Nick An (SPH)

Advisor: Dr. Rachel Rosenberg-Goldstein

Nick is a first-year doctoral student in the Environmental Health Sciences Program at the Department of Global, Occupational, and Environmental Health (GEOH). Previously, he worked as the project manager for the Water Emergency Team (WET) in the same department. He received his MPH in Environmental Health and BS in Environmental Sciences from Emory University. His current research interests include geospatial analysis, antimicrobial resistance, urban sanitation challenges, and infectious diseases.

Gerry Andhikaputra (SPH)

Advisor: Dr. Amir Sapkota

Gerry is a first-year PhD student in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Maryland, with a background in Environmental Engineering. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Indonesia, and a Master of Science degree from Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan. Passionate about the intersection of climate change and public health, his research focuses on how extreme weather events influence the risks of diarrhea and dengue fever in vulnerable communities, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Rafian Aziz (AGNR)

Advisor: Dr. Stephanie Lansing

Rafian is a master’s student in the Bioenergy and Biotechnology Laboratory within the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland. He completed his Bachelor’s from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he focused on arsenic contamination in rice and carbon sequestration in peat soils. His research interests include sustainable waste management through food waste composting and anaerobic digestion, with an emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Rafian is also dedicated to exploring how composting can contribute to soil health and water conservation, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions, while developing solutions that foster environmental resilience and support community well-being.

Fahmi Dwilaksono (AGNR)

Advisor: Dr. Stephanie Lansing

Fahmi is a first-year PhD student in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland. He holds a master’s degree in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Sumbawa University of Technology in Indonesia, where he was born and raised. His research interests are related to using the anaerobic digestion process as an approach to mitigate climate change impacts while producing renewable energy and providing nutrition for crop soil. His doctoral research will focus on the anaerobic co-digestion of poultry litter and switchgrass, as well as performing a life cycle assessment (LCA) to analyze the environmental impact of the system and trace the methane emissions from the anaerobic digester using isotopic techniques. He hopes to align his research goals with the Global STEWARDS mission, which aims to optimize the anaerobic digestion process to support sustainable agriculture by processing waste into energy, supporting soil fertility and crop growth, and providing water for agricultural purposes.

Asangwing Formukong (SPH)

Advisor: Dr. Amy R. Sapkota

Asangwing is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Global Environmental and Occupational Health (GEOH) program at the University of Maryland, School of Public Health. He obtained an MSc. in Biomedical Sciences with specialization in Immunity and Infection from Ghent University, Belgium. He researched the dynamics of the humoral immune response against SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic’s peak in early 2020. His journey started in his home country, Cameroon, where he obtained his BSc. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences from the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea. He is currently working on water quality.

Tiberias Okanga (CMNS)

Advisor: Dr. Russell Dickerson

Tiberias is a second-year PhD student in the Environmental Chemistry program at the University of Maryland’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He holds a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Pecs, Hungary, and a bachelor’s degree in industrial chemistry from Nairobi, Kenya. His research interests include air quality and environmental justice. He focuses on monitoring air quality using both low-cost and advanced monitors and employing electron microscopy techniques to track and understand criteria pollutants.

Bukola Omena-Okpowe (SPH)

Advisor: Dr. Heather Amato

Bukola is a first-year MPH student in the Department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health at the University of Maryland. She is pursuing a degree in Environmental Health Science. Bukola holds a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria, and a Master’s in Public health from Glasgow Caledonian University Scotland. She is interested in using molecular tools to evaluate the impact of sanitation and hygiene on public health and the environment to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance and pathogens.

John Augustus Samura (AEED)

Advisor: Dr. Colby Silvert

John is a first-year Master’s student in the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education at the University of Maryland. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in General Agriculture from Njala University in Sierra Leone. In recent years, he has worked with several nonprofit organizations, including CGIAR WorldFish, where he focused on researching and implementing integrated rice-fish systems to address malnutrition and enhance the livelihoods of resource-constrained farmers in Northern Sierra Leone.  His research interests are focused on sustainable agricultural innovations that increase productivity and profitability among smallholder farmers, particularly in resource-constrained regions. He aims to explore and promote technologies such as rainwater harvesting, efficient small-scale irrigation systems, and mobile-based applications that assist farmers with decision-making to optimize yields, reduce agricultural costs, and improve their market access. Additionally, he is interested in examining how these technologies can be modified and adapted to fit African farming systems.

Ujjwol Subedi (AGNR)

Advisor: Dr. Abani K. Pradhan

Ujjwol is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. He earned a master’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science from UMD and a bachelor’s degree in Food Technology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Before pursuing his graduate studies, he worked for seven years in food research in Nepal, focusing on food processing, product development, and laboratory analysis. His current research focuses on developing sustainable biocontrol measures to mitigate foodborne pathogens, including E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, in leafy greens during the preharvest stage. Ujjwol is committed to advancing food safety and public health through innovative research, contributing to sustainable food systems and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Qingyue Zeng (AGNR)

Advisor: Dr. Ryan Blaustein

Qingyue is a second-year PhD student in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Maryland-College Park. She is deeply interested in exploring the potential of microbiome research to address pressing challenges in food safety and sustainability. Currently, she is leading a project that investigates microbial dynamics in food waste composting, focusing on the impacts of environmental factors on food safety and antimicrobial resistance. Her work aims to enhance composting practices by improving the safety and quality of compost products, contributing to sustainable solutions in food waste management.