Congratulations to the 2025 Water Institute Research Awardees

The Water Institute is excited to announce Baylor Lynch and Thanaporn (May) Thongthum as recipients of the 2025 Water Institute Research Awards. These awards are designed to enhance student research by supporting additional components that extend beyond the original project scope.  

Baylor Lynch, a Master’s student in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, is investigating mercury bioaccumulation in Florida lakes. His research focuses on toxic methylmercury (MeHg) and its impact on ecosystems and public health. Through trophic magnification slope (TMS) modeling, his research addresses a key gap in southeastern U.S. mercury research by examining mercury dynamics across trophic levels in diverse lake systems. The Water Institute Research Award will allow Baylor to receive specialized training at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Mercury Research Laboratory, which will enable Baylor to apply more advanced analytical techniques that will deepen the rigor and precision of his research while supporting his professional development.

May Thongthum, a student in the Department of Environmental and Global Health, is investigating the environmental drivers of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) abundance and diversity in surface waters along the St. Johns River system in Florida. Her current research focuses on the Lower St. Johns River, which includes urban and wastewater-impacted sites. With support from the Water Institute Research Award, May will expand her study to the Upper St. Johns River through a new collaboration with Dr. Andy Canion at the St. Johns River Water Management District and incorporate agriculturally impacted sites that receive biosolid applications. This expansion will allow her to conduct more comprehensive analysis of how different land uses—such as wastewater discharge, urban development, and biosolid application—contribute to the spread of ARGs in freshwater environments and strengthen the scope and impact of her research. 

The Water Institute looks forward to seeing the results of Baylor’s and May’s research. Their achievements and efforts will be recognized at the 2025 Water Institute Awards Ceremony on October 16, 4:30 pm. 

September 9, 2025