People

Dr. David C. Podgorski

Associate Professor

B.S. Gardner-Webb University

Ph.D. Florida State University

dcpodgor@uno.edu

David received his B.S. in Chemistry from Gardner-Webb University in 2007. His Ph.D. research was on the separation and selective ionization of under-characterized fractions of natural organic matter, advised by Dr. William T. Cooper at Florida State University. After defending in 2011, he completed an 18-month postdoc with Dr. Alan G. Marshall at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. He then stayed on with Dr. Marshall as a Research Scientist for five more years under the mentorship of Dr. Robert G.M. Spencer. David joined the University of New Orleans Department of Chemistry and Pontchartrain Institute of Environmental Sciences in 2017. He has an appointment as an Affiliate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Alaska Anchorage. David received an NSF CAREER award in 2024.

Morris J. Bonton III

Graduate Student, Ph.D.

B.S. University of New Orleans

M.S. University of New Orleans

Morris is originally from Mansura, Louisiana. He received his BS (2017) and MS (2019) in Chemistry from the University of New Orleans. Morris worked in the industry as a lab technician, chemist, and lab supervisor.  

During his undergraduate studies, he became passionate about chemistry. That’s when he changed his major from biology to chemistry. While completing his M.S. degree, that is when he became passionate about analytical chemistry. He joined the Ph.D. program in the Spring of 2024 at the University of New Orleans under the supervision of Dr. David Podgorski. 

Dr. Jumanah Hamdi

Postdoctoral Research Associate

B.S. University of New Orleans

M.S. University of New Orleans

Ph.D. University of New Orleans

A Damascus native, Jumanah Hamdi forged her own path toward success, defying societal norms. While cultural expectations prevailed, she pursued education fervently. Her love of chemistry led her to a science career, where she strived to make a difference. After earning her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of New Orleans (Louisiana, USA), specializing in organic chemistry and catalysis, Jumanah discovered her true passion for green chemistry. Driven by a desire to protect the environment, Jumanah embarked on a postdoctoral journey as an environmental scientist at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON). There, she investigated marine carbon cycling processes in Fram Strait, focusing on Arctic ecosystems. The US National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded her a two-year Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, which made her a key contributor to the polar research community. A new chapter in Jumanah’s academic career has begun. She joined the University of New Orleans as a postdoctoral researcher under Professor David Podgorski’s mentorship. By leveraging her unique background and skillset, she can continue to push scientific discovery frontiers and create innovative solutions. She can also serve as a mentor and role model, inspiring the next generation of scientists to think critically and innovate. And by working together, we can create a more collaborative, rounded approach to saving our planet.

Yahminiy Ganesh

Graduate Student, Ph.D.

B.S. Heriot-Watt University

M.S. University of Claude Bernard Lyon 1

Yahminiy Ganesh is from the north of Malaysia- Penang Island, and with encouragement from her parents, uncle- Mr Chandra Mohan, and family, who believe education is the passport to the future, she is determined to gain her doctorate. Yahminiy had completed her bachelor’s in chemical engineering at Heriot-Watt University and always took up the Environmental, Safety, and Health segments in group projects. She was an environmental engineer at Motorola Solutions Inc., reporting data declaration activities, REACH Recollection, and Conflict Materials to the team. Yahminiy then went to work as a lab assistant at an e-waste metal recycling company in Penang- Shan Poornam Metal SDH BHD. Her interest grew after learning that the items deserved a secondary life, and she decided to pursue her studies in a greener field. She completed her master’s in synthesizing, Catalysis, and Sustainable chemistry at the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France, under Dr. Peter Goekjian, Dr. Bruno Andrioletti, Dr. Shashank Mishra, Dr. Strazewski Piotr, Dr. Christopher Murell, Dr. Amgoune Abderrahmane, Dr. Piva Olivier and Dr. Pascal Fongarland. Her internship was on organic semiconducting materials and supervised by Dr Adel Mesbah and Dr Shashank Mishra in Institute of Research on Catalysis and Environment Lyon (IRCELYON).

Virginia “Ginny” Merrill

Graduate Student, Ph.D.

B.S. Gardner-Webb University

Virginia is originally from Charleston, South Carolina. She received her B.S. in Chemistry from Gardner-Webb University (GWU) in 2023, where she completed undergraduate research studying the photoprotective ability of sunscreens with analytical and microbiological model systems. During her undergraduate studies, she became passionate about cosmetic chemistry, environmental chemistry, and toxicology, with a special interest in endocrine disrupting chemicals. Virginia decided to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Analytical Chemistry at the University of New Orleans under the direction of Dr. David Podgorski.

Chadiska Pascal

Graduate Student, Ph.D.

B.S. Grambling State University.

Chadiska is a native of Dominica, an island affectionately known as the Nature Isle of the Caribbean. In 2021, She attained her bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Chemistry at Grambling State University (GSU). During her undergraduate studies at GSU, she became passionate about the notion of improving the lives of individuals through the development of pharmaceutical drugs. It is this passion that influenced her decision to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of New Orleans where she is currently an Environmental Analytical Chemistry Ph.D. student. 

Hanieh Ranijbar

Graduate Student, Ph.D.

B.S. Amirkabir University of Technology

Hanieh was born in Tehran, Iran. She received her bachelor’s degree in Polymer Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (Polytechnic of Tehran). During her bachelor’s, she synthesized polymers that can be applied in the human body, based on PEG-PCL and nanoparticles of CNW, MWCNT, and Graphene. The aim of her research work was to develop materials used for advanced technologies. The environment has always been her concern, so she decided to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Chemistry, and she started her program in the Fall of 2022 at the University of New Orleans under the supervision of Dr. David Podgorski. She is currently working on water contamination.

Alumni (Current Information)

Jonathan Long, M.Sc.(Eurofins); Morris Bonton III, M.S. (Eurofins Central Analytical Laboratory); Rana Ghannam, M.S.; Katherine Humpal, Matthew Shields, M.D.; Terrell Shields (Eurofins Central Analytical Laboratory); Minh-Ahn Tran, (U.S. Department of Agriculture); C. Nacaya Brown, Ph.D (U.S. Department of Agriculture), Maxwell L. Harsha, Ph.D., Clinical Chemistry Fellow (The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine); Yuri Kurerov, Ph.D., Senior Chemist & Laboratory Director (Ellipse Analytics); Eduardo E. Turcios Valle, M.Sc., Teacher (Jesuit High School)

Visiting International Scientists

Solène Gervais, École nationale supérieure d’ingénieurs de Caen & Centre de Recherche (National Graduate School of Engineering & Research Center)Lise Chapolon, Instituts universitaires de technologie – Université de Lyon1 (University Institutes of Technology – University of Lyon 1)