Penn State Program Director and Instructor

Dr. Jacqueline McLaughlin

The Pennsylvania State University - Lehigh Valley
Associate Professor of Biology
CHANCE Director
jshea@psu.edu

Dr. Jacqueline McLaughlin is an Associate Professor of Biology at Pennsylvania State University-Lehigh Valley and Founding Director of CHANCE (Connecting Humans And Nature through Conservation Experiences). Her prodigious experiences as a biology professor in the life sciences, faculty mentor in teaching, short-term study-abroad program director and development officer, international conservationist, researcher in the field of biology education, and foreign affairs officer for the U.S. Department of State in the area of science diplomacy and science and technology (S&T) cooperation have empowered her to constantly navigate the changing dynamic of higher education worldwide in order to (re) create transformative learning environments that support, encourage, and inspire students to better our world through STEM.

Penn State Instructor

Dr. Kathleen Fadigan

Biology Educator and CHANCE Co-Instructor
kvf@psu.edu

Dr. Fadigan earned her Ed.D. in Curriculum, Instruction and Technology in Education from Temple University in 2003. She has taught courses in science education, sustainability leadership, and plant biology. Since 2007, she has served as a co-instructor for the CHANCE field study in Costa Rica and Panama. Her research interests include informal science education, science fairs, using social media to educate adults about food waste, and gender equity in science. 

Penn State Assessment Specialist

Dr. Laura Cruz

Penn State Schreyer Institute of Teaching Excellence
Associate Research Professor
lxc601@psu.edu

Dr. Laura Cruz is an Associate Research Professor for Teaching and Learning Scholarship with the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at Penn State. She received her PhD from the University of California at Berkeley in 2001. In addition to her faculty positions, she previously served as the director of two centers for teaching and learning and as the editor of four journals in the field. Her extensive list of publications and presentations focus on systems thinking, pedagogical innovation, organizational development, student engagement and emerging forms of scholarship in higher education. Her most recent book, Taking Flight, is now available from Stylus Press.

Penn State Program Assistant

HEather Amatore

The Pennsylvania State University - Lehigh Valley
hsa23@psu.edu

Heather Amatore, CHANCE Administrative Assistant, is also the Penn State Lehigh Valley Campus Bursar and Assistant Registrar. She has an associate degree in both Biological Science and Medical Laboratory Technology. She enjoys connecting with beauty in nature and for nearly five years has been proud to support the building of strong, reputable, engaging, and sustainable study-abroad international programs that impact students and education along with impacting conservation and the environment.

Romanian Instructor

Dr. MARIANA Carmen Chifiriuc

University of Bucharest
Vice-Rector for Research
carmen.chifiriuc@bio.unibuc.ro

Dr. Mariana Chifiriuc is the Director of the Earth, Environment and Life Sciences division of the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest and PhD supervisor at the Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology. Her expertise comprise: investigation of virulence and antibiotic resistance reservoirs in the clinical and environmental sector; the study of the host-infectious agent interrelationships and of the roles of the microbiota in different pathologies; development of rapid methods of microbiological diagnosis; and evaluation of new antimicrobial strategies, with applications in the biomedicine and in ecology give her the possibility to offer students an interdisciplinary vision.

Romanian Instructor

Dr. Carmen Postolache

University of Bucharest
Dean of the Faculty of Biology
carmen_postolache83@yahoo.com

Dr. Carmen Postolache is the Dean of Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest and PhD supervisor in the Department of Systems Ecology and Sustainability. Her expertise are in the areas of biogeochemical cycles of nutrients and heavy metals, ecotoxicology, water quality, mathematical modeling of nutrient flows, physical chemistry, structure-biological activity relationship of biomolecules, and enzyme kinetics. She has been a member of more than 50 national and international projects including Twinning Programs funded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Her excellent scientific experience gives her the capacity to offer the students an interdisciplinary vision and a transdisciplinary research model.

Romanian Instructor

Dr. Irina Zarafu

University of Bucharest
Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry and Catalysis

Dr. Irina Zarafu is an Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and Catalysis, University of Bucharest who specializes in the chemistry of organic pollutants from the environment, and the synthesis of bioorganic compounds (anticancer, antitubercular, anti-HIV, and antimicrobial drugs) and functionalized nanomaterials. She is involved in research projects on biological compounds, environmental protection, training programs for pre-university teachers, didactic activities in the Erasmus + program, and invited professorships at foreign universities. She is member of the team that trains students to qualify for the National Chemistry Olympiad and the president of the Bucharest branch of the Romanian Chemical Society.

Romanian CURE Research Mentor

Mihaela Verga

University of Bucharest
Lecturer of Geography

Dr. Mihaela Verga is a Lecturer of Geography, University of Bucharest, specializing in environmental sciences, applied geography, land deterioration, natural hazards and risks. She is involved in research projects on the Carpathian region, training programs for secondary school teachers, teaching assignments in Erasmus+ Program, and educational programs in protected areas. She is the author of several books/book chapters and scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals or proceedings of international conferences. She is also the leader of the national team of Romania at the International Geography Olympiad, rewarded by the Ministry of Education and Research for meritorious results.

Romanian CURE Research Mentor

Dr. Florina Botez

University of Bucharest
Teaching Assistant

Dr. Florina Botez is a teaching assistant within the Department of Systems Ecology and Sustainability, University of Bucharest, but she also works in the department’s research laboratories where she takes part in many activities ranging from field sampling to obtaining and interpreting results that are concerned with the determination of physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters. She obtained her PhD in Environmental sciences (2013), after obtaining her Bachelor and Master of Ecology. The primary focus of her research is biogeochemical cycles.

Romanian Program Assistant

Maria Iasmina Moza

University of Bucharest
PhD Student

Has a Bachelor of Biology, Master of Applied Biology, and is now a PhD student in Aquatic Ecology at the University of Bucharest. She worked as a researcher at the Institute of Biology, Bucharest and as a lab technician at the Research Centre from Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu. Now, she is working as a lab technician monitoring large carnivores using non-invasive samples as well as monitoring rivers using eDNA and bioindicators at Foundation Conservation Carpathia. Her experience includes lab work (microbiology and genetics), field work, scientific output, team work on internationals projects and work with students.

Darmina Niță

University of Bucharest
PhD Student

Has her Bachelor in Ecology, Master in Ecology, and is currently a PhD student at the Doctoral School in Ecology, University of Bucharest. Her topic is “Contribution to the knowledge of the effects of hydromorphological changes on biotic interactions between aquatic and terrestrial adjacent systems.” Her research involved 1) the effects of hydromorphological changes on benthic macroinvertebrate in streams at different spatial scales, 2) the assessment of macroinvertebrate communities’ resilience under hydromorphological pressures through functional traits, and 3) biotic linkages between streams and terrestrial systems. Other interests: contribution of aquatic insects to ecosystem services and the biodiversity effects of microplastics.

Corina Bradu

University of Bucharest

Corina Bradu has a PhD in Chemistry and is a senior researcher, Manager of the Research Centre for Environmental Protection and Waste Management (PROTMED) and holds an Associate professor position at the Department of Systems Ecology and Sustainability, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest. Her research activities focus on the water and wastewater treatment trough advanced oxidation processes, catalytic reduction and adsorptive processes. Also, Dr. Bradu has competencies for developing qualitative and quantitative analysis methods for water and soil pollutants. She is author or co-author of over 50 scientific publications of which 40 ISI quotes, recorded a Hirsch Index 16 according to Web of Science.

IRINA GHEORGHE

University of Bucharest
Associate Professor

Dr. Irina Gheorghe is associate professor at the Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Bucharest. She started her research carrier in 2011, and during her PhD she analyze the phenotypic and molecular markers of β-lactam resistance in Gram negative non fermentative opportunistic rods (GNNF). She has acquired background on the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon in strains belonging to GNNF, mediated by mobile genetic elements (plasmids, integrons and transposons) and optimized some protocols (PFGE; MLST; conjugation; Southern Blot hybridization; Mapping PCR; Whole genome sequencing; phylogenetic relationships, etc.). Irina is also interested about new antimicrobial strategies against fungi involved in biodeterioration.

ANDREEA MARIN

University of Bucharest
Assistant Professor

Dr. Andreea Marin is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest. She has a Bachelor of Geography, Master of Geographic Information System (GIS) and in 2018, she obtained her PhD in Geography. Her main research topics include fluvial geomorphology, historical cartography, GIS analysis and Remote Sensing.