Doctoral Student Wins Thomas G. Chapman Memorial Fellowship

Kira Zeider, a fourth year CHEE doctoral student, received the Thomas G. Chapman Memorial Fellowship for her trailblazing research on aerosol-cloud-meteorology interactions and impacts on mining communities.

“In recent years, we’ve sought to grow support for our graduate students, whose work is so important to our research mission,” said David W. Hahn, the Craig M. Berge Dean of the college. “The students who have chosen to pursue a graduate degree are taking on the greatest challenges of our time.”

Zeider said her journey to the PhD program had many bumps in the road. After she graduated with bachelor's degrees in both in chemical and environmental engineering, the coronavirus pandemic halted her career plans.

It wasn’t until CHEE professor Armin Sorooshian offered her a graduate research position that she considered continuing her education.

“It made me think about all the opportunities it would open up,” she said. “I had always enjoyed working with students, and pursuing a PhD meant that one day I could become a university professor.”

Zeider harnessed the opportunity to dive into environmental research, which included a project that focused on the water and soil quality of communities living near mines.

“The unique and inspiring aspect of community engaged work means the community members are the ones driving the project,” she said.

Zeider said projects like these have opened doors for her in government and national lab work.

“Four years ago, I felt hopeless and without direction,” Zeider said. “Today I am full of hope, and a huge reason why is because of the scholarships I received during my time at the U of A.”