Meet the next generation of soil scientists
Our team
Lab Director, Assistant Professor of Environmental Sciences
Anna Paltseva, PHD
Dr. Anna Paltseva, native Russian, is an international urban soil scientist. She received her PhD in Earth & Environmental Sciences at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She studies urban soil contamination and its impact on plant and human health and works directly with urban gardeners, farmers, and residents to develop soil remediation and mitigation strategies. Her recent work has developed novel technologies for rapid analysis of heavy metal contaminants, deploying those technologies in the field to better locate and remediate their toxic effect on communities.
Graduate Student: PhD
Tyrell Lassair
Tyrell Lassair is a current PhD student in the earth and energy sciences program here at UL. His research interests are centered around using soil remediation techniques to combat food deserts and food security issues by way of urban agriculture, as well as maximizing soil capability and ecosystem services provided by urban soils. He received his bachelor of science in environmental/ studies and his bachelor of arts in geography (concentration in physical geography) from California state University Sacramento.
Check out his most recent interview!
Graduate Student: PhD
Rachel Kelk
Rachel Kelk is a current PhD student in the earth and energy sciences program here at UL Lafayette. She received her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York, College at Geneseo in geology and her masters from the University of Southern Mississippi in geology. Her research interests focus on quantifying heavy metal contamination in soils using the magnetic properties of the soil, specifically magnetic susceptibility.
Graduate Student: Master’s
Eden Maier
Eden Maier is a current Masters student and teaching assistant in the Environmental Resource Science Program. She received her Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude in Environmental Management with a minor in Occupational Health and Safety. With a passion for the environment, she aims to pursue a career in restoring ecosystems damaged by human influences.
Holly Heafner
Holly Heafner is earning a Master's degree in the Environmental Resource Science Program. She works as a graduate research assistant under Dr. Paltseva, assisting in soil collection and analysis. The objective of this research project is to determine and map soils contaminated with heavy metals throughout the city of Lafayette. Holly is interested in working alongside lawmakers to promote environmental health and sustainability.
Graduate Student: Master’s
Eriell Jenkins
Eriell Jenkins is a Masters research assistant currently studying heavy metal contamination in urban soils, as well as the accuracy & methodology of the portable XRF gun. Eriell received her Bachelor of Science here at UL in Environmental Science and Quality. She is a student service contractor at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, and is especially interested in studying environmental remediation methods.
Graduate Student: Masters
Kathryn Walker
Kathryn Walker is an undergraduate intern in the Delta Urban Soils Lab. She is pursuing a degree in environmental science with a concentration in soil and water quality and a minor in geology. She is focused on heavy metal contamination in soils, specifically graveyard soils and has been working on heavy metal contaminates in dishware and their potential impacts on human health.
Undergraduate Student: Lab Intern
Nicholas Miller
Nicholas Miller is a current undergraduate intern under Dr. Paltseva at the Delta Urban Soils Lab here at ULL and is currently majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration of Soil & Water Quality. His goal here is to continue utilizing X-Ray Fluorescence testing devices to determine heavy metal contamination in and around the surrounding Lafayette area to help protect the community from potentially toxic influences.
Undergraduate Student: Lab Intern
Undergraduate Student: Lab Intern
Allana Judge
Allana Judge is an undergraduate intern in the Delta Urban Soils Lab. She is pursuing a degree in environmental science with a concentration in soil and water quality. She is interested in creating community outreach programs to better inform children and their parents about the importance of soils and our environment. Her hope is to inspire the youth and others in our community to do what they can to maintain a more healthy environment.
Samantha Rios
Samantha Rios is a junior at UL majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Quality. She grew up in the swamplands of the south in Belle Rose, LA and is a first-generation Mexican American college student. She is bilingual in Spanish and English, President of UL’s SEEDS Chapter, and she also works as a Program Coordinator with Rebuilding Together Acadiana, a non-profit charity. She hopes to work within the science community for the remainder of her career.
Undergraduate Student: Lab Intern
Previous Laboratory Members
Eden Maier (2021- 2023) | Teaching Assistant/ Lab Researcher
Sydney Renard (2021-2022) | Teaching Assistant/Lab Researcher
George Bailey (2021) | Teaching Assistant
Susmita Shrestha (2020-2021) | Teaching Assistant
Morgan Filce (Fall 2021) | Lab Intern
Tristen Ashworth (Summer 2021) | Lab Intern
Joshua Barnhill (Summer 2021) | Lab Intern
Hannah Cormier (Spring 2021) | Lab Intern