• Ph.D. (Analytical Chemistry), 2020, Louisiana State University

• B.S. (Chemistry), 2016, Spring Hill College

March 2023 – Present: Assistant Professor, School for Plant, Environment and Soil Science, Louisiana State Agricultural Center; Water Quality Specialist, Louisiana Sea Grant

May 2021 – March 2023: Assistant Director for Louisiana State University- Industrial Assessment Center (LSU-IAC)

May 2020 – May 2021: Method Development Chemist. Thionville Laboratories, LLC. (New Orleans, Louisiana)

April 2016 – May 2020: NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Louisiana State University, Department of Chemistry

Teaching Experience

Environmental Instrumental Analysis (EMS 4040): The course is designed to present sources of environmental pollution, practical sampling techniques, field-based analysis, and benchtop instrumental analysis from a variety of environmental matrices. Students will be introduced to topics of remote sensors, field basics analysis, and sample characterization, and learn critical components of collection, validation, analysis, and reporting data. This course is taught in the Spring of odd years.

Research Problems (AGRO 3010): This course is designed to promote a complete understanding of a scientific research project from initial experimental design, instrumental and data analysis, and final report writing. Students will translate the science into written reports and presentation format to enhance communication skills. This course is taught as needed.

Water Quality and Energy Remote Sensing for Rural Wastewater Treatment Ponds

Energy optimization using water quality parameters will be analyzed using deployable YSI sensors in a municipal treatment pond and in conjunction with a floating photovoltaic unit in the wastewater stabilization pond. Wastewater treatment and stabilization ponds have long detention periods for water to filter through multiple ponds for anaerobic and aerobic processing. Our team will investigate the influence on parameters including water temperature, nitrates, turbidity, TSS, ammonium, and dissolved oxygen at multiple sites to understand the correlation of variables.

Wastewater Effluent Characterization from Aquaculture Processors

The DOM characterization provides traceable avenues for a waste valorization network for Louisiana communities by promoting renewable alternatives for fertilizer and modeling for the current and estimated transport of organic matter in the environmental ecosystem. Additional elemental analysis and characterizing the amino acid composition of protein-enriched aquaculture wastewater effluent will identify fluorescent indicators and nutrient composition of wastewater effluent.

Nutrient Runoff and Retention from Agricultural Farms

The range of manufacturing communities in the state provides a unique, renewable source of waste byproducts that can be utilized for research. Examples of waste valorization opportunities are sugar mills (bagasse), shrimp processors (ground shrimp shells), coffee manufacturers (coffee husks), and lumber mills (sawdust). By using waste valorization from industry to provide non-hazardous waste materials for the sorption of contaminants and nutrients our lab finds solutions that can aid agriculture in the best management practices of runoff.

2025-2027 - EPA Pollution Prevention Program: Louisiana Pollution Prevention for Food and Agricultural Rural Manufacturers (P2-FARM) Program - PI: M.P. Hayes; Co-PI: Chao Wang

2024-2025 - LSU AgCenter Program for Enhancement of External Competitive Funding: Developing the Framework for Louisiana Waste Valorization Network from Seafood Processors to Agricultural Farms - PI: M.P. Hayes; Co-PI: Damon Abdi, Jeff Plumlee

2024-2028: USDA Equipment Grant Program: Characterizing Louisiana Agriculture by Innovative Fluorescent Fingerprinting of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) and Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFACs) - PI: M.P. Hayes; Co-PI: Jeff Plumlee, Damon Abdi, Evelyn Watts, Espinosa Toledo, and Miriam Ortega

2024-2026 - LSU Institute of Energy Innovation: Experimental Analysis of Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) Systems in Industrial Wastewater Treatment Ponds for Louisiana Community Resiliency - PI: M.P. Hayes; Co-PI: Chao Wang & Greg Upton

2024-2026 - EPA: FY 2024 Pollution Prevention Grants: Environmental Justice in Communities - PI: Jose Toledo (Southern University)l Co-PI: M.P. Hayes

2023-2024 - USDA REAP: Promote Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for Rural Louisiana Agricultural Businesses - PI: M.P. Hayes; Co-PI: Chao Wang & Zhihong Pang

Refereed Journals

Marcantel, M., Upadhyaya, S., Ahmed, M., and Hayes. M., Assessing Place-Based Water Recommendations: A Case Study for University Experiential Learning Programs. Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education. Accepted (In-Press)

Ahmed, M., and Hayes, M., Waste to Resource: A Review of Nutrient Removal from Agricultural Runoff using Recycled Byproducts. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. 2025. 102371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102371

Ahmed, M., Ghafari, F., Pang, Z., Wang, C., Hayes, C., Shi, J, and Hayes, M ,Evaluating the Impact of University-Led Experiential Learning on Rural Development and Sustainable Manufacturing in Louisiana. Sustainability. 2025. 17(17): 7642. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17177642

The focus of our lab is to provide avenues of extension and environmental research for water quality issues around the state! Check out our latest extension publication and research topics to immerse yourself in Louisiana's vast water resources!