Mahir Tajwar

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Overview:

Mahir Tajwar is a 2nd year Ph.D. student in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at Vanderbilt University. He works in the John C. Ayers’ Geochemistry lab, where his research centers on understanding water quality and studying stream metabolism through primary productivity and ecosystem respiration in Tennessee streams.

Mahir is passionate about research in the broad dimension of environmental pollution in relation to geochemistry, hydrology, microplastic characterization, spatial analysis, and risk assessment. His research at Auburn University focused on hydrogeochemistry and the presence of contaminants in groundwater within coastal areas, addressing critical issues of water quality. He has received several research grants and is also is a recipient of the Dean’s Research Award for his research at Auburn University. He also presented his work at international conferences and published studies on microplastic and groundwater contamination. During his time as a graduate student at Auburn University, Mahir served as a teaching assistant for introductory undergraduate courses and is currently employed as a graduate teaching assistant for the course ‘Oceanography’ at Vanderbilt University. Furthermore, he has worked as a summer research assistant at the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

Awards:

-GSA Gould Research Grant, 2024
-Vanderbilt University College of Arts and Science Fellowship, 2023
-Auburn University Dean’s Research Award, 2023
-Auburn University GAB Outstanding Graduate Student, 2023
-GSA Graduate Student Research Grant, 2021