PROTECT trainee Nerida de Jesus (Project 4) recently received an EPA GRO Undergraduate Fellowship. Her proposal, “Identifying Sanitation Systems Ramifications on Water Quality for Rural Non-PRASA Communities in Puerto Rico,” stems from PROTECT and integrates EPA Region 2 priorities for Puerto Rico. She will work with a Non-PRASA community looking at general water quality parameters and CVOCS and phthalates. The Non-PRASA community will be in the northern karst region of Puerto Rico, and she will look into the potential links between sanitation systems and drinking water quality problems.
The fellowship award is for 21 months (September 2014 – May 2016) and will involve an internship at the EPA during the summer (location TBD).
Nerida competed nationally, and her award reflects the level of excellence of our students and trainees. Congratulations, Nerida!