Dr. Jess Brandt, PI
Jess is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment & the Center for Environmental Science and Engineering. She earned both her BA in Public Health Studies and MHS in Environmental Health Science from Johns Hopkins University, and her PhD from the University Program in Environmental Health at Duke University.
Anika Agrawal, PhD Candidate
Anika is a PhD student in UConn NRE. After her B.S. in Environmental Toxicology at UC Davis, she completed her M.S. in Marine Biology at Texas A&M Galveston. She is interested in how pollutants affect marine and coastal ecosystems. In her free time you can find her cooking, baking, or reading the latest queer YA novel.
Jenna Bartholomew, Research Technician
Jenna is a research technician in the Brandt Lab. She earned her BS in Natural Resources at UConn. Jenna is integral to the lab’s field and lab PFAS projects and general lab operations. Outside of the lab, Jenna is usually birdwatching, reading, or gardening.
Chloé Zampetti, MS Student
Chloé is a MS student in UConn NRE. She obtained her Bachelor's degree from UConn NRE and is now focusing her MS work on investigating metamorphic retention of contaminants in emergent aquatic insects. Outside of the lab, you can find her listening to an audiobook or watching The Office.
Dr. Kaitlyn Campbell, Postdoc
Kaitlyn is a postdoctoral research assistant in UConn NRE and CESE. They earned their BA in Biology from Southwestern University and their PhD from the University of South Dakota. Kaitlyn’s research is highly interdisciplinary and spans the fields of ecotoxicology, disease ecology, neurobiology, and machine learning.
Dr. Noëlie Molbert, Postdoc
Noëlie is a postdoctoral research assistant in UConn NRE. She earned her PhD from Sorbonne University (France) and completed her first postdoc at Lund University (Sweden). Her research relies on integrated multidisciplinary approaches to better explore the relationship between contaminant exposure and their effects on wildlife.
Dr. Margot Grimmelpont, Postdoc
Margot is a postdoctoral research assistant in UConn NRE. She earned her PhD from La Rochelle University (France). Through a multi-disciplinary approach, her research aims to better understand the effects of co-stressors, particularly contaminants and temperature, on the health of coastal organisms.
Jackie Baron, Undergrad Researcher
Jackie is an undergraduate working towards her B.S. from UConn NRE, concentrating in water resources and climate. She is focusing on mercury and selenium in freshwater fish. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, listening to podcasts, and watching movies with friends.
Stef Payares Arteaga, Undergrad Researcher
Stef is an undergraduate at UConn majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in Human Health. She is currently studying the relationship between spider size and PFAS concentrations in freshwater systems. In her free time she enjoys playing guitar, painting and hiking.
Former members of the lab
Graduate students
Raul Flamenco, MS 2023 - Now a Research Associate with the National Academies’ Gulf Research Program
Alison Baranovic, MS 2022 - Now an Environmental Scientist with Fuss & O’Neill
Undergraduates
Elizabeth Davis, BS 2024
Julia Michnowicz, BS 2023
Claudia Harris, BS 2022