Assistant Professor of Biology
B.A., B.S., Adams State University; Ph.D., Iowa State University
Dr. Chavez is an environmental scientist with interdisciplinary training, holding a B.S. in Organismal Biology, a B.A. in Allied Health Chemistry, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science. Her interests center on water quality, human impacts on aquatic systems, and the processes that drive ecosystem change. Her research background includes examining lake eutrophication and its role in driving fish kills, as well as assessing arsenic bioavailability from mine tailings in Colorado. During her doctoral studies, Dr. Chavez examined the fate and transport of antibiotic resistance genes in streams influenced by wastewater effluent, contributing to broader understanding of emerging contaminants and public health risks.
