Frances Zengotita

Program: GLOBES

Frances Elisa Zengotita (she/her) is a Ph.D. student in both the Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences (CEEES) and Material Science & Engineering (MSE) at the University of Notre Dame. At Notre Dame, she is advised by Dr. Amy Hixon and co-advised by Dr. Kyle Doudrick. She has a dual bachelors in English and Chemistry (Bachelor of Arts and Sciences, respectively) from Florida International University. Her dissertation research focuses on the sorption and redox behavior of plutonium with iron oxide nanoparticles as a function of particle size. Her research aims to update current performance assessment models for nuclear facilities, to develop new disposal strategies, and support licensing procedures. Her interests are contaminant fate and transport, environmental remediation, actinide geochemistry and nuclear waste management. Besides research, she aims to diversify the nuclear field through programs that bolster underrepresented researchers (e.g. outreach programs pointed towards schools that primarily serve underrepresented students). In the future, she hopes to expand the future goals of renewable energy by actively advocating for antiracist environmental policies and working with communities that are affected by environmental racism.