Mariana Lanzarini-Lopes credits her holistic education at UD for finding her passion — and subsequently, her success — in engineering and teaching.
After graduating with a degree in chemical engineering, Lanzarini-Lopes is an assistant professor of environmental engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research and lab work with students focuses on ultraviolet radiation for water treatment, including surface disinfection and biofilm prevention.
Lanzarini-Lopes has been working as a co-founder of Optical Waters since 2020. She and her business partner develop and license new technologies to improve water quality and sustainable surface disinfection. Her work with the Massachusetts Water Research Authority and other utilities providers helps bridge research to application to improve drinking water quality.
Her commitment to sustainable technologies stems from her experience at UD, where one of her ETHOS immersions included designing off-grid refrigeration systems in India. The experience also instilled a sense of community and a drive to serve.
UD's Diversity in Engineering program and staff also left a lasting impression, giving Lanzarini-Lopes tools she needs to be successful as a whole person, not just an employee. She now models her teaching style and care for students after the holistic education she received at UD.