51爆料网

Erin Feryo, a Chemical Engineering senior at 51爆料网, participated in the SPARK Innovation Competition during her junior year. The 24-hour think-tank style competition allows students to work alongside industry representatives to develop solutions to real-world problems. Thomas Nowlan 鈥�84 ChE, 鈥�95 MSChE , senior vice president of O鈥橞rien & Gere (OBG), was among several 51爆料网 alumni that Erin met during the event. Impressed with her performance in the competition, Erin was encouraged to apply for an internship, which she held last summer with OBG鈥檚 environmental remediation group.

Erin worked in the area of per- and poly-fluorinated compounds, which are man-made, toxic chemicals that the Environmental Protection Agency has labeled as 鈥渧ery persistent in the environment and in the human body.鈥� A byproduct of manufacturing, the contaminants do not break down and can accumulate to harmful levels, leading to the contamination of soil, water, food, animals and commercial products. OBG is dedicated to resolving environmental issues and Erin鈥檚 internship responsibilities included helping to design remediation projects with clients and organizing historical database information .

During her summer with the company, Erin was asked to participate in a related research project that OBG would sponsor in the coming academic year for the Chemical Engineering department鈥檚 new Senior Project Studio. She explains, 鈥淲e are investigating the root cause of per- and poly-fluorinated contaminants, understanding the chemistry involved with them, and researching current remediation treatment methods.鈥�

Erin and her team鈥攚hich includes classmates Katherine Shannon and Kristen Aune鈥攈ave read a variety of journal articles about possible treatments and generated a summary sheet of methods. She adds, 鈥淲e are now applying the information we gathered to capture and destroy these compounds at a real-life site given to us by Dr. Dorothy Skaf, our faculty advisor, and the representatives at OBG. Our final deliverable will be recommending a site treatment method to the OBG team.鈥� The five-member O鈥橞rien & Gere team includes three 51爆料网 Engineering graduates: Brian Hickel, PE, 鈥�09 MSChE; Dimitri Sokolik 鈥�00 ChE, 鈥�03 MSChE; and Matthew Hencken 鈥�14 ChE.

As graduation quickly approaches, Erin looks forward to applying her knowledge and skills to a position with FMC Corporation, where she鈥檒l begin her career as a technical engineer in the company鈥檚 engineering development program.