Special Projects

Dr. Amede Rubio holds a Plant and Soil Science PhD from Texas Tech and brings about two decades of teaching experience in biology and ecology at both high school and university levels. At Texas A&M International University, his research concentrates on invasive plant species along the Rio Grande in Webb County, Texas, examining their effects on native biodiversity. His research focus for the TAMIU Garden aims to explore the benefits of traditional Milpa intercropping systems in raised bed gardens.

Maya Bhatt received his PhD degree in natural resources and environmental studies with a focus in biogeochemistry from the University of New Hampshire and earned his master’s degrees in chemistry from Tribhuvan University and in environmental geochemistry from Nagoya University. Dr. Bhatt has worked at the University of New Hampshire, Pennsylvania State University, Hamburg University, and University of North Texas as a postdoctoral fellow/scholar and as a faculty at TU, KU, PU and Concord University.

Dr. Monica O. Mendez is an Associate Professor of Environmental Biology. Her research focuses on environmental microbiology, plant-microbe interactions, and bioremediation. She studies the link between contaminants in recycled water and impacts on soil systems. Dr. Mendez performs laboratory, greenhouse and field research to understand the impact of irrigation water contaminants on the plant-soil microbiome and crop quality. Her projects examine factors contributing to antimicrobial-resistance and its mitigation in crop systems.