Symone Franks

  • Ph.D. Student
  • ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Symone Franks Headshot

Bio

Symone Franks is a PhD student in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research focuses on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), examining their distribution and how exposure intersects with race and class. She is particularly interested in how low-income communities perceive PFAS risk and in developing non-extractive, community-based research methods. Prior to graduate school, Symone interned at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where she worked on wastewater permitting and environmental justice reviews. A first-generation college student from Kansas City, she is committed to producing science that supports equitable, community-led environmental solutions.

Research Interests

  • PFAS contamination and exposure
  • Environmental justice
  • Community-based research methods

Education

B.S. Earth and Environmental Science, University of Missouri–Kansas City

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Riley Mulhern