Andrea Rocha, Ph.D., is a scientist based in Geosyntec Consultant, Inc.’s Knoxville, Tennessee office. She has over 10 years of experience conducting innovative research using a broad range of geochemical, microbial, computational and genomics techniques within environmental microbiology, computational biology and engineering science. As a consultant, Andrea assists clients with environmental remediation planning and implementation, engineered phytoremediation using TreeWell^Ò technology, applied research and groundwater monitoring and data management. Her client work also includes environmental microbiomics research related to biogeochemical stabilization of metals in CCR; elevated temperature landfill microbiology; detailed biomass monitoring in bioreactors; surface water/groundwater interactions; critical shifts in microbial populations that are directly related to biogeochemical reactivity and biodegradation; and other applications, where deep microbial community analysis can provide key insights and opportunities for engineered solutions. 
 
Andrea serves on ASM’s Subcommittee for Issues Impacting Minority Microbiologists and  Geosyntec’s University Collaboration Initiative panel, which supports universities and affiliated student programs designed to help diverse student populations in STEM programs reach their career goals. She is also engaged with The National GEM Consortium’s Speaker Bureau to promote higher degrees of education in STEM by underrepresented groups.