James Campbell

Masters Student in Environmental Science at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Brooklyn, New York, United States

About

Hello! I am a masters student studying environmental science and aquatic microplastic pollution. I conducted a 2 year long research project focusing on microplastics in Bay Area Streams. I then synthesized these findings from field work into a coherent thesis and presented the results to a symposium of peers and professors. I want to give a special thanks to Dr. Patina Mendez for giving me the opportunity to work in her amazing lab; along with the rest of my colleagues from the Caddis Lab. I worked for the State of California in the remediation department of the State Water Resource Control Board. I looked into potential pollution sites and aided in remediation processes. I aim to develop standardized methods for microplastic testing that can be applied to disadvantaged communities globally. I also research how physical disturbances affect microplastic distribution and behavior. I am currently a graduate student at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering studying microplastics .

Experience

  • Graduate Assistant at New York University
    Feb 2026 - Present · 6 mos

    Graduate Assistant at The Moses Center for Accessibility and Inclusive Culture -Proctor students taking exams at the Moses Testing Facility -Help students acquire accommodations for exams -Carry out administrative duties as required by the exam center

  • Residential Advisor at ACLU
    Jul 2025 - Aug 2025 · 2 mos

    Worked for 3 weeks (broken down into 3 terms) in Washington, DC facilitating the National Advocacy Institute (NAI). Advised and guided a group of 20-25 high school students per term of the NAI. Total participant count for the program was 900 total with 300 students per term. Duties included: -Facilitating a homeroom with students to discuss the schedule for the day as well as past and upcoming events -Giving tours of college campuses and Washington, DC monuments -Ensuring participants made it to daily activities on the American University campus -Assisting participants with political advocacy through phone banking, lobbying, and group organization

  • Scientific Aid at State Water Resources Control Board
    Jan 2025 - Jul 2025 · 7 mos

    Worked in the Site Cleanup Program (SCP) Unit of the Los Angeles Water Resource Control Board Typical Duties Included: -Creating GIS maps of pollution plumes within the San Gabriel Valley water basin -Conducting site inspections to assess extent of volatile organic compound pollution -Drafting official site cleanup requirements and abatement of groundwater contamination -Gathering of public records pursuant to the Public Record act -Searching for potentially responsible parties and determining need for further investigation

  • Merchandiser at Mondelēz International
    Oct 2024 - Jan 2025 · 4 mos

    Traveled to 3-4 stores daily to stock Nabisco/Mondelēz products in aisles and points of sale (POS) -Built product displays to showcase products and increase sales -Maintained a clean and presentable product aisle -Discusses sales and product marketing ideas with managers

  • Laboratory Research Assistant at University of California, Berkeley
    May 2023 - May 2024 · 1 yr 1 mo

    - Conducted and led independent research project pertaining to microplastics in urban Bay Area streams - Managed a team of lab assistants in carrying out field sampling and lab analysis - Synthesized a thesis using data extrapolated from microplastic samples