EREF Announces 2018 Scholars

The Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) has named its 2018 scholars, who are recognized for their excellence in master’s and doctoral waste management research and education.

This year’s scholars include six EREF scholars, one Robert J. Riethmiller/PTR Baler and Compactor Scholarship recipient and one Carl J. Apicella Scholarship recipient. The scholars were selected based upon their academic performance, professional experience, relevance of one’s work to the advancement of solid waste management science and potential for success.

“An important component of EREF’s mission is to empower the next generation of waste industry leaders through the foundation’s Scholarship Program. I am looking forward to the work that the 2018 scholarship recipients will do in order to advance our industry,” says Jim Dowland, chairman of EREF’s Board of Directors.

EREF’s scholarships are available and awarded to current full-time master’s or doctoral students who have a clearly demonstrated interest in solid waste management research. And award amounts consider the cost of tuition at the recipient’s institution and any other funds received. Doctoral scholarships are awarded up to $14,400 per year, paid monthly, and can be extended for up to three years from the initial award date. Master’s scholarships are awarded up to $6,000 per year and can be extended for up to two years from the initial award date. Scholarship renewal is dependent upon satisfactory progress as determined by the student’s academic advisor.

EREF’s 2018 scholars:

Rarosue Amaraibi, University of South Florida, MSEREF

Amaraibi’s project focuses on the optimization of biogas production by improving the amount of surface area within a digester.

Read more about the project and Amaraibi here.

Cassandra Champagne, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Ph.D.

Champagne’s project explores the use of autonomous robotics technology to enhance landfill sustainability and resiliency.

Read more about the project and Champagne here.

Girish Kumar, University of Illinois at Chicago, Ph.D.

Kumar’s project highlights the numerical modeling of temperature effects on geosynthetic interfaces in the liners of landfills.

Read more about the project and Kumar here.

Indu Venu Sabaraya, The University of Texas at Austin, Ph.D.

Venu Sabaraya’s project showcases the transport and interactions of two-dimensional nanomaterials through municipal solid waste landfill leachate.

Read more about the project and Venu Sabaraya here.

Chad Spreadbury, University of Florida, Ph.D.

Spreadbury’s project explains the beneficial use of waste-to-energy ash in roadway construction.

Read more about the project and Spreadbury here.

Paige Taber, Clemson University, MS

Taber’s project focuses on using a hydrogen peroxide-based oxidation for the removal of UV-quenching substances.

Read more about the project and Taber here.

Leandro Vigna, Yale University, MS

Vigna’s project highlights green building certifications and their potential to help reduce construction waste in developing countries.

Read more about the project and Vigna here.

Kien Vu, University of South Carolina, Ph.D.

Vu’s project identifies the interactions between nanomaterials and HDPE geomembranes found in municipal solid waste and leachate.

Read more about the project and Vu here.

Interested in applying for a scholarship? Head on over to erefdn.org for more information. The next deadline for EREF scholarship applications is spring 2019.