Promoting Diversity in the UNM METALS SRC through Risk-Reduction Research on Tribal Lands

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Project Summary The goal of this SRP Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research is to complement efforts for Phase 1 of the University of New Mexico’s Metals Exposure and Toxicity Assessment on Tribal Lands in the Southwest (UNM METALS) Superfund Basic Research Center (SRC) Environmental Project 1 (EP1). The focus of EP1 is on immobilization of metal mixtures for risk reduction in sites affected by mining legacy in our partner communities on Navajo Nation and the Pueblo of Laguna. The motivation of this supplement is to support Taylor Busch, a graduate student of Navajo descent who will synergize the current research in EP1 (focused on metal immobilization of metal mixtures), to explore new approaches that use plant-fungi symbiosis for the remediation of toxic metal mixtures. Taylor Busch will investigate the role of fungi on the accumulation of U and As in plants. We will build from initial work conducted by Taylor Busch who has collaborated with our Center as an undergraduate researcher, using the native grass, Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama) and fungi that have already been isolated from the contaminated areas in our partner community of Laguna Pueblo. We will conduct culture experiments to evaluate uptake of U and As integrating aqueous chemistry, microscopy, and spectroscopy tools for elemental composition and metal speciation in fungi and plants. Taylor Busch will be mentored by Dr. José Cerrato, who is the lead investigator for EP1 and has a strong track-record with under-represented students. Eliane El Hayek will serve as a Co-mentor and will facilitate the integration with biomedical and environmental projects of the UNM METALS SRC. The collaboration with Jennifer Rudgers who is an expert in fungi ecology will be an invaluable asset to this supplement given that Taylor Busch has already been working with her as an undergraduate researcher. The Administrative Core, Translation Core, Training Core and Community Engagement Core will support the mentoring of Taylor Busch and provide invaluable opportunities for professional development working with our partner communities. The proposed activities for this supplement can be feasibly completed by March 31, 2022 which is the end date of Phase of the UNM METALS SRC. We will look for other funding opportunities for Taylor Busch to continue working on this project beyond the end of Phase 1 of the UNM METALS SRC so Taylor Busch can obtain her Master of Science (MS) degree.