Lai Wa (Julia) Chu

Experience

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  MIT Water Club

  Feb 2021 - now

  Organized a six-part water policy and governance workshop series with guest speakers. Led a class in the MIT Splash Program in spring 2022 to introduce high school students to water-related issues and teach them how to make a water filter with materials found at home. Collaborated with representatives from other clubs to present student input for MIT ‘s Climate Action Plan.

  • Team Member

    Jan 2021 - now

  • Sustainability Coalition Representative

    Feb 2021 - May 2022
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  Engineers Without Borders - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Feb 2021 - now

  Lead a team of 7 members to design an irrigation system for a garden in the village of Mkutani, Tanzania. Successfully planned and completed field assessment trip to collect quantitative and qualitative data in summer 2022. Maintain relationships within the university and with external partners (e.g., other universities, donor businesses) and coordinating the production of a semesterly newsletter

  • Team Lead

    Sept 2021 - now

  • External Relations/Social Chair

    Feb 2021 - now
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  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Jun 2021 - Dec 2021

  Undergraduate Research Assistant

  Investigated quality of soil, produce, grass, and water in 100+ MA-based farms to find any sources of contamination. Performed liquid-liquid extraction and accelerated solvent extraction techniques for 100+ samples in preparation for organic contaminants analysis by the GCxGC machine. Performed dilutions and atomic absorption spectroscopy for 100+ samples to measure heavy metals concentrations. Researched soil screening levels set by EPA and MA and performed literature review on phosphate analysis methods. Show less

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  MIT D-Lab

  Jun 2022 - Aug 2022

  Undergraduate Research Assistant

  Modified traditional cookstoves in six households in the Himalayan Region in Nepal and India and performed water boiling tests to investigate how the modifications affect indoor air quality and fuel efficiency. Created drawings for a psychological projective questionnaire in household energy use survey and interviewed local communities to understand user priorities and home heating needs. Performed literature review on improved cookstove designs and biomass combustion