Catherine Propper

Catherine Propper is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University and holds a dual appointment at the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP). Her research integrates environmental toxicology, ecology, and food security with emphasis on arsenic exposure impacts, vertebrate biodiversity conservation, and sustainable rice agriculture in Southeast Asia.

Her primary research foci include molecular mechanisms of arsenic toxicity in biological systems, biodiversity dynamics in rice-dominated wetlands, and wildlife management in agricultural landscapes. She investigates how heavy metals impair wound healing processes, how vertebrate biodiversity contributes to resilient rice agroecosystems, and the dual role of abandoned mines as both ecological hazards and potential wildlife habitats. Her work bridges laboratory toxicology with field ecology to address food security challenges.

Recent publications (2023-2024) reveal strong interdisciplinary collaboration across environmental health, agricultural science, and conservation biology. Key trends include molecular toxicology studies on arsenic exposure, socio-ecological analyses of Southeast Asian rice systems, and environmental risk assessments of mining landscapes. Her work frequently addresses policy-relevant questions at the intersection of human health, food production, and ecosystem conservation.

Professor Propper maintains an active research profile with an h-index of 43, reflecting significant scholarly impact. Her publications demonstrate consistent output with three scholarly works annually from 2022-2024.

She contributes to research infrastructure development through RCMI (Research Centers in Minority Institutions) initiatives, particularly in building technical assistance frameworks for minority-serving institutions. While specific student mentoring details aren't provided, her collaborative publications indicate active research team leadership.

Her work involves international collaborations centered in Southeast Asia, particularly through ITEP's tribal environmental initiatives, focusing on sustainable solutions for rice-based ecosystems and environmental health challenges.