EREF Awards 18 Scholarships to Graduate Students Advancing Environmental Research

The Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) has awarded 18 new scholarships for the Fall of 2024. These scholarships support graduate students pursuing innovative research in sustainable resource management. EREF remains committed to fostering the next generation of environmental research through its active scholarship program.

Since its inception, EREF has funded research that advances sustainable practices within the waste management sector. The Fall 2024 recipients were selected based on the potential impact of their research and alignment with EREF’s three strategic research priorities.

MASTER’S LEVEL SCHOLARS

PAULINA ALULEMA

Environmental Engineering, University of Maine

EREF Scholar 2024

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Release from Spent Granular Activated Carbons in Solid Waste Management Facilities

MESHACH ANDO

Civil Engineering, University of North Florida

EREF Scholar 2024

Comparison of Field Measurements to Methane Emissions Models at Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

SANDANI BUDDHIMA

Geography, University of Waterloo

EREF Scholar 2024

Drivers of Spatial Variation in Methane Emissions from Capped Landfills in Southern Ontario

MAYA CAINE

Environmental Management, Yale University

H.H.H. Safety & Spirit of the Waste Industry Scholar 2024

Driving Economic Development with Textile and Fashion Waste in Central Ohio

SADIE MACDONALD

Bioresource Engineering, McGill University

Detachable Container Association (DCA) Scholar 2024

Carbon Footprint and other Environmental Impacts of Montreal’s Organic Waste Management Systems

KAREN MCGUIRE-DIEMER

Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University

Robert J. Riethmiller/PTR Baler and Compactor Scholar 2024

Evaluating the Life Cycle and Biodegradability of Green Plastics for Effective Plastic Waste Management

SYDNEY PEDARI

Chemistry, Carleton University

EREF Scholar 2024

Streamlining Plastic Reclamation Using Microbial Degradation and Raman Spectroscopy

ELIZABETH SMITH

Sustainable Agriculture/Community & Regional Planning, Iowa State University

EREF Scholar 2024

Comparative Analysis of Municipal Composting Systems and Strategies for Implementation in Ames, Iowa

MD MOSHIUR RAHMAN TUSHAR

Civil Engineering, Georgia Southern University

EREF Scholar 2024

Navigating Sustainable Pathways for PFAS Treatment from Landfill Leachate

DOCTORAL LEVEL SCHOLARS

ALIREZA ARHAMI DOLATABAD

Civil Engineering, University of Missouri

Tom J. Fatjo Jr. Scholar 2024

Degradation and Mineralization of Gaseous Organic Fluorine Compounds Generated from Thermal Treatments of PFAS-Containing Waste Minerals

ANWESHA BANERJEE

Environmental Engineering, McGill University

EREF Scholar 2024

Life Cycle Perspective on Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries using Green Chemistry Approaches

JORGE DEL’ANGEL

Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University

EREF Scholar 2024

The Viability of Producing an Economical and Effective Fertilizer from Landfill Leachate to Promote a Circular Economy

ANYA DICKINSON-COVE

Civil Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles

Garbageman Invitational (GMI) Scholar 2024

Selective Recovery of Critical Metals from Solid Waste Leachates via Membrane Separation

KATE FABER

Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota

Fiessinger Doctoral Scholar 2024

Tracking the Destruction of Industrial PFAS Wastes with 19F NMR

BHAGYA SRI KOLITHA JAYANTHA

Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry, Southern Illinois University

Scott & Vicki Dols Impact Scholar 2024

Upcycling of Food Waste to Biodegradable Food Packaging Material

SUPRIO KAMAL

Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota

EREF Scholar 2024

Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET) and its Interplay with Abiotic Degradation: Implications for Recycling and Environmental Fate

MIKA PORTUGAISE

Engineering Science, University of Oxford

EREF Scholar 2024

Contribution of Upstream Waste Mitigation Interventions in the Electronic Industry to Electronic Waste Management and Circular Economy Goals

YITONG YANG

Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

Friends of BFI Scholar 2024

A Multi-Scale Approach to Measuring Landfill Emissions for Evaluating and Financing Interventions

For more information on EREF’s Scholarship Program, visit our website.

About EREF

EREF is a 501(c)3 class charity that advances scientific research and creates educational pathways that enable innovation in sustainable waste management practices. For more complete information on EREF funded research, its scholarship program and how to donate to this great cause, visit erefdn.org.