A lab tradition: jumping into Lake Mendota to celebrate.

People

Professor Christy Remucal leads the Aquatic Chemistry group at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is the Director of the Aquatic Sciences Center and is the Director of the Water Science and Engineering Laboratory. She is a faculty member in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, the Environmental Chemistry & Technology Program, and the Limnology & Marine Science Program. She holds an MS (2004) and a PhD (2009) in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BS (2003) in Environmental Engineering Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before joining the UW faculty, Christy completed a post-doc in the Institute for Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. A complete CV is available here.


Postdoctoral Researchers

Dr. Zhao Yang received a BS (2016) in Environmental Science from Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, an MS (2019) from Drexel University, and a PhD (2023) in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Texas Tech University. Her postdoctoral research focuses on the fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface waters in Wisconsin. In her free time, Zhao enjoys coffee, attending group Zumba class, and spending time outside.

 


PhD Students

Kaitlyn Gruber received her B.A. in Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2021. She is a doctoral student and NSF Graduate Research Fellow in Chemistry, advised by Dr. Christy Remucal. Kaitlyn conducted undergraduate research studying the photolysis of the herbicide 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba). Her graduate studies focus on contamination of PFAS in the Great Lakes region. Kaitlyn enjoys crocheting, biking, and spending time outside.

 

Ali Milani graduated from the University of Iowa in 2020 where she earned her B.A. in chemistry. After a few years working in industry, she has returned to academia to pursue her doctorate. She is advised by Dr. Remucal and is studying PFAS in atmospheric deposition samples. In her free time, Ali enjoys grabbing coffee with friends, thrifting, and reading.

 

Samantha Summerfield received her B.S. in both biochemistry and environmental science from Saint Joseph's College of Maine. She now is pursuing her doctoral degree in the Environmental Chemistry and Technology program and is advised by Christy Remucal. In her free time, she enjoys going outside, kayaking, teaching yoga, and reading.

 

Adriana Agosta received her B.S in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University in 2023. She is a doctoral student in the Environmental Chemistry and Technology program advised by Dr. Christy Remucal. She is currently studying the photodegradation of organic contaminants in laboratory and environmental conditions. In her free time, Adriana enjoys playing softball, baking, and reading.

 

Ben Fry received his B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Hope College in 2020, and his M.Sc. in Green Chemistry and Sustainable Industrial Technology from the University of York in 2022. After working as an analytical chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for a few years, he decided to pursue a doctorate in the Molecular and Environmental Toxicology program advised by Christy Remucal. In his free time, he enjoys reading, cycling, snowboarding, and cooking.

 


Undergraduate Researchers

Lily Thatcher is studying Chemistry and Environmental Studies at UW-Madison.

 

Grace Schaffer is majoring in Environmental Engineering at UW-Madison.

 

Hannah Vosskuhler is majoring in Chemistry at UW-Madison.

 

Group Alumni