Join us in welcoming Miranda Aiken, Ph.D., to Schmid College as a Grand Challenge Initiative Postdoctoral Fellow!

Dr. Aiken holds a Ph.D. from University of California, Riverside, and is a biogeochemist researching the release of toxic, naturally-occurring soil metals into our groundwater. Her work is highly-interdisciplinary and investigates metal release from individual soil aggregates, all the way up to entire groundwater basins. The goal of her work is to understand the mineral, chemical, and biological controls of metal release and how human activity may impact water quality in the long-term.

Q&A with Dr. Miranda Aiken

What is your current area of research and how did you become passionate about this area?

My current research investigates the release of toxic, naturally-occurring soil metals into our groundwater. The goal of this work is to understand the mineral, chemical, and biological controls of metal release and how human activity may impact water quality in the long-term. I am really interested in this work because it is often highly interdisciplinary and requires the application of chemistry, geology, hydrology, and policy!

What would you be if you weren’t a scientist? 

A baker! I love baking and it is still one of my favorite hobbies. My favorite things to bake are sourdough bread and decorated sugar cookies.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? 

“Learn broadly”. When we become scientists it feels like we are expected to choose one area of expertise and stick with it. But, by exposing yourself to different scientific disciplines, diverse ways of thinking, or multiple scientific techniques, your experience and knowledge will grow exponentially.

What excites you the most about GCI?

I am super excited about working with students on their team projects! The students are extremely innovative, creative, and excited about designing, building, and conducting these projects. I am very much looking forward to learning new things from them throughout the semester.