MARTIN M. AKAFIA

**** ****** ****** #* *******, NC 27606 269-***-**** ab87bj@r.postjobfree.com

Profile

* ***** ** ********** ** environmental assessment in hydrogeological and geophysical site

investigations, field work, data evaluation, and the preparation and review of technical reports and

proposal writing and

2 years of experience in soil and groundwater sampling, drilling oversight, well installation and

monitoring, and aquifer testing.

3 years of experience in phase I and phase II environmental site assessments and compliance

with CERCLA and RCRA regulation.

Expertise in use of MODFLOW (GMS stimulator), ArcGIS, Surfer, Mapinfo SMT, Landmark,

PETRA, Geographix, PHREEQC, Jchess, Fiteql, Minteq, and MS Office.

7 years of experience in Visual Basic 6, MySQL, database management and programing.

Completed 40-hour OSHA HAZWOPER, certification to access and conduct hydrogeological

and environmental investigations on hazardous waste sites.

Multitasks on projects and is enthusiastic about field work.

Education

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Master of Science in Soil Science (Biogeochemistry), expected August 2013.

Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Master of Science in Geology (Hydrogeology and Geochemistry), December 2010.

University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

Bachelor of Science (Hons) Geology, May 2005.

University of Cambridge UCLES, Cambridge, UK

Diploma in IT and Programming, July 1998.

Professional Record

Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Graduate Research Associate, August 2010 to present.

L.I.N Environmental Consultants, Kalamazoo, MI

Part-time Staff Geologist, May 2008 to August 2010.

Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, May 2008 to April 2010.

PS Global Ltd, Sakumono-Tema, Ghana

Environmental Compliance Officer, January 2007 to December 2007.

Infinity Multimedia Ltd, Accra, Ghana

General Manager/Software Developer, December 2000 to December 2007.

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Experience

L.I.N Environmental Consultants:

• Conducted Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments (ESA) for commercial properties

(e.g. gas stations, manufacturing plants and malls) to support financial transactions including sales

and loans acquisitions.

• Drilled boreholes and installed monitoring wells to aid in assessing and delineating contaminated

sites.

• Conducted soil sampling and groundwater monitoring for numerous sites impacted with various

chemicals of potential concern: benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes (BTEX), petroleum

hydrocarbon fractions F1 to F4, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), metals, herbicides and

pesticides.

• Conducted aquifer tests to estimate values for hydraulic conductivity and storage parameters.

• Logged soil samples using the unified classification system (USCS).

• Performed statistical and geochemical analysis of soil and groundwater quality data using Microsoft

Excel and Access database software.

• Contoured geologic surfaces and geochemical data using Surfer.

• Determined groundwater flow direction and circulation through various hydrostratigraphic units for

numerous sites. These involved contouring groundwater elevations and calculating hydraulic

gradients for monitoring wells completed in close proximity in different units.

• Assisted in developing conceptual site model for sites, and ultimately developing 3D numerical

groundwater models using MODFLOW. Worked with a team to developed transport models using

MT3D.

• Numeral models were used to assist in regulatory compliance, natural attenuation and management

decisions, optimizing pump and treat systems or groundwater capture systems, among others.

• Prepared field reports, describing field observations, completed monitoring reports, water quality

and Phase II ESA reports for submission to regulatory body.

PS Global Ltd:

• Performed due diligence and Phase I Environmental Site Assessment on potential lands before

acquisition to ensure good return on investments for a land and real estate company located within

the Greater Accra region of Ghana.

• Determined if lands had been subjected to actual or potential contamination, and the likely location

and nature of the contamination.

• Investigated potential for flooding and other geological hazards such as prior use as a landfill

utilizing geophysical investigations to obtain seismic and ground penetrating radar data to ensure site

stability.

• Performed site reconnaissance, research and review of historical information, evaluation of the

information gathered, and report preparation for Local government EPA and Project Financiers.

North Carolina State University (Course based projects):

• Conducted Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments on a farmland within the vicinity of

Wake and Johnson County, North Carolina.

• Team based research project to produce a soil survey report on a site in Wake County, North

Carolina.

• Team based research project to design storm water control measure to remove specific effluent

contaminants from the North Carolina State University Wolf line bus depot and to determine the

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basin size necessary for 10 year capacity and quantify amount of soil materials needed for effective

contaminant removal.

• Conducted research to determine the mechanism of dissolution of different metal hydroxides using

structurally diverse biological chelating agents known as siderophores under varying pH conditions.

• This pioneering work can be applied in the area of phytoremediation to mobilize metals for uptake

by plants.

• Conducted X-ray spectroscopic investigations of geomaterials at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation

Lightsource

Western Michigan University (Course based projects):

• Developed conceptual and numerical models for groundwater flow and petroleum hydrocarbon

plume transport for a gas station in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

• Constructed 3D groundwater flow model using MODFLOW and PMPATH. Ground water elevation

data was obtained from a USGS modeling study, and used to calibrate the model.

• Conducted a research to determine metal adsorption on clays under varying pH, ironic strength and

sorbate/sorbent conditions and modeled results using the Diffuse Double Layer model of the Surface

Complexation Model. Objective of research wa s to develop improved methods for quantifying

the fate and transport of metals in the subsurface environment.

• Presented research findings at Geological Society of America and Goldschmidt conferences.

Relevant Course Work

Groundwater Modeling Hydrogeology

Hazardous/Solid Waste Management Geophysical Investigations

Soil Chemistry Field Mapping Techniques

Remote Sensing Soil Microbiology

Analytical/Physical Geochemistry Environmental Application of Soil Science

Soil Genesis and Classification Bioremediation and Natural Attenuation

Exploration Geophysics Exploration Geochemistry

Presentations and Awards

• Soil Science Society of North Carolina Meeting, Raleigh, January 2012

Presentation on Kinetics and Mechanisms of Dissolution of Metal Hydroxides by Structurally Diverse

Siderophores.

• Soil Science Society of America, San Antonio, Texas, October 2011.

Presentation on Kinetics and Mechanisms of Dissolution of Metal Hydroxides by Structurally Diverse

Siderophores.

• Goldschmidt 2010 Conference, Knoxville, Tennessee July 2010.

Presentation on Sorption of Cu, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb on Montmorillonite: A Laboratory and Modeling Study

• Geological Society of America, Portland, Oregon, October 2009.

Presentation on Sorption of Cu, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb on Montmorillonite: A Laboratory and Modeling Study

• Graduate Research Assistantship Awards from North Carolina State University, August 2010 to

July 2013.

• University Graduate Recruitment Fellowship from North Carolina State University, August

2010

• Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantship Award from Western Michigan University, January

2008 to April 2010.

• Western Michigan University Graduate College and Geological Society of America Travel Grant.

October 2009.

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Professional Memberships

• Member, Soil Science Society of America, 2011-present.

• Member, National Association of Black Geologist/Engineers, 2011-present.

• Member, Geological Society of America, 2008-present.

• Member, Geochemical Society, 2008-present.

• Member, American Geophysical Union, 2008-present.

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