Graduate Students

Name: Anish K C
Degree Seeking: M.S in Environmental Science concentration in Natural Resources.
Advisor: Dr. Bharat Pokharel
Project Title: Predictive Model Mapping of Aboveground Biomass of Mixed-Hardwood Forests using Multisource Remotely Sensed Data.

Project Description:
This thesis research project aims to improve forest aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation by integrating LiDAR,  Sentinel, and NAIP remote sensing data. It addresses the limitations of single-sensor approaches, such as signal saturation and species variation, by combining LiDAR’s structural metrics with Sentinel’s spectral and NAIP’s texture information. Focusing on the Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area, the study conducts a systematic review of LiDAR-based biomass modeling, develops and integrates multisensor models, and compares traditional regression with machine learning techniques. The goal is to identify the most accurate and efficient method for large-scale forest biomass mapping and carbon assessment.

Name: Caroline Yeboaa Apraku
Degree Seeking: Ph.D. in Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Advisor: Dr. Reginald S. Archer, GISP
Project Title: Investigating the Impact of Urban Heat Island (UHIs) effect on the Spatial Heterogeneity of Soil Respiration and Carbon Storage in Middle Tennessee

Project Description:
The UHI effect is a phenomenon that occurs when inner cities become warmer than surrounding suburban and rural areas mainly due to anthropogenic heat sources. Historically, most UHI studies have focused on the phenomenon itself and its associations with public health and equity. Our study examines the impact of UHI on how variably soil respiration and carbon storage is distributed spatially across Middle Tennessee. It is important to understand how this phenomenon is shaping the world beneath our feet and in extension what's above it including energy consumption, public health and global carbon fluxes. If we can make these connections, we will better be prepared for mitigation and adaptation strategies for public health, sustainable cities and global carbon budgets and goals. Especially because it is projected that 68% representing 6.7 billion people will live in cities in these perpetual islands by 2050.

Personal Introduction:
I am a geospatial strategist with a background in environmental science. I have a BSc. in Natural Resources Management (Silviculture and Forest Management major) and a MS. in Urban Forestry (GIS major). I use geospatial tools and data to understand the world around me and how that can inform environmental policy. When I'm not delving into urban sustainability and GIS, I usually am scouting restaurants for lemon pepper wings.

Name: Abishek Gupta
Degree Seeking: M.S in Environmental Science concentration in Natural Resources.
Advisor: Dr. Behnaz Molaei
Project Title: Machine Learning Based Hot and Cold Anchor Pixel Prediction for Improving Satellite-Based METRIC Development and Validation in Humid Climates of Tennessee

Project Description:
This thesis research aims to improve evapotranspiration (ET) estimation in humid climates by enhancing the METRIC (Mapping EvapoTranspiration at high Resolution with Internalized Calibration) energy balance model through machine learning. METRIC relies on manually selecting hot and cold anchor pixels representing extreme ET conditions, a process that is subjective, time-intensive, and prone to error, particularly challenging in Tennessee's humid, vegetated landscape where identifying appropriate pixels is difficult.
This study addresses these limitations by developing machine learning models to automate anchor pixel selection using Landsat and Sentinel satellite imagery. The research involves processing multispectral satellite data through Google Earth Engine to extract vegetation indices, land surface temperature, and surface energy balance parameters. Ground-truth validation is conducted using meteorological station data and soil moisture measurements across Tennessee study sites.
By integrating remote sensing data with machine learning algorithms, this work seeks to reduce subjectivity in METRIC calibration, improve ET estimation accuracy in humid regions, and enable more efficient large-scale water resource monitoring. The automated approach has potential applications in agricultural water management, drought monitoring, and hydrological modeling across similar humid climates where traditional METRIC implementation faces challenges.

Name: Donna Blankenship
Degree Seeking: M.S. in Environmental Science, concentration in Natural Resources
Advisor: Dr. Sudipta Rakshit
Project Title: Evaluating Tennessee Soil as a Sink for PFOS and PFOA-The Implications for Soil Health

Project Description:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants (aka Forever Chemicals) of global concern due to their chemical stability and environmental mobility. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) are widely detected in soil and water systems, yet their adsorption mechanisms in southeastern United States soils remain remain incompletely understood. This thesis, Evaluating Tennessee Soil as a Sink for PFOS and PFOA – The Implications for Soil Health, investigates the adsorption and retention behavior of PFOS and PFOA in Loring silt loam and other representative Tennessee soils to assess their capacity to function as environmental sinks. This study examines how soil mineralogy, pH, and surface chemistry influence PFAS binding and contaminant mobility.  Mineral–PFAS interactions are characterized using in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and macroscopic adsorption experiments under environmentally relevant conditions, with implications for soil health and environmental risk.

Personal Introduction:
Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Science. I taught middle and high school science for 15 years.  I am currently pursing a Master's in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Natural Resources. Graduate Research Assistant in the Soil Chemistry Lab.

Name: Bikalpa Lamichhane
Degree Seeking: M.S in Environmental Science concentration in Natural Resources.
Advisor: Dr. Behnaz Molaei
Project Title: Improving the Accuracy of UAS-Based Crop Evapotranspiration Estimation for Different Climates

Project Description:
This thesis aims to achieve enhanced accuracy in estimating crop evapotranspiration (ET) using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) across diverse climatic conditions by integrating high-resolution multispectral and thermal imagery with advanced machine learning algorithms. Current ET estimation methods often lack the spatial resolution and adaptability needed for precision agriculture in varying environments. The research develops climate-adaptive predictive models trained on ground-truth measurements from eddy covariance systems and lysimeters across multiple climate zones—ranging from arid to humid regions while accounting for climate-specific variables including temperature regimes, humidity levels, solar radiation, and wind patterns. By evaluating model performance under different crop types, growth stages, and environmental conditions, this study identifies optimal sensor configurations and flight parameters for each climatic scenario. The outcomes address limitations of one-size-fits-all approaches and provide stakeholders with reliable, scalable tools for precision irrigation scheduling and sustainable water resource management, ultimately bridging remote sensing technology with practical agricultural applications to enhance water use efficiency in water-limited regions facing climate variability.

Name: Diptesh Banerjee
Degree Seeking: PhD in Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Sudipta Rakshit
Project Title: Biogeochemical cycling of nucleic acid based organic phosphorus

Project Description:
I am pursuing my research to investigate the effect of redox substances on the adsorption of small nucleotides on soil and soil minerals.

Personal Introduction: I am pursuing PhD in Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Tennessee State University. My research interest is in biogeochemical cycling of nucleic acid based organic phosphorus. I earned Masters degree in Environmental Science from Tennessee State University in 2024 and Bachelors degree in Chemistry (Hons) from University of Calcutta. 

Name: Maheen Mehnaz
Degree Seeking: M.S. in Environmental Science
Advisor: Dr. Sudipta Rakshit
Project Title: Macroscopic and in-situ ATR-FTIR Spectroscopic Studies of Metformin Adsorption on Soil

Project Description:
Emerging contaminants might pose serious threats to the soil and water environment. Metformin, an emerging micropollutant, is one of the most widely used drugs for type-2 diabetes treatment. However, its waste disposal through human excretion is causing environmental concern to the soil and water environment. Yet, knowledge about the interaction mechanism of metformin with soil remains very limited. In this study, we evaluated metformin adsorption mechanisms on model oxide minerals (gibbsite, hematite) and two Tennessee soils (Milan Loring soil and Cheatham County soil) and in the presence of soil micronutrient (molybdenum) using in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and macroscopic adsorption experiments under environmentally relevant solution properties.

Name: Maria Schutte
Degree Seeking: Ph.D. in Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Sarah M. Neumann
Project Title: Mycorrhizal-Mediated Tree Density-Dependance in Cumberland Plateau Forests

Project Description:
This project seeks to understand the role of mycorrhizal-mediated plant soil feedbacks in upland hardwood forests that are undergoing long-term changes in species composition and structure. We use observational and experimental studies to explicitly link plant-soil feedbacks to patterns of conspecific density dependence.

Personal Introduction:
I am a PhD student studying forest ecology. My research focuses on plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs), how those cause patterns of conspecific density dependance, and implications for species composition and structure in the forests of eastern North America. Although this line of research primarily focuses on arbuscular mycorrhiza and ectomycorrhiza as drivers of PSFs, I am incorporating ericoid mycorrhiza and dark septate endophytes too. Previously, I worked as a field and lab technician on projects relating to invasive shrubs, eutrophication, and adaptive management in forests.

Name: Dorcas Kayode
Degree Seeking: M.S. in Environmental Science, concentration in Natural Resources.
Advisor: Dr. Felix Ogunmokun
Project Title: Does Agricultural Management Drive Soil Hydrophobicity? Investigating the Interplay of Tillage, Cover Crops, and Organic Amendments

Project Description:
Soil wettability plays a critical role in regulating water infiltration, retention, and plant-available water, yet the extent to which agricultural management alters this property through changes in soil organic matter (SOM) composition remains insufficiently understood. This project examines how long-term management practices (tillage, cover cropping, and poultry litter fertilization) affect SOM functional composition and soil wettability in Tennessee agroecosystems. The goal of this research is to clarify how management-induced shifts in SOM composition influence soil water dynamics, ultimately informing strategies to enhance soil health and agricultural resilience in Southeastern U.S. cropping systems.

Personal Introduction: I earned my Bachelor's degree in Crop Protection and Environmental Biology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria where I developed strong expertise in soil science. I also participated in an Erasmus exchange program at Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania where I broadened my international research perspective. My research interest focuses on soil physics, particularly understanding how long-term litter accumulation and agricultural management pratices influence carbon cycling, matrix repellency, and macropore flow under changing environmental conditions.

Name: Monika Gaire
Degree Seeking: M.S. in Environmental Science
Advisor: Dr. Jianwei Li
Project Title: Temperature Rise Impact on Patterns and Drivers of Soil Respiration in Switchgrass Croplands

Name: Himani Singh Gautam
Degree Seeking: M.S in Environmental Science
Advisor: Dr. Huseyin Tecimen
Project Title: Effect of soil tretaments on rhizospheric microbial community, soil nutrient dynamics and plant nutritional status for selected forest farming species.

Project Description:
This research investigates the effects of applying different types of biofertilizers on the rhizospheric microbial community and examines how these microbial responses influence soil nutrient status. Furthermore, the study evaluates the subsequent impacts on the growth and development of forest farming species such as black cohosh, ginseng, goldenseal, and ramps.

Name: Xiaoyue Li
Degree Seeking: Ph.D. in Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Yujuan Chen
Project Title: Quantifying the Ecosystem Services of Urban Forests in the Southeastern United States

Project Description:
Urban forests provide critical ecosystem services that enhance environmental quality, human well-being, and climate resilience, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. The project integrates field-based measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, and heat index with spatial analysis of tree canopy structure and land cover characteristics. Measurements are conducted across multiple urban environments, such as parking lots and green spaces, to capture ecosystem service variation at both site and tree-proximity scales. By combining in-situ observations with geospatial and statistical analyses, the study assesses how tree canopy cover, spatial configuration, and proximity influence the magnitude of ecosystem services provided by urban forests.