Hello! 

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I was born and raised in Kenya before emigrating to South Africa when I was five. Growing up, I enjoyed working with numbers and problem-solving, and I marveled at the ability of scientists and engineers to develop innovative solutions to various issues. This passion led me to pursue Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with a minor in Finance for undergraduate because it encompassed my interests and provided opportunities to contribute to society. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities that have allowed me to explore the intersectionality of business, Finance, and engineering for developing economical and viable solutions and the importance of financial literacy and knowledge in our daily lives.  I have participated in various leadership roles in student organizations and volunteered in initiatives focused on addressing food insecurity and poverty alleviation in South Africa and the United States.

 

My global challenge for the Global Leaders and Scholars in STEM Honors program addressed the United Nation’s sixth sustainable development goal: Clean Water and Sanitation. This was mainly due to the disparity in the number of deaths resulting from waterborne diseases (such as cholera) between developed and developing nations and the inaccessibility to potable water, affecting 785 million people globally. Over two consecutive summers, I was a research assistant in the Silverman Laboratory as part of the Undergraduate Summer Research Program. The research investigated the mechanism of resistance indigenous bacteria have to common wastewater disinfectants meant to inactivate them and prevent their regrowth. This is significant as the bacteria used in the experiment (Escherichia coli and Enterococci) usually indicate the presence of fecal contamination and pathogenic bacteria, which are health risks. The practical application of this research is the potential to develop more effective water purification methods, thereby improving public health and quality of life.

 

Furthermore, the understanding of the mechanism used in our research enables the production of better treatment methods, potentially saving countless lives. The second component of the research experience focused on quantifying Enterococci species in the different stages of water purification and identifying which species were more resistant to disinfection. This was observed quarterly to determine additional trends. Overall, this experience provided more practical insight on research in the field of water purification, a field that I am passionate about. 

 

During my college experience, I learned the value of remaining curious and intentional and the importance of embracing challenges and the unknown. I am eagerly looking forward to applying what I learn through leadership, volunteering, and extracurricular activities to real-world problems, making a tangible difference in the world.