UMass Amherst Professor Awarded Fellowship to Study Arsenic Contamination in U.S. and Overseas

July 23, 2007

Contact:

Julian Tyson 413/545-0195

College and middle school students to assist research

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Amherst chemistry professor Julian Tyson has been awarded a $200,000 Discovery Corps Fellowship by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support his research and educational efforts on the toxic contaminant arsenic.

Tyson will spend part of his fellowship period collaborating with life sciences faculty at UMass Amherst to develop plants and microorganisms as systems to remove arsenic from contaminated soils and waters. Arsenic is considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be the contaminant that poses the most significant threat to human health.

The Discovery Corps Fellowship will boost further development of Tyson’s independent study program, in which small groups of first-year college students engage in research that is mentored by upper-level students. In addition, underrepresented middle school students and teachers will measure arsenic levels in their local environments. Through the fellowship, Tyson will travel to Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam—all currently dealing with severe arsenic contamination issues—to interact with international researchers.

“This is an exciting opportunity,” says Tyson, “I am particularly pleased that the National Science Foundation has recognized the importance of my group’s work on the development of chemical measurement procedures that allow arsenic compounds to be studied in complex environmental and biological settings. I am also delighted that they have endorsed my involvement with undergraduate and middle school research team members.”

The Discovery Corps Fellowship program was established by the NSF “to seek new postdoctoral and professional development models that combine research expertise with professional service.” According to NSF, “Discovery Corps Fellows leverage their research expertise through projects that address areas of national need. Their projects enhance research capacity and infrastructure and contribute to workforce development and job creation.”

#11-08

E-mail story to a friend Printer-friendly version