, Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Research Interests: Use of ichnology and paleopedology to study the evolution of ancient to modern soils, soil ecosystems, and landscapes as well as evaluating the effect of long-term climate change on terrestrial ecosystems through Earth history.
Michael McKinney
Professor
865-974-6359, mmckinne@utk.edu
Website
Research Discipline: Earth System Science, Environmental Science
Research Interests: Urban ecology: maximizing biodiversity and ecosystem services on green roofs and green infrastructure, urban invasive species, microplastic pollution. Freshwater mussels and snails: relocation success metrics.
Jill Mikucki
Adjunct Research Professor
jmikucki@utk.edu
Research Discipline: Geomicrobiology, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I study how microbes shape ecosystems by investigating isolated subglacial environments—using advanced, collaborative tools to uncover microbial diversity, metabolism, and survival in extreme, ice-covered systems on Earth and beyond.
Anner Paldor
Assistant Professor, Don Jones Hydrogeology Endowed Professorship
apaldor@utk.edu
Research Discipline: Earth System Science, Environmental Science, Hydrogeology
Research Interests: I study the dynamics and the environmental implications of groundwater interactions with other components of the hydrologic cycle. I am interested in how these interactions change with time and space – from headwaters to coasts and the oceans.
Amelia (Amy) Robinson
Teaching Assistant Professor
she/her
865-974-8340, arobins5@utk.edu
Website
Research Interests: Geochemistry and Hydrogeology
Jarunetr (Nadia) Sae-Lim
Assistant Professor (starting January 2027)
she/her
jsaelim@utk.edu
Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Earth System Science, Environmental Science, Geochemistry
Research Interests: I study how hydroclimate, environments, and societies interact through time. I use proxies, biomarkers, geochemistry, and climate and lake models to reconstruct the past and inform current and future climate, water-quality change, and resilience.
Lluís Saló-Salgado
Assistant Professor, Barbara McDonald Endowed Professorship in Energy Transition
salo@utk.edu
Website
Research Discipline: Geophysics, Hydrogeology, Energy Transition Geoscience
Research Interests: I conduct computational and experimental research at the intersection of geology, flow in porous media, and geomechanics to mitigate geohazards and address outstanding scientific challenges related to energy development in complex subsurface systems.
Manuel Scharrer
Assistant Professor, David Mcdonald Endowed Professorship in Critical Minerals
865-974-0402, mscharre@utk.edu
Research Discipline: Critical Minerals, Geochemistry, Petrology
Research Interests: Manuel studies critical minerals using experimental thermodynamics, petrology, and geochemistry. He focuses on rare earth minerals and non-oxides to model ore formation and support sustainable resource and materials development.
Anna Szynkiewicz
Professor
865-974-6006, aszynkie@utk.edu
Website
Research Discipline: Environmental Science, Geochemistry, Hydrogeology, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I am a geologist and stable isotope geochemist using chemical and light isotope tracers to study surface processes related to water activity on Earth and Mars. I also investigate the origin of sulfur-bearing minerals on Mars.
Yipeng Zhang
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
zyp@utk.edu
Website
Research Discipline: Hydrogeology
Research Interests: I conduct computational research on groundwater circulation, its interactions with other hydrologic components, and its responses to environmental and anthropogenic stressors to support sustainable freshwater management.
