Cheryl Reuben heard her parents discuss the food scarcity prevalent in their home country of India. Those stories impacted Reuben’s outlook as a child in Eastern Iowa. Her mind opened to precarious environmental issues and the hope that she could become part of the solution.
"In Marion, we draw water from the Jordan aquifer and that water source is depleting,” said Reuben, a University of Iowa chemical and biochemical engineering student who is expected to graduate in May 2025. “It is not sustainable. When you think about it, you can see a lot of issues impacting me and my community.”
Science was not a favorite subject as a young student, but Reuben eventually embraced STEM as her passion for sustainability and the environment grew.
At Iowa, she has worked in and out of the classroom to gain fundamental skills and experiences critical to becoming the difference maker she aspires to be.
At the Atmospheric and Environmental Research Lab, directed by Jun Wang, James E. Ashton Professor of Engineering, Reuben applied Python computer programming skills and machine learning to analyze data measuring air humidity, soil moisture, and soil temperature. Reuben then created predictive models, like weather forecasting but for soil properties, to help farmers manage resources with a goal of reducing erosion and wasted resources.
“She showed excellence in scientific programming with Python as well as excellent working ethics,” Wang said. “She demonstrates the persistence toward making good progress in research, the openness to learn new methods and ideas, as well as the willingness to make changes and accept advice.”
Over the summer of 2023, Reuben interned at the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colorado, with a focus on clean hydrogen energy production. Two professors nominated her for a summer 2024 internship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which had awarded Reuben the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship.
"Cheryl impressed me not only with her politeness but also with her unrestrained enthusiasm for acquiring new knowledge,” said Shaoping Xiao, a mechanical engineering professor who mentored Reuben in machine learning and data analysis and was one of the nominators. “She proved to be a remarkable quick learner, easily mastering complex concepts. Cheryl exhibited qualities of diligence, independence, responsibility, creativity, and productivity as a young researcher.”
Peers have benefited from Reuben’s engagement in clubs, such as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Omega Chi Epsilon, the chemical engineering honors society.
One project was prepping for the Chem-E-Car Competition. As the team co-captain, Reuben spent hours in the lab testing chemical reactions that would propel the car closest to a specified distance.
Reuben was featured in Iowa’s Dare to Discover banner campaign, in which student researchers are displayed around downtown Iowa City. She was also featured in several news articles, including a KCRG-TV spotlight for “Introduce Girls to Engineering Day.”
Unexpectedly, research has become a focal point of Reuben’s present and future goals. After graduation, Reuben plans to pursue a PhD and continue as a researcher with a focus on renewable energy sources.
“As a researcher, you learn how to solve problems and then apply them to real-world scenarios,” Reuben said. “You learn how to adapt and be flexible. Those are skills I will take with me.”