Flerida Mejia

Superfund Basic Research Program

Dr. Meza, Ms. Flerida Mejia, and Dr. Ela

The University of Arizona’s (UA) SBRP is uniquely tied with eleven universities and institutions in Mexico through the Binational Center for Environmental Sciences and Toxicology, Scientist Exchange Program (SEP).

Flerida Adriana Mejia is the first graduate student to complete the Binational SEP with a binational committee composed of three professors (Drs. Meza, Aguayo, and Valenzuela) from the University of Sonora (UNISON) and two (Drs. Ela and Saez) from UA.   Flerida received her Masters, with honors, in Engineering Science; her specialty was focused on Environmental Sciences.

Flerida’s was first learned about the SEP in 2006, when she received an invitation to the U.S.-Mexico Binational Center conference at UNISON.  This meeting introduced Flerida to the program and the investigators from the UA.  Following the conference presentations, Flerida established a connection with Dr. Ela, who was part of the Binational SEP. 

Flerida opted for the six month program at UA.  There are two options for Binational SEP candidates, the short-term program (Flerida’s), which is three to six months, and long-term (one to two years).  The long-term program is typically aimed at completing the doctoral degree program at UA; the short-term fellows focus on more project-specific training that is related to the scientist’s on-going research in Mexico.

Flerida mentioned that one of the first things she did when she arrived at UA was do an updated to her thesis’ bibliography by searching databases and book stacks available to UA students.  Flerida also noted the helpfulness of the graduate seminars and weekly meetings she had with her advisors: “During these meetings, we were able to plan the experiments we needed to perform, and we could also discuss the results that I have had from my experiments.  These [meetings] allowed me to learn from the vast experience and knowledge of my advisors through their suggestions and comments.”

The positive impact of Flerida’s advising committee was “fundamental for this research project.”  With their help, Flerida was able to gain access to equipment, materials, and infrastructure that helped her successfully fulfill her research objectives.

Her thesis, Arsenic adsorption in pretreated natural zeolite, “focused on developing a methodology to modify natural zeolite with magnesium oxide in order to remove arsenic from water for human consumption.”

The Binational Center SEP gives students the opportunity to recognize their interests and explore their potential.  The Center also “serves as a conduit through which we [students] can contribute to our [their] society by helping us [them] improve the environment, which, in turn, affects directly the quality of life and health. 

Today, Flerida continues to keep in touch with Dr. Ela and her other committee members.  She would like to continue on with her Ph.D. in the same area of research, the treatment of waters with arsenic.