Two Yale graduate students awarded environmental research scholarships

Two Yale graduate students are among 12 individuals awarded scholarships by the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF).

EREF scholarships recognize graduate students pursuing excellence in solid waste management research and education. Recipients are chosen based on credentials and potential contributions to the solid waste industry and its scientific community.

Riley Coulthard, a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, was named the Fiessinger Doctoral Scholar for her project, titled “Carbon Nanotube Enabled Technology for Reclamation of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Combustion Residues.” The goal of her project is to develop a nanomaterial-enabled technology to extract rare earth elements from large volume solid wastes, specifically targeting coal combustion residuals. By creating an economic incentive to improve recycling, Coulthard hopes to redefine the notion of “waste” and generate resources from some of the country’s largest solid waste streams.

Serena Pozza, an MBA candidate at the School of Management, was named the Garbageman’s Invitational Master’s Scholar for her project, titled “How Closed-loop Production Systems Can Reduce Waste.” Pozza’s research aims to best understand what business and regulatory incentives may drive companies to change, by design, their products, processes, and business models to bring about closed-loop systems. In her research, she strives to scout, analyze and promote ways for green chemistry and material science to enhance the feasibility of such systems.

EREF is a charity that funds and directs scientific research and educational initiatives for waste management practices to benefit industry participants and the communities they serve. For more information, visit the Environmental Research & Education Foundation website.