I am currently a 4th year undergraduate student at the University of Florida pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Biological/Biosystems Engineering and a Minor in Food Science. My interest in a career revolving around sustainable food and water systems has led me to pursue research in both the harvesting/processing aspect of industry, as well as the waste stream management/bioremediation sector. I've previously worked in the UF Tea Projects within the Plant Pathology department at the University of Florida to identify barries of tea production in the United States and assess a freeze treatment as a substitute or augment within tea processing.I currently work in an environmental biotechnolgy lab in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering department at UF that focuses on water remediation. My work has included assessing a novel blue-green algae Cyanothece sp. BG11 for its water remediation properties, production of desirable protein-pigment compounds applicable for use in the food industry, and potential application of the algae in biological life support systems (BLSS) in manned deep space exploration. Most recently, I am conducting a project to assess a bioaugmented, algal-based technology implemented within a municipal wastewater treatment facility. This research includes assessing the water quality and quantifying the algal biomass produced for potential biofuel production.