Amaru Marsee

Why did you choose to study at UB?

I came to Buffalo from Texas for a funeral. I did apply offhand, but one of the driving factors was UB is a research one university. The cost of applying and the scholarships were also influential.  

Why did you choose environmental engineering?

I was a senior in high school when I decided and knew that I was going into an environmental field. What pushed me to do environmental engineering was that I knew there's a low likelihood that I would be behind a desk all the time. With environmental engineering, you can create your life so that you're getting out more, which I appreciate.

Are you working on any projects?

I'm starting a research project with Dr. Ye. It’s new research we’re exploring on wastewater epidemiology. It's attempting to explore different ways that we're able to predict outbreaks of diseases by looking at fecal matter in water. The main point of my research is developing methods to be able to do that. 

What have you done that you are most proud of?

I'm proud of my work with my internship. I’m working with the Army Corps; they are at the forefront of designing all the software that are used for hydraulic modeling. I'm happy that I work there because I have paths where I could be very impactful.

What are you passionate about?

I'm very passionate about the environment. I don't think I would be in my major without being very passionate about the environment, specifically in engineering. I really like thinking out my solutions and designing. It doesn’t just address the problems directly, but it can produce a net good.

Has there been a particular faculty or staff that has been influential during your time at UB?

Dr. John Atkinson has been very impactful. I reached out to him my freshman year to do research, and I think since then, he’s been such a great connection and resource; I appreciate the way he approaches advising students.

There is also Dr. Yinyin Ye who is a phenomenal professor, and I'm doing research with her now, and she's very smart. She can teach in a way that's easy to understand, even though the content is hard.

Dr. James Jensen is also awesome. He cares a lot about his students and redesigns the way he teaches so it's accessible to everyone, which I think is great.

And then there is Dr. Igor Jankovic who has relationships with professionals in both civil and environmental engineering. He got me the job that I have now. I know he's done that for so many students, and people like coming back to see him because he's super impactful. I think our department is really great!

What are your future plans?

I'm excited to graduate and go into hydraulics and hydrology. I’m staying with the Army Corps after graduation. At the Army Corps, they have a lot of different opportunities. They have a dive team that does inspections, and they dive under this massive dam which I want to try. It would be awesome if I was able to do that.

What is your advice for prospective students?

I would say that you don't have to have it all figured out when you're in college. As much as you want to get as much bang for your buck, college is an investment. You don't want to just mess around. 

It's also a time where you can figure out what you're passionate about. You should take advantage of all the resources that you have provided for you, so that you really are making the most of your experience.