A systemic leader and social change engineer
CV
Professional Summary
I am a Masters of Environmental Studies (MES) student specializing in Sustainability Management in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development at the University of Waterloo. I recently graduated with a Bachelors of Applied Science (BAS) specializing in Environmental Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 2020. I have a wide range of research, work and community involvement experience. My passions focus on a sustainable future through industry and education. I have various technical and soft skills such as, public speaking, data analysis, professional writing, and MATLAB. My passion, drive and hard work always lead me to be a key component to every team I've been apart of and the work I've done has left lasting contributions.
Skills
Outreach Communications Social Media Public Speaking
Leadership MATLAB Total Station Spectrophotometer
Adobe Photoshop, In Design & Illustrator Microsoft Suite
Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Acid Digestion Loop Antenna
Work Experience
Sept. 2020 - Apr. 2021
Environment Faculty Teaching Assistant
University of Waterloo
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Assisted undergraduate students in the Environment and Business program with their Capstone Projects through detailed report feedback and one-on-one meetings
Sept. 2018 - Apr. 2020
Assistant Volunteer Coordinator
Frontier College
Frontier College is a non-profit organization that provides free tutoring services to children and youth in the community
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Lead seven team members in recruitment and program planning
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Management and data tracking of six tutoring programs in the community
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Maintenance of volunteer database to track and manage member involvement
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Coordination duties for recruitment events including advertisement, internal scheduling, and supervision
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Created presentations and conducted training sessions
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Improved organization presence within the Waterloo Region by writing blog and Facebook posts
Aug. 2019 - Apr. 2020
Hult Prize Campus Director
The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business
Hult Prize challenges young people to solve the world’s toughest issues by empowering them to make for-good for-profit businesses.
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Communication and coordination with teams, mentors, judges and volunteers
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Organized five events with over 100 participants
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Promotional material design, and social media management
May 2019 - Aug. 2019
Affordable Energy for Humanity (AE4H) Project Assistant
Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE)
AE4H is a global consortium of researchers and practitioners committed to ending energy poverty through the sustainable deployment of clean technology
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Collaboratively planned conference for sustainable energy experts to tackle the energy access challenge. Including transportation for international participants, communications materials (agenda, website, advertisement materials, etc) and catering.
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Reported on the energy access challenges and solutions that were identified during the conference and their connections to complex systems
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Advertised AE4H Queen Elizabeth Scholars opportunity to undergraduate students through promotional materials and social media
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Compiled an informational database about social impact engineering in response to identified shortcomings of UW Campus communications to undergraduate students
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Supported the Sustainable UW initiative on becoming carbon neutral by 2050
Jan. 2018 to Dec. 2018
Mine Impacted Water Treatment Research Assistant
University of Waterloo
Dept. Chemical and Nanotechnology Engineering: Mine Impacted Waste Water
Conducted selenium treat-ability study on raw mining wastewater by running a series of photocatalytic reactions
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Scaled and tested treatment process to increase reaction kinetics and volume
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Optimized photocatalytic reaction conditions within design parameters using reaction data statistics
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Modelled degradation of Selenate in mining wastewater through photocatalysis using MATLAB and ANSYS FLUENT
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Converted a stationary batch-scale reaction system to a flow-through system
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Designed and constructed a flow-through reaction system by re-outfitting an existing stationary batch-scale system
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Designed an industrial-scale continuous flow-through reactor system based on research findings
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Collected experimental data by preparing reaction samples for acid digestion and conducting ICP analysis
Sept. 2016 - Jun. 2018
Engineering Education Research Assistant
University of Waterloo
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Engineering Education
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Wrote paper for publication at the American Society of Engineering Education conference on student learning through hands-on activities
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Analyzed and documented research related to engineering education through online surveys, class grades and reflection reports
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Designed activities and wrote grants to improve Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering curriculum with design team
May 2017 - Aug. 2017
Field Research Assistant
University of Waterloo
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Open Channel Flow
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Tracked sediment transportation using loop antenna and total station
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Analyzed precipitation in streams by monitoring water levels with gauging station
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Assessed empirically and theoretically proposed particle size prediction equations by modelling with MATLAB
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Documented literature related to geomorphology and open channel flow of northern Ontario rivers
Jan. 2017 - May 2017
Waste Water Lab Research Assistant
University of Waterloo
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Anaerobic Bioreactors
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Monitored Anaerobic Bioreactor efficiency through measuring total and solid carbon oxygen demand (TCOD and SCOD) with photo-spectrometer
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Measured total and volatile suspended solids (TSS and VSS) levels throughout the reactor with microfibre filters
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Analyzed lab data to confirm proper reactor performance through normalizing data with calibration
Sept. 2016 - Dec. 2016
Waste Management Project Assistant
The Region of Waterloo
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Conducted research on different waste management techniques and sustainable energy resources with waste management team
Aug. 2015 - Apr. 2016
Operations Technician
The Regional Municipality of York
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Configured installation and maintained traffic lights through configuring and managing communication equipment with XML scripts
Education
2020 - Current
School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, University of Waterloo
Masters of Environmental Studies (MES), Sustainability Management
2014 - 2020
University of Waterloo
Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS), Environmental Engineering
2014
Organisme de Séjours Educatifs Français
High School International Schooling Experience
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS) (2014)
Saskatchewan Graduated Drivers License (2012)
Apr. 2020 - Apr. 2021
Newcomer Online Mathematics Tutoring
Frontier College
Frontier college is a Canadian national literacy organization with a focus on providing free literacy support to students and adults within Canada.
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work with elementary and middle school students who have newly immigrated to Canada
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review and complete online mathematics and science course material during school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic
May 2016 - Dec. 2019
Communications, Co-President & VP Internal
Engineers Without Borders - University of Waterloo Chapter
The chapter works to support the national organization with its goal to end global poverty through systemic change.
Communications (May 2019 to Dec. 2019)
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promotional material design, photography of events, and sharing of chapter events and projects on social media
Co-President (Jan. 2018 to Apr. 2019)
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led and coordinated a team of six executives
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ensured appropriate communication within the club and acted as liaison between the executives and the national organization
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hired a Junior Fellow to go overseas to work on an EWB project by coordinating advertisement, interviews and pre-departure preparation
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projects operating within the organization include: running youth workshops, developing podcasts, fundraising events, organizing week-long Waterloo visits for African professionals, hiring a fellow to contribute to an international project, developing ethically minded UW course material incorporated into first year courses
VP Internal (May 2016 to Dec. 2017)
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coordinated one day retreat for executives to gain leadership skills, be exposed to inspiring projects and to do long term chapter planning
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organized housing, meetings and schedule for two Professionals from Africa
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participated in chapter outreach on and off campus: High School presentations, on campus booths, social events and podcasts
Apr. 2019 - June 2019
Reading Buddies Program Tutor
Frontier College
Frontier college is a Canadian national literacy organization with a focus on providing free literacy support to students and adults within Canada.
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read and played educational literacy games with elementary school students
Sep. 2016 - Jun. 2017
Somalian Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (SCAWR) Program Tutor
Frontier College
Frontier college is a Canadian national literacy organization with a focus on providing free literacy support to students and adults within Canada.
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provided homework assistance to elementary and high school students
Jan. 2017 - Dec. 2017
Outreach Volunteer
Women in Engineering (WIE)
Women in Engineering (WiE) supports current female engineers, students and encourages the next generation of women to pursue careers in engineering.
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lead tours, activities and workshops with the outreach team to inspire female high school students and their parents
May 2015 - Aug. 2015
Clubs Coordinator
Federation of Students (Feds)
An organization on campus of the University of Waterloo which works to be a support and a voice for the students. They manage all clubs, events and advocacy on campus.
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Maintained appropriate communication to support all charity clubs by answering questions, emailing updates and ensuring member satisfaction
Oct. 2015 - Mar. 2016
Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) Program Volunteer
Southlake Regional Health Center
Southlake is a health centre dedicated to positive patient experience. HELP is specifically designed to help elderly patients who after an accident experience a state of delirium. Contributions;
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Aid patients with activities and games to stimulate positive brain activity
Jan. 2015 - Apr. 2015
Teaching Assistant
The Esperanza Project
An after school English program in the Dominican Republic for children in the community. Teaching the students is done through fun games and projects to keep students engaged.
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Planned and lead science, math and art classes
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Coordinated and helped students with an after school photography club, fashion club, and hair club
Extracurricular & Volunteer
2022
Canada Graduate Scholarship - Masters (CGSM)
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
A scholarship of $17500 to a masters student for their masters thesis . The objective of the scholarship is to help develop research skills and assist in the training of highly qualified personnel by supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies.
2021
School of Environment, Enterprise and Development First Scholarly Publication Award
An award of $1000 given to a master’s student in any SEED graduate program who publishes, as first-author, their first peer-reviewed publication.
2020
University of Waterloo Graduate Experience Award
An award of $5000 given to an incoming master’s student with an outstanding application based on community leadership and academic achievement.
2017
SaskPower Scholarship
An award of $1000 given based on community leadership and academic achievement.
2017
Sir Sandford Flemming Work Term Report Award
A $300 award given to the student with the highest quality work term report. Report written on particle size prediction in gravel bed streams using theoretical models proposed in literature.
2017
Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
This award is a $5000 scholarship aiming to support students assisting with natural sciences and engineering research to stimulate their interest and to encourage them to undertake graduate studies.
2017
Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) Grant
Research of Dr. Rania Al-Hammoud
Formulated grant application for “CivE Days: Enhancing Student Learning by Providing a Failure Risk Free Environment and Experiential Learning Opportunities”
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valued at $5,000 – granted (July 2017)
Formulated grant application for “Strengthening Student Knowledge through Instructional Videos of Hands-on Activities”
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valued at $30,000 – granted (December 2016)
2017
First Place Poster Competition
Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA)
Created a poster on the research done for the project, “Strengthening Student Knowledge through Instructional Videos of Hands-on Activities” and presented it at the annual CEEA Conference. The first place award was given based on project impact, quality of poster and presentation.
Awards
Publications
Sustainable Menstruation
Farley, K., Tariq, M., Giesinger, K. (Accepted 2022). Sustainable Menstruation in Canada: bridging the gap between social and environmental menstrual issues. Northern Blood.
Economic Development
Giesinger, K., Wilson, J. (2021). The System of Economic Development and its Complexity. Economic Development Journal of Canada.
Mine Impacted Water Treatment
Holmes, A., Ngan, A., Giesinger, K., Gu, F. (Accepted 2022). Tunable Production of Elemental Se vs H2Se Through Photocatalytic Reduction of Selenate in Synthetic Mine Impacted Brine: Engineering a Recoverable Se Product. ACS ES&T Engineering.
Holmes, A., Giesinger, K., Ye, J., Milan, E., Ngan, A., & Gu, F. (2019). A non-biological option for Se removal by photocatalytic reduction of selenate in mine-impacted water containing high concentrations of sulfate and nitrate. Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA) National Conference.
Holmes, A.B., Giesinger, K., and Gu, F. (in preparation). Factors affecting kinetics of photocatalytic reduction of selenate over TiO2 in mine impacted water. For submission to Chemosphere.
Holmes, A.B., Giesinger, K., Ye, J., and Gu, F. (In preparation). Selective removal of Se through selenate specific photocatalytic reduction over TiO2 in the presence of nitrate and sulfate in mine impacted water. For submission to Water Research.
Engineering Education
Giesinger, K., Phillips, S., Al-Hammoud, R., & Carroll, C. (2018, June). CivE Days: Enhancing Student Learning by Providing a Failure Risk Free Environment and Experiential Learning Opportunities. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
Gibson, C. Giesinger, K. Al-Hammoud, R., & Brodland, W. (2018, June). Strengthening Student Knowledge Through Instructional Videos of Hands-on Activities. Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA-ACEG).