Title

Professor & Founding Faculty, School of Natural Sciences

E-mail

poday@ucmerced.edu

Office Phone

(209) 228-4338

Website

faculty1.ucmerced.edu/poday

Address

University of California, Merced
5200 North Lake Rd.
S&E Bldg., RM 216 (office), RM 225 (lab)
Merced, CA 95343

Research Interests

O'Day's research is in the area of mineral-aqueous interface geochemistry as it relates to the chemistry and mobility of inorganic chemical species in the environment. She applies a variety of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, in particular synchrotron X-ray methods, to studies of contaminant cycling, bioavailability, and remediation in natural systems.

Current research projects include:

• Arsenic speciation, cycling, and bioavailability
• Environmental influences on mercury speciation and methylation
• Novel methods for remediation of soils and sediments through application of reactive amendments
• Strontium and cesium uptake and release by weathering products related to radionuclide contamination at Hanford,WA
• Mechanisms and rates of abiotic and biotic uranium oxidation linked to nitrogen and iron cycling

Education

• Ph.D., 1992 — Stanford University
• M.S., 1984 — Cornell University
• B.S., 1981 — University of California, Davis