- Tell us about your research focus, how you became interested in it, and who will benefit from what you are doing in the long run.
My research focuses on developing water reuse technologies that meet urgent humanitarian water needs globally. My interest in water treatment began when I learned about the Flint Water Crisis and discovered that communities in my own state faced similar struggles with failing water infrastructure. Later that year, a severe winter storm left my friends’ families without running water for weeks, making those issues deeply personal. I operate on the core belief that safe, reliable water access is a human right, and I hope to engineer systems that will guarantee sustainable water access for communities worldwide, regardless of country, climate, or socioeconomic status.
- What is your vision for your future? What do you expect to be doing after your fellowship/graduate degree.
My ultimate career goal is to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial application to address the global water crisis. I hope to earn my PhD and go on to develop low-cost, energy-efficient technologies that make large-scale water reuse viable on a global scale. In the future, I hope to conduct research for engineering consulting firms so I can help engineer resilient, scalable water reuse systems that are specifically designed for the communities they are serving.
- What do you anticipate the most about your fellowship experience? Why did you choose the program you applied to?
What I anticipate most about my fellowship experience is the opportunity to grow with a community of scholars who are just as passionate as I am about solving global water challenges. I chose to pursue my PhD in the Sedlak lab at UC Berkeley because I am excited about the research that they are doing and I feel that I mesh well with the culture of the lab. More than that, I am excited to have the unique opportunity to study water reuse in a state that is a national leader in the technology under a mentor who is a national leader in the field.
- What advice do you give to current students considering applying to competitive programs?
The best advice that I can give current students considering applying to competitive programs is that you miss all of the shots you don't take, and relationships are everything. Some of the biggest opportunities in my life came from professors, friends, and mentors who believed in me before I believed in myself, so investing in those relationships matters more than you might think. You never know who could change your life.
