Florence Onyike, from Nigeria, is pursuing a doctoral degree in geosciences at Virginia Tech. As a researcher, she has a strong interest in sustainable water management, particularly using nature-based solutions to address water scarcity, strengthen climate resilience, and improve outcomes for women and children.
Her academic training integrates statistics and geosciences to address water insecurity and land subsidence using Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), a nature-based approach to groundwater sustainability. As a graduate research and teaching assistant at Virginia Tech, she designs and conducts research on groundwater sustainability and MAR systems, teaches undergraduate courses and prepares scientific publications. Previously, she worked as an environmental analyst with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Department, analyzing flood trends and supporting environmental planning.
Florence has extensive volunteer experience with women and children. She mentors middle school girls through Letters to a Pre-Scientist and volunteers and serves as an exhibitor at the Virginia Tech Science Festival, designing and presenting hands-on STEM demonstrations for children in the community. In Nigeria, she volunteered with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, supporting disaster response and child vaccination campaigns. She has also participated in NGOs including The Female Media Network and Afro-Tech Girls, which have benefited numerous young women and equipped them with digital and analytical skills.
In the long term, Florence aims to become a hydrologist, leading research on groundwater sustainability and pioneering innovative MAR-based solutions for underserved communities in Nigeria and beyond, while advancing equitable water access and expanding opportunities for women in STEM.
