EES PhD Candidate Mahir Tajwar Receives 2026 GSA Graduate Student Research Grant
Congratulations to EES PhD candidate Mahir Tajwar on receiving the 2026 Graduate Student Research Grant from the Geological Society of America (GSA).
Mahir’s doctoral research investigates the biogeochemical processes that regulate freshwater lake ecosystems, with a particular focus on carbon cycling, nutrient dynamics, and ecosystem metabolism. His dissertation examines how contrasting trophic conditions influence lake function by comparing an oligotrophic freshwater lake with a eutrophic farm pond. His research also explores the effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) on lake metabolism and biogeochemical cycling. The GSA Graduate Student Research Grant will support Mahir’s ongoing field observations, laboratory analyses, and data interpretation as part of his doctoral research.