Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, PhD Student
My name is Olivia (she/her/hers), and I am a third year PhD student in the Environmental Science and Engineering Department at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC. My research interests include environmental justice, environmental health microbiology, and the role of infrastructure in protecting public health and over all well-being. I am currently researching water and wastewater infrastructure in the Alabama Black Belt. Along with collecting environmental and household samples to quantify potential exposures to fecal indicators and enteric pathogens, I am also using photovoice, a qualitative community-based research approach, to work alongside community members who are impacted by their current water and wastewater service status. This work explores topics related to water and sanitation service, such as challenges experienced by community members, concerns about health, and barriers and supports to receiving functional and safe water and wastewater service. I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama before I went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Alabama and a Master of Science In Environmental Global Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. In my free time I like to read, hike, travel, and dance!