Dr. Amanda Carneiro Marques is an Assistant Professor in the Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department at Drexel University, with research expertise in water quality monitoring and modeling, environmental tracers and stable water isotopes, and sustainability and climate change research.
Amanda’s research focuses on assessing water demand and supply projections under climate change scenarios, sustainable ways to manage multiple water uses and strategies to promote future water availability. She also employs long-term data assessment, environmental tracers, and modeling to evaluate drinking water supply quality to support decision-making. Working on international collaborative projects with research institutions and environmental conservation agencies, her research envisions to identify contaminant patterns in surface water, investigate potential pollutant sources and pathways, explore surface-groundwater connections using environmental tracers and stable water isotopes, and model drinking water quality to understand how changes in management practices can impact water resources. She also has professional experience working on water treatment and distribution systems and watershed management.
Amanda is enthusiastic about empowering students and disseminating her knowledge to build a plural and cooperative community, working towards making science more accessible, equitable, collaborative, and inclusive. She is personally motivated by developing effective, long-lasting solutions, contributing to the advancement of hydrological sciences, enabling further translation of science to potential policy impacts.
Mentoring/Advising
Graduate Students
Meghna Rajbhandari: Meghna joined our research group to pursue her PhD in Civil Engineering in the Summer 2025. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Kathmandu University, Nepal, and worked for a year as a Research Assistant after graduating. Meghna then moved to the US to pursue her Master’s degree in Computer Science at Drexel University. With an interdisciplinary background in Environmental Engineering and Computer Science, Meghna brings a unique perspective to her research in computational approaches for addressing critical water, environmental, and climate concerns. She is interested in applying machine learning algorithms and modeling techniques to develop sustainable solutions for water resources. During her PhD, Meghna is motivated to contribute to innovative research that bridges technology and environmental stewardship. Outside academia, she enjoys hiking and has explored several trails in upstate New York and Pennsylvania. She also loves cooking Nepali cuisine, finding comfort and home through her recipes and flavors.
Gbenga Daniels: Gbenga joined our research group to pursue his PhD in Civil Engineering in the Summer 2025 after graduating earning his Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Louisiana State University. Gbenga earned his Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Civil Engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, in 2021. Gbenga has adeptly applied data-driven approaches and artificial intelligence to enhance wastewater treatment technologies. His professional experience spans over 1.5 years in Civil and Environmental Engineering consulting, where he has significantly contributed to project management and innovative engineering solutions. His research interests include water resources engineering, water quality modelling, climate change impacts, and advanced wastewater treatment technologies, all through the lens of data-driven engineering. Outside of his professional and academic pursuits, Gbenga enjoys a variety of interests including soccer, chess, swimming, and playing both lead and acoustic guitar.
Undergraduate Students
Jake Black: Jake is an Environmental Engineering student at Drexel University, transferring from Raritan Valley Community College, where he earned an associate degree in Chemical Engineering in 2022. He has a strong passion for sustainability, with a particular focus on water resources, treatment, and water quality. Jake has conducted qualitative research exploring effective public engagement strategies to enhance community involvement in urban climate resilience planning. He has completed two engineering co-ops at AstraZeneca, where he focused on process improvement and the integration of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to boost operational efficiency and reduce waste. Driven by a desire to design sustainable processes and solutions, Jake is joining the water research team to deepen his expertise in urban water resource management and strengthen his skills in GIS software. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a career in environmental consulting with an emphasis on sustainability. In his free time, Jake enjoys traveling, photography, hiking, and just about anything outdoors.
McKayla Procopio: McKayla is a fifth-year physics major from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Her third co-op at Colliers Engineering & Design pushed her to continue to explore Civil and Environmental Engineering upon her return to campus for her senior year. She is interested in learning more about spatial analysis and its application to water resources. In her free time, McKayla enjoys exploring the New Jersey Pine Barrens, finding a new show or movie to watch, and getting coffee with friends.
Nana Kwasi Owusu: Nana Kwasi Owusu is a junior undergraduate at Drexel University majoring in Data Science. His work centers on applying machine learning and predictive modeling to generate actionable insights, with personal projects that include time-series forecasting and classification. Nana’s research interests are broad, and he is excited about problems where data can meaningfully inform decisions in areas such as finance, health, and urban systems. Beyond academics, he plays table tennis, soccer, and enjoys strength training.
Hetvi Shah: Hetvi is a first-year Honors student at Drexel University majoring in Chemical Engineering. She is interested in water quality, sustainability, and data-driven solutions. Hetvi is eager to explore how GIS, statistical tools, and modeling can be applied to environmental challenges. She has leadership experience in community-based environmental initiatives, particularly through her work coordinating volunteers and outreach for nonprofit organizations. On campus, she is also an active member of the USGA, contributing to projects that enhance the student experience. Outside of academics, Hetvi enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and exploring new coffee shops.
Collaborators
Atiq Rahman: Atiq Rahman is a graduate in Environmental Engineering and has worked for the Philadelphia Water Department’s Water Quality Compliance Modeling since 2019. He is interested in managing and improving the water quality of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers so that the city can continue to provide its residents with clean drinking water. In his free time, he likes to read fantasy novels, mend his jeans, and take siestas with his cat.
Alumni
Kate Singh: Kate is a rising water resources engineer pursuing dual bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental engineering at Drexel. Her academic journey has been complemented with substantial involvement in research and nearly two years of professional experience. She has cultivated skills in stormwater and flood management, environmental policy development, drinking water PFAS treatment design, coastal resiliency planning, and project management. After graduating, she hopes to work in environmental consulting, focusing on flood resilience planning. In her free time, you’d find her baking cakes, crocheting, crafting, roller skating, or paddleboarding!
Chris Sherman: Chris is a dual degree student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Drexel. He grew up along Barnegat Bay in New Jersey, where he ignited a passion for aquatic ecology and environmental engineering. He has worked at the Philadelphia Water Department and Pennoni in his Co-ops, and he currently works part time for KS Engineering. After graduating he plans to work with water, be it in stream restoration, water resources, or waterfront engineering. In his free time, he likes to climb at Drexel’s rock wall or Tufas boulder lounge, or he spends time hanging out and watching movies with his friends.
Helen Ford: Helen is a fifth-year Environmental Engineering major from Raleigh, North Carolina. She fell in love with fieldwork during her first two co-ops with the Philadelphia Water Department, and got a taste for 2D design working with Langan Engineering for her third. She hopes to pursue a position that involves both fieldwork and design after graduating, preferably in green stormwater management or ecological restoration. On her down time she likes to read science fiction and fantasy, work on her latest story idea, or draw in her sketchbook.
Sam Musselman: Sam is an environmental engineering major at Drexel, having transferred from Delaware County Community College in 2022. He grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania and worked for several years in construction before returning to pursue his academic goals. Outside of school he can be found hiking in Wissahickon Park or throughout Pennsylvania, hanging out with his niece and nephews, or struggling with the New York Times crossword. His plans for after graduation include moving to the Pacific Northwest and finding a job working outdoors in environmental remediation or ecological restoration.
Josh Fulton: Josh is a fifth-year civil engineering student with a professional concentration in transportation engineering. He has experience in construction cost estimating, buying, and project management. He is from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and moved to Philadelphia to attend Drexel University. His hobbies include but are not limited to going to the gym, fishing, skiing, swimming, and running. After graduation, he hopes to get a job in construction management where he will be able to develop both technical and social skills in the workplace.
Kathryn McFarland: Kathryn is a 4th year Environmental Science major from Downingtown, PA with a passion for aquatic and ecological restoration. Her love for water began with the STAR Scholars Program, where she investigated algae composition on coastal shoreline stabilization infrastructures in New Jersey. She then gained experience with water treatment and source water management during her first co-op at Aqua, PA. For her second co-op, she headed to the Philadelphia Water Department, where she worked in a freshwater mussel hatchery propagating and researching freshwater mussels’ filtering capabilities as a form of tidal freshwater wetland restoration. In her free time, she can be found enjoying the outdoors, relaxing at home with a good book or tv show, or hanging out with friends and family. She hopes to continue a career in aquatic research and restoration!
Shahryar Ali Zafar: Shahryar is a 1st year Mechanical Engineering major at Drexel. Shahryar’s interest in water management sparks from a family of civil engineers and he is primarily interested in researching spatial applications in water resources. His additional research interests are designing and manufacturing. On his free time, Shahryar enjoys swimming, badminton, Formula 1 racing, and playing soccer, being a huge FC Barcelona fan.
Luissiemmy Perez: Luissiemmy Perez is a first year Materials Science and Engineering Student, honors student, and liberty scholar at Drexel. She is interested in learning about manufacturing processes, machine learning, and engineering for sustainability. Also, Luissiemmy is passionate about mentoring youth in STEM, so she volunteers as a middle school robotics competition judge through FIRST.
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