Researcher Profile: Meet Erin Griffiths

Erin Griffiths is a master’s student in the Ecohydrology Research Group at the University of Waterloo, led by Professor Philippe Van Cappellen who is the Principal Investigator on the Microplastics Fingerprinting project.

Erin is part of the Microplastics Fingerprinting project, which includes over 30 team members, including faculty, graduate students, and support staff from various disciplines. This diverse team brings a holistic perspective to the study of microplastics, which is essential for addressing the complex challenges and solutions associated with plastic pollution.

Erin’s research focuses on the degradation of common commercial plastics, specifically polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Her work is largely laboratory-based, where she examines how environmental factors, such as temperature, influence the degradation of PET by using enzymes.  She uses techniques like Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and other analytical methods to assess and visualize the degradation process, providing both visual and numerical data. The goal of Erin’s research is to gain a deeper understanding of plastic degradation in controlled settings, which will inform predictions about how plastics break down in natural environments.

In addition to her laboratory work, Erin is involved in a long-term environmental study that investigates how plastics degrade in pond sediments. This study aims to identify the environmental conditions that promote plastic degradation.

Erin earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from
Carleton University, Ontario, Canada. Her work is dedicated
to understanding plastic pollution and finding ways to
reduce environmental contamination.