Submitted by Celine Pallud on
Our undergraduate research project fits within a larger-scale project that seeks to determine sustainable methods for remediating soil with arsenic contamination. We are investigating the ability of a fern, Pteris vittata, to remove arsenic from soil by accumulating arsenic in its fronds. We are running an on-going field experiment and associated greenhouse/lab studies with the objective of determining the ability of fertilizers to increase arsenic concentrations in the fern fronds.
Student engagement will include work outside at our field site (in Richmond, CA), and lab work on campus preparing soil, plant tissue, and soil water samples.
We are looking for highly motivated students interested in soil science, urban agriculture, and cycles of contaminants in soil-plant systems. No qualification is needed, but basic knowledge of soil science, chemistry, and plant cultivation/gardening is a plus.