DSU Researchers To Launch Expanded Microplastics Study
March 31, 2026
Dakota State University researchers are launching a new study examining the presence and types of microplastics in water bodies across eastern South Dakota, expanding earlier student-led research and providing new opportunities for undergraduate scientists.
The project, led by Dr. Andrew Sathoff and Dr. Kristel Bakker in DSU’s College of Arts & Sciences, will sample approximately 50 water bodies across a broad region that includes the Sioux Falls and Brookings areas. Included in the project are four DSU students: Derek Moreno, Caleb Shaw, Amélie Steins, and Hamzah Elsayed. The research is supported by the East Dakota Water Development District (EDWDD), which approached DSU after discovering previous university research on microplastics.
“This was really fun, because the East Dakota Water Development District actually reached out to us,” Sathoff said. “They saw the DSU research when searching for microplastics work in South Dakota and were interested in supporting a larger survey of water bodies in the region.”
“We started to get questions about the presence of microplastics in area waters,” said Jay Gilbertson, EDWDD Manager. “It turned out that the limited work DSU had previously done was about all that was available, so the District Board decided to support a more expanded assessment. It’s hard to consider, let alone prepare for, potential problems if you don’t even know what is out there.”
The study aims to establish baseline data about how common microplastics are in regional rivers, lakes, and streams, and to analyze the types of plastics present. While many surveys focus only on detecting whether microplastics are present, the DSU research will go further by identifying the chemical composition of the particles and estimating how much plastic is present.
“The first thing we need to do is establish the prevalence of microplastics and how common they are,” Sathoff said. “The thing I’m focused on is identifying what types of plastic are showing up and quantifying them.”
To accomplish this, the research team will use a chemical analysis method that shines light through particles and identifies plastics based on their molecular signatures. This approach helps confirm that the particles detected are truly plastic rather than organic materials that can appear similar under a microscope.
“A lot of surveys detect something that looks like plastic, but they don’t always do the chemical analysis to prove that it actually is,” Sathoff said. “To have a gold-standard survey, you need to do that molecular analysis.”
The project will also provide summer research internships for the four above-mentioned DSU undergraduate students, who will work alongside faculty collecting field samples, preparing laboratory protocols, and analyzing results.
“I’m really looking forward to mentoring again over the summer and having a research team working together in the lab,” Sathoff said. “Students get to experience the full research process — problem solving, critical thinking, and making progress every day.”
Sathoff will bring expertise in molecular biology and laboratory techniques, while Bakker contributes experience in field research and aquatic ecosystems. The collaboration will allow students to participate in both field sampling and laboratory analysis using microscopy and chemical testing methods.
The project also responds to growing public interest in microplastics and their potential environmental impacts. Researchers around the world are working to develop standardized protocols so studies can be compared across regions and ecosystems.
“We’re using standardized global protocols so that our results can be compared with studies happening elsewhere,” Sathoff said. “That consistency helps researchers better understand the scope of the issue.”
The research is expected to take place throughout the summer, with students participating in a 10-week internship program. Findings may be shared through research presentations and future publications.