Tim Vadas, Ph.D., PECurrent Graduate Students
Julia Czarnecki
Graduate Degree Seeking: Ph.D. - Spring 2022
Undergraduate University: Marist College - Environmental Science
CV/LinkedIn
Bio: Julia has always had a passion for the environment and a drive to take responsibility for protecting natural resources. Attending college in the Hudson Valley and rowing on the Hudson River every morning sparked her interested in water resources. Her undergraduate research projects focused on plant uptake of contaminants and aquatic toxicology, but she decided to pursue graduate school in environmental engineering. This field integrates several of her interests including risk assessment, water quality, public health, and sustainability. Her current research focuses on disinfection byproducts and water reuse for agriculture.
Nafis Fuad
Graduate Degree Seeking: Ph.D. - Spring 2021
Previous: Universities: Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology(1) - Civil Engineering, University of Stuttgart(2) - Water Resources Engineering and Management, Chalmers University of Technology(3) - Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering
CV/LinkedIn
Bio: I have worked on optimizing remediation and recovery techniques of copper and zinc from contaminated soils. At present, I am looking into the uptake and the consequent effects of these metals in freshwater algae as well as insects predating on these algae.
Randi Mendes
Graduate Degree Seeking: Ph.D. - Spring 2020
Undergraduate University: Oregon State University - Ecological Engineering
CV/LinkedIn
Bio: Randi is originally from Southern California and moved to Oregon to pursue veterinarian school but majored in ecological engineering as a backup plan. While taking ecological engineering classes, she began to develop a passion for engineering and the environment and later the desire to pursue graduate school. She was connected with Dr. Vadas at the University of Connecticut and the LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate Fellowship which both played a large role in her attending UConn for Graduate School. Her research and career interest include the development of treatment wetlands and remediation efforts.
Past Graduate Students
Yi Han
Graduate Degree: Ph.D. 2018
Undergraduate University: Hunan University - Environmental Engineering
Current Position: Senior Research Scientist and Project Manager at Protheragen Inc.
CV/LinkedIn
Bio:
Katie Turpin Nagel
Graduate Degree: M.S. 2017
Undergraduate University: University of Wisconsin - Madison - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Current Position: Water Resources Engineer at Barr Engineering Co.
CV
Bio: Katie's interest in chemistry, biology, and engineering were fostered through numerous classes and workshops as she was growing up. She applied to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, certain that she was going to major in Chemical Engineering. After soon realizing that the major was heavily industrial focused, she switched to Civil and Environmental Engineering and became captivated with the idea of saving the environment. To further her knowledge in surface water contaminants and toxicology, she applied to the University of Connecticut and completed a research-focused Master's studying copper uptake kinetics to periphyton (river algae and bacteria). She enjoyed every minute of her classes and thesis work and feels like it furnished a deeper understanding of environmental chemistry and contaminant transport. She currently works at an environmental consulting firm, Barr Engineer Co., where she specializes in water quality treatment and management, green infrastructure design, and hydrologic and hydraulic modeling.
Dorottya Kelemen
Graduate Degree: M.S. 2018
Undergraduate University:University of Debrecen, Hungary - Environmental Engineering
Current Position:Environmental Engineer at Lenard Engineering Inc.
CV/LinkedIn
Bio: I have always been drawn to sciences and really fell in love with environmental engineering as it integrates many studies with technology applied to environmental and industrial solutions. I did my undergraduate thesis on radioecology interning at the Nuclear Research Institute of Hungary. Shortly after graduating I gained interest in studying abroad during which time I decided to apply to the University of Connecticut. The masters program truly prepared me for this field with a professional skill set and further experience in research. I currently work for a CT based engineering company (Lenard Engineering Inc) in remediation and environmental consulting mainly specialized in petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites.
Hongwei Luan
Undergraduate University: Huazhong University of Science and Technology - Environmental Engineering
Graduate Degree: Ph.D. 2017
Current Position: Data Scientist at Deloitte Digital
CV/LinkedIn
Bio: I started with MilliporeSigma in August 2017, as a senior scientist to perform trace element test and analytical analysis. I am working on characterizing trace element variability in our finished products and fingerprinting media and buffer samples using various analytical tools including Raman, ICP-MS and UPLC. I am also interested in machine learning. I am an active kaggler. I have a Bachelor Degree from Huazhong University of Sci and Tech, and a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, both in Environmental Engineering. I love traveling around the world. Always curious about new stuff while keeping old hobbies. Movies, sports, food, and games fill my day.
Neila Seda
Graduate Degree: M.S. 2014
Undergraduate University: Iowa State University - Civil Engineering
Bio: