Environmental engineer driven to provide access to clean water

Environmental engineer driven to provide access to clean water

Evangelia Anna Passa was drawn to UC for its groundbreaking research

A project in grade school turned into a lifelong passion for Evangelia Anna Passa, an environmental engineering PhD student at the University of Cincinnati. That water waste project inspired Passa to make a difference in protecting the environment. Ultimately, it was the late Dionysious Dionysiou, PhD, who led her to choose UC for her graduate studies. Through her work in water treatment and environmental engineering, she hopes to continue his legacy and inspire positive change. She was named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Why did you choose UC? What drew you here?

Why did you choose your field of study?

In my final year of elementary school my teacher gave us an assignment to calculate how much water we waste during everyday activities. I was surprised by how much water we were using without realizing it, and the experience sparked my interest in environmental studies. From that point on, I knew I wanted to pursue something meaningful and practical that could have a real impact on the environment. Improving the environment aligns with my values and my goals. As I grew older, I became more interested in how humans affect the environment, especially how they degrade water quality. I realized that water resources are limited and often contaminated by many known and unknown pollutants, which makes access to clean water challenging. This led me to continue my education in environmental engineering. During my undergraduate studies, I focused on water quality, particularly in drinking water and wastewater treatment, as these are essential for protecting human health and ensuring sustainable access to clean water.

Briefly describe your research work. What problems do you hope to solve?

What are some of the most impactful experiences during your time at UC?

As a fourth-year PhD student, one of the most impactful experiences has been my research and collaboration with my current advisor, Assistant Professor Soryong Chae, and members of our group. I have also had the opportunity to work with researchers from multiple universities across the U.S., which has broadened my perspective and strengthened my work. I have learned that collaboration is essential in this field, as it allows us to tackle complex problems and produce meaningful work.

In addition, I have been actively involved in the Graduate Student Association within my department as well as the Graduate Student Government. This experience was particularly valuable because it allowed me to support the student community, my peers, and develop leadership and organizational skills outside of research.

What are a few of your accomplishments of which you are most proud?

One accomplishment I am particularly proud of is contributing to a peer-reviewed publication as a second author during my PhD. This reflects the effort and collaboration required to generate and comunicate meaningful research. I was also nominated for the Ohio Section American Water Works Association Graduate Scholarship, which recognizes students pursuing careers in the water sector. Being nominated was important to me because it reflects both my academic work and my commitment to the field.

I have also had the opportunity to present my research at several symposiums and conferences. These experiences allowed me to exchange knowledge, receive feedback, and connect with researchers from different areas. Even when others work on different topics, those interactions can lead to new perspectives and potential collaboration.

As a teaching assistant, I interacted with undergraduate students and mentored some of them in the lab, which helped me to improve my communication skills and taught me how to work effectively with people with different backgrounds and personalities.

When do you expect to graduate? What are your plans after earning your degree?

I expect to graduate in Spring 2027. After that, I plan to continue working in research, either in consulting or more broadly within the water field. I am open to both industry and academic opportunities, as long as they are related to research. My goal is to keep working on meaningful problems, especially those related to water quality and treatment.

Do you have any other hobbies or involvements you'd like to share?

Outside of research, I enjoy cooking, baking, spending time with friends, and traveling. I believe it is important to maintain a good balance and not focus only on work or being in the lab.

Featured image at top: Evangelia Anna Passa is pursuing a PhD in environmental engineering. Photo/Provided

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