Members of the BREWS Water Scholars program in front of a water reclamation facility.

Water Institute Relaunches Graduate Fellowship Initiative as UF Water Scholars

The UF Water Institute is proud to announce the relaunch of its graduate fellowship initiative, now rebranded as the UF Water Scholars Program. After a five-year hiatus, the program has been revamped to better reflect its cross-college support and university-wide impact, advancing interdisciplinary water research and collaboration.

The 2024 UF Water Scholars Cohort will focus on the project BREWS: Beneficial Reuse of Wastewater and Solids: Overcoming Barriers and Identifying Opportunities. This diverse, interdisciplinary team will tackle critical water reuse challenges by collaborating with stakeholders—including health professionals, utility companies, regulatory agencies, and community organizations—to pioneer integrative solutions. Their research spans fields such as soil and water science, hydrology, geochemistry, toxicology, eco-health, resource economics, and STEM learning, fostering a research environment that is both innovative and responsive to real-world needs.

Comprised of eight faculty members and eight doctoral-level fellows, the cohort brings together a wealth of expertise.

* BREWS logo created by Tunde Samuel Oluwatuyi.

Participating Faculty

Dr. Mary Lusk, School of Natural Resources and Environment, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Research Focus: Urban nutrient management and sustainable reuse in sensitive watersheds

Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, Geological Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Research Focus: Organic geochemistry and use of biochar and reactive media for contaminant removal from environmental media

Dr. Alexander Reisinger, Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Research Focus: Export and effects of pollutants (including pharmaceuticals and personal care products) to aquatic ecosystems, and how these aquatic ecosystems respond to pollutants

Dr. Davie Kadyampakeni, Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Research Focus: Integrated nutrient and water management to enhance horticultural and row crop production

Dr. Joseph Bisesi, Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions
Research Focus: Environmental toxicology with a focus on the effects of waterborne toxicants in humans and aquatic organisms

Dr. Kent Crippen, School of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
Research Focus: Providing an inclusive and robust science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce

Dr. Katherine Deliz Quiñones, Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
Research Focus: Fate & transport of pollutants and pathogens; environmental microbiology and genomics; sustainable remediation technologies; resilience to extreme weather events

Dr. Kotryna Klizentyte, School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Research Focus: Economic valuation to inform natural resource policy and management decisions