When Jena Choi moved from Los Angeles to Whitefish Bay in middle school, she swapped ocean beaches for freshwater ecosystems. Lake Michigan and the area\u2019s abundant rivers fostered a love of kayaking and deepened her appreciation for aquatic systems.<\/p>\n
But it wasn\u2019t until she enrolled in UW-Milwaukee\u2019s School of Freshwater Sciences<\/a> that Choi realized the possibilities of lifelong work in water. At UWM, she has already made meaningful contributions to lab work, snagging multiple awards for her research analyzing water dynamics and quality.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a whole career for science communication, outreach and helping people find resources,\u201d Choi said. \u201cI see myself teaching communities about water quality and water safety.\u201d<\/p>\n Choi\u2019s contributions began even before her first freshman class at UWM, thanks to the university\u2019s summer research program for incoming students<\/a>.<\/p>\n In that program, Choi worked alongside UWM assistant professor and hydrologist Charles Paradis, who charged her with investigating how uranium behaves in soil during a flood.<\/p>\n That work could lead to new ways to clean and protect groundwater in polluted areas. Paradis applies similar research to understand the impacts of road salt on the natural environment.<\/p>\n For Choi, the unique experience revealed how scientific inquiry unfolds in real-time.<\/p>\n \u201cIt really taught me what research looks like,\u201d she said. \u201cEverybody doesn\u2019t know exactly what will happen and it\u2019s up to us as a team to figure it out. And even with no experience coming in, I made a contribution to it.\u201d<\/p>\nAnalyzing water dynamics<\/h2>\n