ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
BEST POSTER PRESENTATION WINNER…
Megan Ulozas
New Jersey Wildfire Behavior: Using a Coupled Numerical Fire Model to Compare Public and Private Forests
Using the QUIC-Fire modeling software, this project aims to compare wildfire behavior between public and private land in two NJ regions: the Pinelands and Highlands. Understanding the different fire patterns by land ownership can inform forest managers and firefighters when developing management plans. Each site was tested among three moisture conditions (wet, average, and dry) to model how future climate scenarios may alter wildfire behavior.
Supervisor: Dr. James Shope
Expected Graduation Year: 2026
Aluen Tomat-Kelly, Grace Silva, Taylor O’Dell
Green Infrastructure Development at the Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources Building
This is a senior capstone group project focusing on designing green infrastructure, specifically a green roof, blue roof, and cistern for the Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources Building on the Rutgers Cook/Douglas campus. This project aims to manage stormwater, reduce flooding, and enable water reuse for nearby agriculture.
Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Obropta
Expected Graduation Year: 2026
Megan Ulozas, Cayla Capistrano, Julia Kromplewski
Revitalizing Lake Papaianni: Community Building Through Engineering Design
Lake Papaianni’s frequent harmful algal blooms and bank erosion have posed safety concerns for wildlife while limiting the park's natural aesthetic. Green infrastructure was designed to improve the lake’s water quality by treating runoff and revegetating the eroded shoreline. The proposed changes will reduce influent pollutants and improve recreational services, leading to a healthier, more beneficial environment for visitors.
Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Obropta
Expected Graduation Year: 2026
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
BEST POSTER PRESENTATION WINNER…
Maia Morgan
Implications of Cellulose in Microplastics Quantification Methods
Microplastics are undergoing rapid research as an emerging contaminant with robust methods still being developed. This study tested a standard method (ASTM D8333) for processing samples on synthetic, natural, and blended fabrics to assess implications in mass change, fiber shedding, and spectral change. Changes in reagent preparation and exposure time to the reagent had positive effects on sample preparation such as improved cellulose digestion of blended materials.
Supervisor: Dr. Nicole Fahrenfeld
Expected Graduation Year: 2026
Amari Berry
Soil Analysis for Agrivoltaic Systems at Rutgers Research Sites
My presentation will highlight what agrivoltaics is, the laboratory methods used to determine its efficiency, and how soil conditions influence its success.
Supervisor: Dr. Daniel Gimenez
Expected Graduation Year: 2027
Nithila Darmeshwaran
Effects of Ocean Temperature Changes on the Elemental Composition of Marine Diatoms
This research project examines how changing ocean temperatures influence the elemental composition of a key phytoplankton species, with a focus on carbon content. By analyzing how warming affects these microscopic organisms, we hope to better understand their role in oceanic carbon cycling and potential impacts on marine ecosystems. The results could provide insight into how climate change may alter the foundational components of the marine food web.
Supervisor: Dr. John Reinfelder
Expected Graduation Year: 2027
Maximilian Hadden
Exploring Pedagogy using Environmental Sciences with the Rutgers FIGS Program
The Rutgers FIGS (First-year Interest Group Seminar) program is designed to get incoming students introduced to an interest topic based on a major or program at Rutgers and receive an introduction to the university as a whole. Here, I detail my experiences with becoming a Peer Instructor of the program for Environmental Sciences and my blending of university success topics with connections to the field in preparation of instructing the class in the fall.
Supervisor: Dr. Jeffra Schaefer & the Rutgers FIGS Team
Expected Graduation Year: 2027
Jack Harwood
Recycled-Tire Playground Pavements Release Rubber Particles in Surrounding Soils
When used in a playground as a ground surface, recycled tire parts are ultimately unconfined to the playground itself. Our research details the spread of these particles in the surrounding soil, both in distance and depth.
Supervisor: Dr. Elodie Passeport
Expected Graduation Year: 2027
Shuotian Yang
Sustainable Development
This poster will introduce what ESG is, my experience interviewing people about their opinions on ESG, and summarize what I got from the interview.
Supervisor: QVS Asia
Expected Graduation Year: 2027
METEOROLOGY UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
BEST POSTER PRESENTATION WINNER…
Ryan Hopson
AI-based identification of northeast US cold fronts
We apply a convolutional neural network (CNN) to identify cold fronts from images in a historical archive of Weather Prediction Center surface analyses. The CNN is trained using a target set of annotated images, with tuning undertaken to achieve a desirable level of confidence in cold front identification. Cold front locations and confidence scores are catalogued and used to develop a regional climatology of cold front occurrence.
Supervisor: Dr. Benjamin Lintner
Expected Graduation Year: 2028
Derek Diehl
The Impact of Dry Air Entrainment on the Accuracy of Storm Prediction Center Convective Outlooks
This new research combines qualitative and quantitative tools to establish criteria for “busted” and “accurate” SPC severe weather forecasts. Then, it examines the effect of dry air entrainment had on the bust days and compares it to the accurate days. It also examines its impact on the type of severe weather expected (severe wind vs hail vs tornadoes).
Supervisor: Dr. Steven Decker
Expected Graduation Year: 2026
Honorable Mentions…
Anisha Verma; Environmental Sciences
Megan Ulozas, Cayla Capistrano, Julia Kromplewski; Environmental Engineering
Aluen Tomat-Kelly, Grace Silva, Taylor O'Dell; Environmental Engineering