Current Lab Members
Chris Kim received his A.B. in geology from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in geological and environmental sciences from Stanford University. Following a joint post-doctoral research appointment with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley, he joined the Chapman University faculty where he is currently professor of earth and environmental sciences and associate dean of academic programs in the sciences. His research interests include arsenic speciation and distribution in abandoned mine lands and the reactive properties of iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles. He is a recipient of an NSF-CAREER award for early career faculty as well as the Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award based on “accomplishment in scholarly research with undergraduates, as well as a compelling commitment to teaching”.
Ratish Ragavendiran is the current KEG lab Manager. He graduated in Spring 2024 with a B.S. in Applied Human Physiology with a minor in English from Chapman. He joined the KEG Lab in Spring 2023. His work primarily consists of researching how temperature and humidity fluctuations affect arsenic-bearing mine wastes.
Andrew Tahhan is a fourth-year biology major and a music technology minor. He joined the lab in the fall of 2023. In the lab, Andrew is working on the bioacessibility of Empire Mine waste particles. At Chapman, he is the President of the Pre-Dental Society and Director of Communications for Mortar Board Honor Society.
Cristina Inbonden is a fourth-year Health Sciences and French double major. She joined the lab in fall of 2o23. In the lab, Cristina studies the rate of adsorption and desorption of various types of salts to iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles. At Chapman, she served as the Crean College Senator for the Student Government Association, she is a member of the Women’s soccer team, she is a Tour Guide for the Office of Admission, and she is part of the Chapman First Aid Team.
Lea Vetter is in her third year as a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major with a minor in English. She joined the lab in the fall of 2023, where her research focused on studying the bioaccessibility of arsenic in mine waste particles and its correlation to spatial distribution. At Chapman, she is also a Beckman scholar and involved in the Schmid Student Leadership Council, an executive member of ASBMB, and a CUE Student Scholar Ambassador.
Miguel Olivas is a third-year chemistry major with a minor in Spanish. He joined the KEG lab during the summer of 2023. In the lab, he works with ion-selective electrodes characterizing copper ions’ adsorption and desorption rate to iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles. He is also a part of the promising future and is a first-generation ambassador at Chapman.
Elena Skender is a senior majoring in Environmental Science and Policy with an Art minor. She has been working in the KEG lab since January 2024. and the project she is working on measures the bioaccessibility of arsenic from samples taken from the Empire Mine. Outside of research, she plays for Chapman’s women’s water polo team.
Mariah Tsuruda is a fourth-year Health Science major with a minor in Psychology. She became a member of the KEG lab in the spring of 2024. She is researching how particle size affects the bioaccessibility of arsenic in mine waste. At Chapman, she is a first-generation student and part of the First Aid Team.
Janelle Jacques is a third-year chemistry major with a minor in Political Science. She joined the lab in the spring of 2024 and has focused on the creation and analysis of nanoparticles.