Dr. Diana S. Aga's studies have taken her across three continents and countless countries. But for now, Aga's journey has brought her to UB's chemistry department, where she is continuing her long and distinguished career.
Aga's journey began in the Philippines, where she grew up as a child and where her love of science took hold.
"I always wanted to be an inventor," said Aga. "I was also always fascinated with the discovery process."
As an undergraduate in the Philippines, Aga solidified her interest in chemistry when she took a general chemistry course with a professor that she said, "made a difference" to her.
Over time, Aga went from her undergraduate work in the Philippines to the United States, where she did her doctorate work at the University of Kansas. Aga completed her post-doctoral fellowship in Zurich, Switzerland where she worked with the Swiss Federal Institute of Environmental Science and Technology.
"Science is universal," said Aga. "The only differences that I have seen in my time abroad were the different work habits of people. In Europe, it was a very interdisciplinary work environment, which means that it wasn't as much about reading books as much as it was talking to people."
From her travels, Aga was also able to see humanity at its finest. She believes that the work that she has done in her career has no borders or boundaries.
"I developed a wide perspective on how different cultures and people work. It is great because I am interacting with people all over the world for the sake of all people," she said.
It was around this time that Aga became increasingly fascinated with the environment and chemistry related topics that pose a threat to the environment. Aga touts this research as her most important discovery.
"During my Ph.D., I identified pesticide metabolites that were present in groundwater. It was not known at that time that that specific metabolite which I was researching was present in the groundwater," she said.
According to Aga, she was the first to identify that metabolite, which is currently being monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Through her travels abroad, Aga has come in contact with many different scientists and she said the thrill of meeting someone who has had an effect on her field has never ceased.
"I have met many wonderful scientists from all over the world. It is always exciting to read all these different papers and then finally meet the authors," said Aga.
After a few years of working for different corporations, Aga has come back to university life where she is conducting research and teaching. Aga is currently researching the use of herbicides on cornfields.
The focus of Aga's research is whether the herbicides are effectively helping the crops, or hurting them.
"We are trying to separate those herbicides which work with those that do not," said Christine Klein, a senior chemistry major and lab assistant to Aga. "These herbicides are being sprayed all over our crops and the EPA does not even know which are harmful and which are not."
Although Aga is currently not teaching at UB, she is looking forward to resuming her teaching next semester. According to Aga, teaching in the university environment is a better fit for her than doing research for a corporation
"I love the flexibility about being back at a university. Companies define what you do, whereas a professor is free to do what interests he or she," said Aga. "I also always dreamt of having an impact on students while also shaping their lives."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
