Student Profile
Riley Blasiak
BS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, May 2022 (expected)
Where are you from?
I’m from Rochester, NY.
Why did you choose UB?
I chose UB for its location and because it offers a great engineering program for an affordable price.
What do you like most about engineering at UB?
There are many opportunities to get involved in clubs, research, and the department. If there is something you are interested in just ask and you can get involved.
Why did you choose to go into engineering?
I originally chose civil and environmental engineering because I wanted to study the interactions of the built world with the natural environment. I have now narrowed this interest into studying green infrastructure and how it can be implemented to benefit multiple aspects of the built environment and society.
What is your favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus is the Lunch Lounge on the 6th floor of the Natural Sciences Complex. You can see almost all of Buffalo from there.
What are you working on right now?
I am working on the steel bridge for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) regional competition. After graduation, I will be studying and modeling green infrastructures’ impact on water quality and quantity in the combined sewer system of the Chicago area.
Riley (second row, far right) with the concrete canoe team at Lake LaSalle on UB's North Campus.
What else do you do on campus and in the community?
I am heavily involved with ASCE and have worked on the concrete canoe and steel bridge projects for multiple years. I also enjoy volunteering with kids who are interested in engineering to grow their passion for STEM.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about water issues and working to solve them using environmentally conscious options.
What are your future plans?
I am going on to pursue a PhD at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the water resources department.
What is your advice for prospective students?
Say yes to opportunities that arise – you never know where something might lead you. Even if it seems like something that you are not sure you’ll like, try it and you might be surprised. Also stay true to your goals and don’t let other people or hard work deter you from working toward your achievements.
Blasiak recently received a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation.