Athena Bolin

Education: B.A., UC Berkeley (2019)

Area of Emphasis: Natural Water

Faculty Advisors: Diane McKnight and Tom Marchitto

Research: My current research centers on the complex challenges posed by acid mine and acid rock drainage (AMD/ARD) in the Colorado Mineral Belt. I analyze metals and rare earth elements (REEs) in aquatic matrices to evaluate seasonal trends in contamination and their impacts on freshwater systems. The overarching goals of my work are to understand the transport and attenuation of these solutes and to characterize the unique geochemical signatures of REEs, which can serve as valuable tracers in these complex, contaminated environments.