Frida Garcia-Ledezma

My research focuses on understanding the persistence and impacts of heavy metal contamination in urban soils. I have been investigating the temporal and localized spatial variation of heavy metal concentrations in soils in Altadena, affected by the 2025 Eaton Fire. My work examines how these contaminants persist in urban environments, how they interact with soil properties, and the potential threats they pose to human health. I create detailed spatial maps to visualize contamination patterns, study the persistence of heavy metals in soils post-fire, and work closely with homeowners to collect data and disseminate findings in ways that are clear, actionable, and community-focused.

Before joining Stanford, I worked at La Mujer Obrera, a grassroots nonprofit in my hometown of El Paso, Texas. There, I developed visuals and maps showing the proximity of pollution sources to schools and neighborhoods in Barrio Chamizal, a historically low-income, first-generation immigrant community. I am passionate about developing actionable, science-based solutions to soil contamination in marginalized communities. A central goal of my work is making environmental science accessible to Spanish-speaking, first-generation immigrant residents facing environmental injustice, empowering them to participate in decision-making processes and advocate for their environmental well-being. 

Funding: Research, Action, and Impact (RAISE) through Strategic Engagement Doctoral Fellowship, EDGE Doctoral Fellowship Program, Dean’s Graduate Scholars Program (DGS)