“People are finally starting to wake up and realize we don’t have a Planet B, so there are many opportunities to make an impact.”

Senior Nicole Louca wants to make a positive impact on the world. Here, she explains how her environmental engineering major is helping her to do just that.

Where are you from?

Originally I’m from Cyprus, but I’ve been living in New Jersey since I was 16. Right now, I’m living in Eatontown.

Why did you choose Rutgers School of Engineering?

My love of math and the environment drove me into engineering and I thought engineering would be a great way to play on my strengths. I really liked my high school calculus class. When I asked my teacher what I could do with calculus, he said I could go into insurance, math, or engineering.

Why did you decide to major in EnvE?

When choosing my major, I knew I wanted to do things that would have a positive impact on the world. Environmental engineering has a lasting impact.

I wanted to study environmental science and also wanted to develop the problem solving and thinking skills that come with engineering. The major is a great combination of those things.

What else do you like about the department?

All the courses in the environmental engineering program have really interested me.

Also, the program is really small, which is awesome. You have a community feeling with other people in the program and get to know everyone, which is a big benefit.

Have any courses stood out for you?

I really like my senior design course because we get to choose a project and develop it in our own way in groups.

Do you have a favorite professor?

Donna Fennell – she’s really good. I’ve had her for unit processes for bioenvironmental engineering. And for biological principles of environmental science.

Have you had any internships?

I’ve had two. My first was with the bio-pharmaceutical company Celgene. I was on the environmental health and safety team, which wasn’t really very engineering related.

My second one at Geo-technology Associates, a geotechnical and environmental consulting firm in Somerset, New Jersey, was more closely related. It was cool – I got to do Phase 1 and Phase 2 environmental site assessments, soil and soil gas sampling, and vapor mitigation. It’s helped me in my job search, as people notice I have some hands-on experience.

What is your senior design project?

A group of another four students and I want to create an eco-complex on campus that showcases what environmental engineering students do and what they’re capable of. We’ll build a walkway to the Environmental Science building on the Cook/Douglass campus and put solar panels on it so it can be lit up at night. We plan to line it with different plants and include an interactive activity within it designed to get people interested in the major.

Are you involved with any extracurricular organizations?

I enjoyed the Students for Environmental and Energy Development club. We went on field trips to different facilities, made a water filter out of sustainable materials, and participated in competitions.

What do you do for fun?

I love outdoor activities by the beach and love to go hiking if the weather is nice. I like to go to the gym and exercise. Just hanging out with friends and family is always a good time.

Since I commute, I like listening to podcasts and books – and I love to read.

What do you like to read?

Different things – fiction and non-fiction. Right now, I’m reading The Quantum Guide to Life. It explains how the laws of physics affect happiness, love, and success in everyday life.

What advice would you give a new student?

If you commute, buy a parking pass early. I didn’t and regret it. In school, try to make connections with your classmates, as opposed to just going to class and going home. This program encourages you to develop relationships with your professors – be sure to take advantage of that and talk to them.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?

Another beautiful thing about this program is that after you graduate, the jobs are there. There are a lot of opportunities for this program’s graduates. People are finally starting to wake up and realize we don’t have a Planet B, so there are opportunities to make an impact.

I’ve been going on a lot of different interviews, mostly for positions in site remediation work and water engineering. I’ll wait to see what the offers look like to figure it out and decide, although I think I might stick to site remediation.

How might you give back to the SoE in the future?

It really depends on where my future goes. Teachers bring professional people in to talk to us and I’d be more than happy to do that if asked. If I could volunteer at Rutgers gardens or design things for them later on, that would also be cool. I’m definitely open to giving back to Rutgers after graduation.