Dr. Svetoslava Todorova|PhD, MPA, BCEEM, EnvSP
Dr. Todorova (Svetla) is an engineer, researcher, and educator with a broad preparation and experience in hydraulics, aquatic chemistry, and limnology. She worked as a design engineer before completing her graduate degrees at Syracuse University and starting an academic career. Svetla was a science observer during the intergovernmental negotiations that led to the development of the United Nations’s Minamata Convention on Mercury. She continues to be involved with the United Nations Environmental Program and is a member of the Open-ended Scientific Group that is tasked to develop the framework for the evaluation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Svetla likes to do interior painting and decorating. She loves to travel and has been to five continents.
Current Group Members
Ghulam Qasim| Research Associate, Environmental Engineering
Qasim’s research expertise is in environmental monitoring and remediation. He is currently investigating the biogeochemical interactions between mercury and dissolved organic matter and their effects on mercury methylation in meromictic lakes. His prior work addressed environmental challenges through the development and application of sustainable materials. Qasim received his PhD in Environmental Engineering from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea. Qasim loves to cook and to travel.
William Tetley | Research Associate, Electrical Engineering
Bill currently works as a consultant on environmental engineering projects. He taught electrical Engineering at Syracuse University for 20 years. Prior to that he worked at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation for five years. He uses his experience to develop datalogging systems to measure water quality in streams and other environmental systems. Bill also works with students on these datalogging systems. Bill enjoys traveling through the Finger Lakes Region of NY where he explores the geology and environment of the region.
David Coghiel | Graduate Research Assistant, Civil Engineering, NSF GRFP Fellow
David is currently pursuing an M.S. degree in Civil Engineering. He is working on developing low-cost carbon dioxide sensor units to gain a better understanding of the effects of urban traffic and development on air quality. David grew up in the Bronx, New York City which led to him gaining a love for urban infrastructure. He plans to use his research and engineering background to lead in the development of sustainable infrastructure in impoverished areas.
Husna Tunje | Undergraduate Research Assistant, Environmental Engineering
Husna is currently pursuing her B.S degree in Environmental Engineering. She is assessing the stormwater quality function of the established extensive green roof at the Syracuse Center of Excellence. Outside of her academic pursuits, Husna has a passion for nature photography, reading fiction novels and baking delicious treats. Her mission in life is to leave positive impact wherever she goes and has a dream of making meaningful change in the world.
Jasmine Rodriguez | Undergraduate Research Assistant, Mechanical Engineering
Jasmine is currently pursuing a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Renewable Energy Systems. Having begun her academic journey in Environmental Engineering, she has a passion for using technology to better understand and counteract the effects of climate change on our world. Being from Miami Florida, she has a special appreciation for the water systems of the natural world and the importance in monitoring and protecting them. Jasmine plans on pursuing graduate school after completing her undergraduate education, with a goal of working in the renewable energy field.
Naomi Imhoff | Undergraduate Research Assistant, Environmental Engineering
Naomi is currently pursuing a B.S. degree in Environmental Engineering. She is working on analyzing the mercury content within Green Lakes and Glacier Lakes. Naomi has loved the outdoors for a long time by hiking with her family. Her goal in life is to find innovative ways to help protect the environment as well as making them accessible.
Elliot Salas | Undergraduate Research Assistant, Environmental Engineering
Elliot, an aspiring astronaut, is currently pursuing a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. His work involves developing a water quality monitoring system for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to safeguard water resources. Under the Clean Water Act, various agencies monitor lakes, streams, rivers, and other water bodies to assess water quality conditions. Elliot’s expertise in sensors, coupled with his environmental analysis skills, positions him well for future space exploration. Analyzing the environment will be invaluable when he eventually travels to space!
Former Group Members
Mengyi Zhang| M.S.
Mengyi has focused on determining loads of nutrients into Skaneateles Lake as part of a larger effort to predict the harmful algal blooms occurring in the lake. She has a B.S. degree in Architectural Environment from Qingdao Technological University, Shandong province, China. Mengyi likes hiking, playing Ukulele, photography, and stargazing. Mengyi completed an M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering and is currently working as a water resource engineer at ZEST, LLC in Maryland.
Jacob Sardino| B.S.
Jacob worked on optimizing a water filtration device for communities that lack a centralized potable water system. Jake has always been captivated by the natural world. From a young age, he examined the behavior of local deer or have someone explain to him how waterfalls are formed. Jacob completed a B.S. degree in Environmental Engineering and is now working at C2AE in Syracuse, NY.
Jinzhi Cai|B.S.
Jinzhi worked on optimizing a low-cost water quality sensor unit by developing and testing a central data processing system that allows for continuous transfer of data from the sensor unit, storing and uploading the information on a cloud server, and making it available to the end-user. Jinzhi completed a B.S. in computer engineering and continued to earn an M.S. degree in Robotics from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Francisco Rodriguez| B.S.
Franciso worked on optimizing a low-cost sensor unit for monitoring water quality in small rivers. He participated in field and laboratory work, deploying and trouble-shooting multiple units within Skaneateles Lake watershed. Francisco was recognized with an honorable mention at the 2021 SHPE Engineering Science Symposium for his work on the project. Francisco completed a B.S. in electrical engineering and is currently working in INFICON, Syracuse, NY.
Madalyn Bozinski|B.S.
Madalyn was a chemical engineering student who examined mercury and dissolved organic carbon dynamics in the meromictic Green Lake in Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville, NY. For her honors thesis, she focused on understanding how methylation of mercury is influenced by the production of low and high molecular weight organic material. Madalyn is currently working as a process engineer at IBM.
Gerardo Martinez|M.S.
Gerardo completed a doctoral degree in the Colorado School of Mines and is currently working as a water resource control engineer at the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.