Dr. Ahsan Habib is a Research Associate at the University of Texas at El Paso, where his work centers on developing innovative analytical methods for emerging contaminants using green chemistry principles to promote sustainable advancements. He completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2023, with a strong focus on analytical method development and green chemistry applications. Dr. Habib has a broad research background that includes designing and executing complex research projects. Before his current academic role, he gained valuable experience working in the Research & Development department of the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to his Ph.D., Dr. Habib holds an M.S. in Applied Chemistry & Chemical Engineering. His multidisciplinary background equips him with a unique perspective in addressing complex environmental challenges.

Elizabeth Noriega Landa received her bachelor of science in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in 2019 and a doctoral degree in Chemistry in 2024. While pursuing her degree, she worked as a teaching assistant and research assistant for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She has presented her research at the 2021 Graduate Research Expo at UTEP, the 2022 annual meeting of the Society for Basic Urologic Research (SBUR), the 2023 annual meeting of the Texas Academy of Science (TAS), and the 2024 Graduate Research Expo at UTEP, and participated in the 2024 keynote poster at the Medical Center of the Americas (MCA) poster session. Her work has been published on PLOS ONE. Her research is focused on green analytical methods and machine learning to develop urinary fatty acid models for cancer detection.

Kiana Holbrook received her bachelor of science in Biochemistry with a double minor in Forensic Psychology and Anthropology from Texas State University (2017) and a Master of Science in Forensic Science from Texas Tech University (2019). In 2023, she received her doctoral Degree in Chemistry from the University of Texas at El Paso. Her research focuses on evaluating biomarkers found in biological specimens (urine, blood, tissue/biopsy) for renal cancer. Using thermo-desorption extraction in combination with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS), she has investigated the impacts of storage temperature and storage duration on the metabolites profiles in urine. Her project aims to identify target compounds for early renal cancer screening and diagnoses.

Angelica Araly Chacon is a PhD graduate student and research assistant at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she also completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. Her research focuses on critical areas of environmental chemistry, specifically the removal of emerging contaminants from water and the study of radioactive contaminants in groundwater, work vital to addressing the growing concerns over water pollution and environmental safety. Angelica has actively participated in conferences and workshops, including those organized by the American Chemical Society, the UTEP-NSF Center for Synthetic Organic Electrochemistry, and the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). Currently, she is part of the graduate student cohort UTEP-XLEAP(X-rays for Life, Environmental, Agricultural, and Plant Sciences), collaborating with CHESS to continue the growing effort to characterize biological materials that can be used in the bioremediation process of radioactive materials in groundwater. Angelica is an active member of the Electrochemical Society (ECS), staying engaged with the latest advancements in electrochemistry and related fields. Additionally, she is a Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) fellow, an award that recognizes her potential as a future leader in research.

Dr. Wen-Yee Lee is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). She completed her PhD studies in the Environmental Science and Engineering PhD program at UTEP and joined the UTEP faculty in Chemistry in 2003. Her research focuses on developing green analytical methods to analyze organic compounds in various environmental compartments (such as air, water, soil, and plants) and biological fluids (such as urine and saliva). Dr. Lee’s group investigated the efficiency of wastewater treatment on the removal of EDCs, and they continue to work with multidisciplinary collaborators to evaluate novel and existing filter and disinfection technologies for drinking water and potable reuse in robust and cost-efficient small water systems. Her research group also developed urine-based detection methods to provide easy, fast, and sensitive alternatives for early prostate and kidney cancer detection. Her teaching disciplines include General Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and Environmental Chemistry. Her interests include topics found in the keywords.