We’re thrilled to welcome Amber Lopez, who will be joining the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems this fall as a graduate student working toward her Master’s Degree.
As part of her recruitment to the University of Georgia, Lopez was awarded a Graduate Fellowship Award, which will cover one year of her funding.
Lopez also received an Honorable Mention from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program (NSF GRFP), which is a big achievement: the NSF GRFP only awarded 1000 fellowships instead of their regular 2,000 awards, and an honorable mention is the runner-up award.
Join us in getting to know Lopez through our recent Q&A:
Tell us about yourself:
I am originally from South Florida and grew up spending a lot of time outside and at the beach. Though I have always loved playing sports, I became an avid runner in high school and have continued to run for fun throughout college. My dog Romeo is my running companion and adventure buddy, and we spend a significant amount of free time hiking through the woods and exploring new places. Even though I am the oldest of three girls, I am definitely a tom-boy that would rather be outside in the dirt then inside watching a movie.
How did you get inspired to get involved with this field?
Throughout my undergraduate, I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of several different research projects in South Florida and abroad. I was a member of two NSF IRES Programs, one in Ghana and the other in Ecuador, that allowed me to grow in my understanding of water resources and sustainability, and these experiences helped confirm my desire to work alongside local communities and address water-related issues. Upon finding Dr. Santiago’s involvement in coastal resilience through engineering solutions, I knew I had found a lab that aligned with my interests and desires.
What are you most looking forward to about your new program?
I am most looking forward to being able to learn how to create models address coastal flooding issues in communities that are the most susceptible and vulnerable to harm. Growing up along the South Florida coast, hurricanes forced my family to evacuate multiple times. I cannot imagine living in a coastal community that lacks proper warning systems and adequate evacuation assistance, and I want to use my graduate experience to help solve this problem, one community at a time.