Interns
Michael Bank
Senior, Biotechnology
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Age: 21
Hometown: Boca Raton, FL
Email: mbank@ufl.edu
My Name is Michael Bank. I am a senior majoring in Biotechnology with a minor in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. I am very interested in how biological processes help solve societal problems such as energy and food security. This summer I will be working with algae with the hope of advancing the techniques used to create algal biofuels. I will also be investigating the production and use of charcoal for soil remediation and carbon sequestration.
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Natalie Chavez
Senior, Environmental Science
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Age: 21
Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL
Email: nchavez@ufl.edu
My name is Natalie Chavez, I am a senior in Environmental Science with a minor in International Studies. I am interested in anaerobic digestion and maximizing biogas production by finding a feedstock with an optimal methane yield. This process is intriguing to me by being able to use waste as an alternative energy. Waste consumption is prominent in our society and I am interested in the progress of sustainable waste-to-energy systems. I enjoy traveling and would love to travel to other countries to apply the skills I will learn from this experience because renewable energy is valuable for our future.
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Luiza Costa
Junior, Natural Resource Conservation and Sustainability Studies
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Age: 20
Hometown: Barra Manza, Brazil and Boca Raton, FL
Email: luizaccosta@ufl.edu
My name is Luiza Costa, I am a junior Natural Resource Conservation and Sustainability Studies majors in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I am originally from Brazil but have been living in Boca Raton Florida for the past eleven years. I am interested in anaerobic digestion to reduce waste while simultaneously producing a renewable energy source. I am interested in spending the rest of my life exploring innovative ways to make the world a better place and reducing the impact civilization has on the planet.
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Kimberly Hafner
Junior, Biological Engineering
College of Engineering
Age: 20
Hometown: Citurs Springs, FL
Email: hafnerk@ufl.edu
My name is Kimberly Hafner. I am a Biological Engineering major with a focus in Biosystems. After graduation, I plan on attending graduate school to pursue a PhD. I am interested in global sustainability with a particular interest in utilizing waste as a fuel. For my summer research project, I plan on working with microalgae for nutrient removal from wastewaters and biofuel production.
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Brett Nelson
Senior, Environmental Science
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Age: 20
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Email: brettn93@ufl.edu
My name is Brett Nelson. I am a senior at UF, from Rockville, Maryland. I plan to graduate in May 2015 with a B.S. in environmental sciences and a minor in business administration. I am interested in renewable energy and the conversion of algae to biofuels. For my summer research project I plan to grow algae on different mediums and hope to observe a difference in lipid production. My goal is to find an optimal medium for growing algae with maximum lipid content.
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Alec Spaulding
Post-baccalaureate, Family, Youth, and Community Science
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Age: 22
Hometown: Niceville, FL
Email: aspaulding@ufl.edu
The idea of Sustainability has taken root across disciplines and locations. We need to utilize the human penchant for pattern recognition to develop cyclical systems that don’t deplete our resources. My studies have prepared me to enact community development through environmentally-friendly solutions. I view anaerobic digestion as part of such a holistic approach, and seek to learn how this method fulfills a sustainable food system. My research this summer will be oriented towards the issues faced in a particular community in Haiti. By teaching people the fundamentals of nutrient cycling, I believe we can empower them with the mental tools necessary to resolve problems with awareness and foresight.
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