Meet Dr. Alterra Sanchez, PhD
Dr. Alterra graduated from the University of Maryland (UMD) with a doctorate in analytical chemistry, where she researched the sorption of organic pollutants to microplastics in aquatic environments. During this time, she focused on method development, both for analytical instrumentation and extraction techniques; as well as creating standard reference materials. Before diving into chemistry, however, she dove in the ocean. Alterra became a certified scientific diver during her undergraduate at San Diego State University (SDSU), where she studied seagrass communities and the effects of copper contamination from boating activities. Her work has been funded by several federal organizations, such as the National Institute of Health for her undergraduate thesis. She was funded twice by the National Science Foundation: once during an internship at the world-renowned Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and for her doctoral work, which was also supported by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association. After receiving her PhD, Dr. Alterra spent two years in the food and beverage testing industry - as a lead scientist, she ensured goods met regulatory standards for pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, and mold.
Throughout Dr. Alterra’s academic career, science education and tutoring have been a passion. She co-founded Making Waves as an undergraduate, an outreach program for K-12 students that taught marine science through interactive activities. She was also a tutor for the American Indian Recruitment Program at SDSU. And for four years during her time at UMD, she was a mentor in the Learning Engineering and Design Program, where she helped high school girls prepare for a college education in STEM. Dr. Alterra has also enjoyed teaching several university-level science courses.
During her free time, Dr. Alterra can be found reading fantasy and science fiction novels, cooking, embroidering, walking through nature, playing challenging video games, or at the arcade enjoying pinball with her husband.
Throughout Dr. Alterra’s academic career, science education and tutoring have been a passion. She co-founded Making Waves as an undergraduate, an outreach program for K-12 students that taught marine science through interactive activities. She was also a tutor for the American Indian Recruitment Program at SDSU. And for four years during her time at UMD, she was a mentor in the Learning Engineering and Design Program, where she helped high school girls prepare for a college education in STEM. Dr. Alterra has also enjoyed teaching several university-level science courses.
During her free time, Dr. Alterra can be found reading fantasy and science fiction novels, cooking, embroidering, walking through nature, playing challenging video games, or at the arcade enjoying pinball with her husband.