Alyssa Wentzel is a Ph.D. student in Environmental Engineering and an NSF-NRT TREAWS
Fellow in the Environmental Fate and Remediation Lab under Dr. Tonoy Das at Texas A&M
University-Kingsville. Her research focuses on understanding the fate, transport, and
removal of emerging contaminants, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS), in coastal and stormwater systems. She integrates organic matter-based
frameworks and mineral surface chemistry to investigate the mechanisms controlling PFAS
interactions in environmental systems through field sampling and laboratory-based batch
experiments. Prior to her Ph.D. studies, Alyssa earned an Honors Bachelor of Science with
Distinction in Marine Science and an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from the
University of Delaware.
Alyssa’s proposed research investigates how engineered materials, including expanded
shale, clay, and slate (ESCS), can be optimized for removing PFAS in stormwater systems.
She is interested in examining how biofilm-derived organic matter and extracellular
polymeric substances interact with ESCS materials to influence contaminant sorption,
hydraulic performance, and long-term treatment efficiency. Ultimately, this work aims to
inform the design of improved biofiltration and bioretention systems for managing
emerging contaminants.
By Jessica Freeman | June 26, 2026 | ESCSI News