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Name: Melanie Gamboa
Advisor:Karl Linden
Program: 3rd Year PhD Student, Environmental Engineering

I am originally from New Jersey. Although I did not grow up around mountains, I always knew I loved being outdoors and learning about the environment. From an early age, I was drawn to math and science, even though I did not fully understand what engineering was or what a career in engineering could look like.

I attended boarding school in Florida, where I developed an even stronger appreciation for the outdoors and the environment. By my junior year of high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career where I could help protect the environment and improve the lives of the people who depend on it. Environmental engineering felt like the natural fit.

One of my biggest passions is providing access to clean water. My dad is an immigrant from Costa Rica, and his childhood household was always a five-minute walk to drinking water directly from a stream.��

He often says, “Costa Rica has the best water in the world.” My desire to contribute to cleaner water globally comes largely from my childhood. Having spent significant time with my family in Costa Rica growing up, I experienced firsthand the crisp, clear, and unpolluted water near where my dad was raised.��

Those experiences shaped my desire to help make clean and safe water accessible to communities around the world. That passion ultimately became one of the driving forces behind my decision to pursue environmental engineering.

I am now a third-year PhD student working in Dr. Karl Linden’s lab group. My research focuses on applying UV and other light wavelengths to water storage tanks, with the goal of developing sustainable treatment approaches for water-insecure communities. I am particularly excited by the opportunity to work on research that can have a direct impact on access to safe drinking water.

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Melanie Gamboa and her dad in Costa Rica.

I chose CU �Ǹ�Թ� for many reasons, but my experience during Admitted Students Day had a lasting impact on me.��

The professors and students I met were incredibly welcoming and enthusiastic, and I left feeling excited about the possibility of building my future at CU �Ǹ�Թ�.��

I also met many of Karl’s current students that day, and their passion for research and their love for CU �Ǹ�Թ� ultimately had the biggest influence on my decision to attend. They made it easy for me to picture myself as a student here and as part of their research community.

Now that I am here, one of the things I appreciate most about CU �Ǹ�Թ� is the people.��

The students and professors in the Environmental Engineering department are always willing to help, whether that means lending lab equipment, answering a research question, or helping someone navigate course registration. There is always someone around who is willing to lend a hand. That strong sense of community and support is one of the things that has made my experience at CU �Ǹ�Թ� so meaningful.