The dream.

As a ten-year-old, I witnessed my mother's battle with malaria, which nearly claimed her life. It was a harrowing experience that profoundly impacted me, and I decided to become a medical doctor to help others in similar situations. Seeing how doctors were highly respected in the community compared to the average farmer made me realize that this was the path I wanted to take. In Rwanda, where over seventy percent of the population relies on agriculture, it's easy to notice how doctors stand out. I grew up in the Musanze region, where subsistence farming is the norm. I saw firsthand how much time and effort my relatives put into farming, yet they earned only trivial incomes that could barely sustain them. While my family was better off than most households, we didn't make significant profits from the maize venture we were into, and I wouldn't say I liked the idea of relying on farming as my sole source of income. I thought becoming a medical doctor would allow me to save many lives, and I also wanted to bring honor to my family name. 

As a master's student, I am researching the prevention of underground water contamination caused by excessive use of fertilizers. This is a significant concern in my community and the United States. As a researcher, I can recommend policies and apply decision-based technologies to prevent groundwater pollution from agricultural practices, potentially benefiting many people in my local community. I plan to introduce nutrient management practices, modernized farming, and advanced monitoring tools to large-scale agriculture in my community. This can significantly impact people's lives in my community, and I am excited to see how it will turn out. 

My research.

My research is centered around the Earth’s vadose zone, which is the thin layer of the Earth extending from the land surface to groundwater. Specifically, I am looking at the impact of reactive nitrogen species and heavy trace metals, their transformation, and how anthropogenic activities impact their transformation to protect groundwater resources. It's a fortunate coincidence because most previous studies have used the vadose zone as a monitoring tool.

In my line of duties, using packages such as ArcGIS, remote sensing, modeling, cracking Python, R-studio, and Arduino has been handy in dispatching my responsibilities as a research assistant. I never knew I could be so skilled in handling several software programs, but the exposure I got from UNL has been invaluable. Throughout my academic journey, I have been fortunate to have instructors guide me; from choosing the right combination of courses to taking the first steps in research. While some instructors have impacted me since my undergraduate days at UNL, my advisor, Dr. Arindam Malakar, has significantly impacted my journey as a graduate student. His guidance has been instrumental in shaping my career path.

To balance work and life on campus, I have taken up playing volleyball to stay fit. I am an active member of the SNR volleyball team and plan to become even more involved in the department. Despite enjoying steaks and mashed potatoes, I miss my traditional African cuisine. I listen to Central See's uplifting songs to relax, which help me unwind and ease my mind.