People

Dr. Christopher Zahasky (he/him) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geoscience and the Principle Investigator of the Subsurface Hydrophysics Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also has affiliate faculty appointments Geological Engineering and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Chris completed his undergraduate degree in Geology at the University of Minnesota and his graduate work at Stanford University in the Department of Energy Resources Engineering in the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Science (now the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability). He completed his postdoctoral training at Imperial College London.

In his free time, Chris enjoys fly fishing, canoeing, and cycling through the bucolic landscapes of his home state of Wisconsin.

Vy Le (she/her) is a fourth-year MS/PhD student in the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed her Environmental Geoscience B.A. degree and a minor in Chemistry with honors (summa cum laude) at DePauw University in 2019. Her research is currently focused on developing and utilizing novel experimental methods for characterizing, predicting, and preventing bacteria and phosphorus groundwater contamination.

Collin Sutton (he/him) is a third-year PhD student in the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He completed his B.S. degree in Geology at the University of Tennessee at Martin and his M.S. degree in Geology at Auburn University.  Prior to coming to UW-Madison, Collin worked as a hydrogeologist in the environmental consulting industry.

Lizzi Runge (she/her) is a second-year MS student in the Department of Geoscience. She graduated from UW-Madison in 2022 with a B.S. in Geology and Geophysics. Alongside academic pursuits, she works as an engineering technician on groundwater remediation at Badger Army Ammunition Plant. Her research explores the transport of PFAS in the vadose zone.

Beyond academics, Lizzi enjoys the fine art of watercolor, playing the banjo, and backpacking.

Paul Summers (he/him) is a first-year MS/PhD student in the Department of Geoscience. He completed his B.S. in Geology and a minor in Mathematics with honors at Marshall University in 2023. His research interests involve characterizing and modeling PFAS contaminants in the subsurface.

Outside of academics, Paul enjoys playing music, chess, and going fishing.

Grace Halstead (she/her) is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Geology and Environmental Sciences. In 2023 she completed the Freshwater@UW Summer Research Scholar program researching the mechanisms that influence PFAS transport through the environment.

Outside of school, Grace enjoys lifting, running, and hanging out with friends at the Terrace in the summer. Fun fact: she also has a twin sister on campus so look out for a doppelganger…