Beth Ahner

• Doctorate
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  1994
• Bachelor of Science
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  1989

Professor Ahner’s research in environmental biotechnology explores how plants solubilize, take up, detoxify, and sequester metals. Her lab group focuses on questions involving intracellular detoxification mechanisms and how biological processes affect the biogeochemical cycling of metals in both the natural environment and in engineered systems. One application of this research is phytoremediation, the use of plants to remove metals from contaminated soils.

Professor Ahner’s efforts have largely been directed towards administrative matters in recent years but she looks forward to returning to teaching once her appointment in the CALS Dean’s office is completed.  She enjoys hosting and teaching undergraduates working in her lab on projects involving the use of algae and plants in sustainable feed, food and energy production.