“I have always been interested in tackling one of the world's wicked problems. I chose UWaterloo for my graduate degree because it is a water research hub and promotes interdisciplinary work, crucial for tackling water issues. Few institutions can give students this real-world experience, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to have this type of training.”
Danyka Byrnes, a PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering’s collaborative Water program is conducting research that is at the crossroads of hydrology and biogeochemistry, focused on how humans' use of nutrients from farming and fossil fuel combustion impact water quality across space and time.
“Research is incredibly rewarding, and I anticipate being a research scientist in some capacity in the future, whether as a professor or at an institute. During my PhD, I have gleaned many skills that can be transferred to different career paths. For example, I am learning how to work with large messy environmental datasets to tease out useful information and patterns. I am also fortunate to interact with social scientists that have taught me the importance of looking at problems through an interdisciplinary lens. I, however, always leave room in my life for a stroke of serendipity. Ultimately, I care about where water is relevant to people. With increasing risks to our water resources, from decades of pollution and climate change, I believe being a water expert will allow me to contribute to society in meaningful ways, in whatever capacity I choose.
Learn more about our graduate programs in engineering
