Daniel Saftner is an Assistant Research Hydrogeologist in the Division of Hydrologic Sciences at DRI specializing in water resources sustainability in arid regions. Dan’s current research focus is on rural drinking water supplies, specifically, arsenic in private well waters and groundwater security of small community water systems. He develops hydrologic tools and models used in human health studies and water management decision making pertaining to drinking water, environmental health, and sustainable recreation. As a member of the Microplastics and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Dan has a keen interest in the study of emerging environmental contaminants, including the distribution, sources, and fate of microplastics and PFAS in surface waters from the Mekong River of southeast Asia to hot springs in the Great Basin. Dan received his B.S. in Geology at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his M.S. from the University of Nevada, Reno. He was a Fulbright Scholar studying the geochemical controls of rural drinking water supplies in Niger, West Africa. Dans experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon continue to motivate him to use his background in environmental sciences to serve disadvantaged populations.