Graduate Student of the Week: Emine Fidan

Hometown

Cookeville, TN

Previous degrees

Biosystems Engineering at the University of Tennessee

Who is your adviser and what are you studying?

Natalie Nelson. I am studying water quality in estuarine environments.

What first made you interested in this field?

I first became interested in Biological Engineering when I attended the Governors School of Emerging Technologies my junior year of high school. During my summer at this program,  I was challenged to solve water problems through sustainable technology. This piqued my interest in water quality and environmental sustainability, and eventually lead me to pursue my PhD in studying our coastal waterways.

What do you like most about BAE as a field or the department?

I love the BAE department because of the tightly-knit community. The students within the department not only help each other out when it comes to school, but also when it comes to social interactions outside of the university environment.

What is a little known or fun fact about you?

A fun fact about me is that I love hiking in the mountains and scuba diving in the oceans. This is why I love being in North Carolina, where I can get the best of everything!