Diana Aga

Diana Aga serves as SUNY Distinguished Professor and Henry M. Woodburn Chair in the Department of Chemistry within the University at Buffalo's College of Arts and Sciences. She directs both the Aga Laboratory for Environmental Research & Testing (ALERT) and the UB RENEW Institute, establishing herself as a globally recognized leader in environmental analytical chemistry with over $15 million in research funding since joining UB in 2002.

Her research focuses on emerging contaminants including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), antimicrobial resistance drivers, and climate-intensified pollution. Aga investigates the ecological and human health impacts of "forever chemicals" through advanced analytical techniques, examining contaminant fate in diverse environments from stormwater systems to coral reefs. Her work integrates field studies, laboratory experiments, and computational modeling to address water scarcity and chemical pollution as urgent societal challenges.

Analysis of her 2024-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in PFAS biodegradation pathways, real-time detection technologies, and pharmaceutical transport in coastal ecosystems. Her research spans critical interfaces including wastewater-agriculture systems, urban stormwater, and tropical marine environments, with increasing emphasis on climate change interactions and remediation strategies for persistent pollutants.

Dr. Aga secured a $3 million NSF grant studying antimicrobial resistance drivers and leads the ALERT laboratory investigating PFAS transport and biodegradation. Her research group develops innovative analytical methods while collaborating internationally, as highlighted by the 2024 Spotlight Symposia Series that convened 200 experts to address planetary health challenges.

The Aga Laboratory for Environmental Research & Testing (ALERT) provides critical infrastructure for contaminant analysis, specializing in PFAS detection and biodegradation studies. Under her leadership, the UB RENEW Institute fosters convergent science approaches to environmental sustainability through cross-disciplinary collaborations addressing water security, resource management, and pollution mitigation at global scales.