Emmanuel Nsengiyumva came to Buffalo, New York in 2010 from a Congolese refugee camp in Rwanda. He is currently a doctoral candidate in the UB Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, having earned his BS in chemical engineering in 2016 and MS in 2018. Emmanuel is conducting research in the Laboratory for Interfaces and Self-Assembly, where his work focuses on the water-soluble polymers that are involved in the extraction of unconventional oil and gas. He is interested in polymers that can be utilized in the presence of high salinity water in order to reduce the use of fresh water. This research will prove beneficial to the environment and energy resources. Emmanuel is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Chemical Society (ACS), and the Water Environment Federation. He is interested in protecting the Western New York environment, with a strong focus on water quality. On campus, he is involved in several organizations, including the New York Water Environment Association, Student Support Services, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, and the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). When he is off campus, he enjoys spending time with his wife, a beautiful toddler daughter, relatives and friends. On top of that, he enjoys volunteering at church on Sundays. In 2012, Emmanuel was awarded Phi Theta Kappa membership while a student at Erie Community College. Emmanuel was recognized as the 2014 Cargill Scholarship recipient for outstanding academic achievement and commitment to furthering education in Erie County. In 2016, he was recognized as a Senior Scholar by the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He was awarded a National Institute Standard Technology travel grant (NIST) in 2018. With the support from the WNY Prosperity Fellowship, Emmanuel presented his research at the 92nd ACS Colloid & Surface Science Symposium in 2018. Emmanuel’s future plans include starting his own chemical company that focuses on designing and manufacturing formulated products in the Western New York area. He has great interest in bringing STEM to young students in the local community, particularly those who are underrepresented in STEM fields.