Tione Grant, a graduate student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the OB体育官网, traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the (AAEES) , held April 10.
鈥淲hether it was meeting other awardees or being inspired by recipients of the 40 under 40 award, the experience [at the Academy Convocation and Celebration of Excellence] provided a vision of where hard work, diligence, and mentorship could take me,鈥� said Grant.
During the fall of 2024, Grant was awarded an . The scholarship supports students pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in environmental engineering or environmental science at accredited universities. Recipients are selected through a nationally competitive and merit-based process that evaluates academic achievement, r茅sum茅s, essays and letters of recommendation.
Before enrolling in USF鈥檚 Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (MSEV) program, Grant participated in multidisciplinary field and lab research projects at the University of the Virgin Islands, the University of Georgia, USF and in Madagascar, where he developed a strong interest in nutrient management in water.
As a graduate student, Grant is working with Mauricio Arias, associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Sarina Ergas, professor and graduate program director in the Department of Civil and Environment. His research focuses on applying machine learning to improve the management of urban stormwater ponds, such as Aaran鈥檚 Pond in the University Area Community near USF鈥攐ne of Florida鈥檚 most economically challenged neighborhoods.
After completing his master鈥檚 degree and thesis, Grant plans to pursue a doctorate in environmental engineering at USF and obtain his Professional Engineering license. He hopes to leverage his research training, community engagement, leadership experience and professional network to develop technologies that improve water quality, whether in academia or industry.
During the convocation and celebration dinner, Grant spoke about his passion for environmental stewardship and preserving the well-being of communities鈥攈is primary motivation for becoming a scientist. See the video .
Summarizing his travel to the event, Grant commented, 鈥淚 am truly grateful to the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists for providing me with their support as well as the opportunity to network with members who are at academic positions that I am striving toward.鈥�
As the spring 2025 semester comes to a close, Tione Grant continues his thesis research and will also mentor students in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, which he participated in in 2019. Congratulations, Tione!
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