Hayes Joins Louisiana Sea Grant as Water Quality Specialist

Michael Hayes has joined Louisiana Sea Grant as the program’s water quality specialist and been appointed an assistant professor in the School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences (SPESS) at Louisiana State University (LSU).

Hayes’ Ph.D. research focused on wetland and river nutrient cycling. He spent the past three years of his professional career working to develop detection and extraction techniques for current and emerging contaminants in the agriculture industry, developing water use reduction techniques, as well as waste minimization protocols. He comes to Sea Grant from LSU’s Industrial Assessment Center, where he served as assistant director of research.

“I believe that extension into our coastal and agricultural communities is an integral part of developing a feasible, sustainable future,” he said. “I am excited to build a water quality program that focuses on the immediate needs of our Louisiana communities.”

Hayes earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala. He continued his graduate studies at LSU, where he earned his doctorate, also in chemistry.

He can be reached at [email protected].