Q: What does your day to day looks like now and how did the degree program prepared you for it?
A: My day to day is an eight-hour work shift that starts at one of the two wastewater treatment plants located in Lincoln. One huge part of my work is to test the industrial wastewater that is being treated at our plant, to ensure the large industries around the city are following EPA regulations. This requires water sampling collection, where my work partner and I go to different Lincoln industries and collect their wastewater from our 24-hour composite samplers. We then complete the pre-lab testing required before sending it off to our laboratory to get tested for BOD, COD, or heavy metal content.
My environmental studies degree at UNL prepared me for this career by providing every environment-related course possible. Through my hydrology course, I learned about the different waterways we can test or may get contaminated. Through my natural resource policy course, I learned about the different environmental events that led to such regulations being needed, and through my general chemistry courses, I learned about different lab techniques that help me every day.
Q: How did you land your first role after graduation? Was it through a posting, referral, or something else?
A: Job posting through the City of Lincoln government website.
Q: Can you describe a project you’re working on now that would have felt impossible before you graduated from this program?
A: One major project we are working on as a team is our new polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) testing project. We are sampling water from each of our 30 industries that are contracted with the City and performing specific tests on PFAs, which are known as “forever chemicals”. This project may have felt slightly impossible before graduating from UNL because PFAs were not a large topic of conversation in water health yet. The EPA was working on getting regulations for many years, but the first direct test orders were issued to manufacturers and industries in June 2022.
Q: What advice would you give prospective students?
A: The advice I would give students is try what you want to try! The first major you pick may not be for you, but make sure as soon as you realize that you don’t waste any time and explore other options as soon as you can. I started my career at UNL as an Agribusiness major, but after taking a few courses I realized that it was not the career for me. I then explored all the different majors through CASNR and was so intrigued by environmental studies that I switched to it within 2 months of starting at UNL. The courses were so broad, and it was clear to me that I would not be stuck in one career path with this degree. You are qualified for all sorts of environmental paths with the course background this degree offers so make sure you try all the ones you want to try. I started out in sustainability and environmental education and now I’m in the wastewater industry, but I am still looking for my next career path and what environmental area I want to work in next.
More details at: https://esp.unl.edu/