Samantha Juedemann is a sixth-year doctoral student in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering. Originally from Boonsboro, Maryland, Juedemann was drawn to Marquette by the enthusiasm and collaboration within the Water Quality Center. Juedemann’s research focuses on access to safe and sustainable drinking water.
This year, Juedemann was named one of eight Marquette doctoral students to receive the Arthur J. Schmitt Fellowship, an award designed to support graduate students who show exceptional promise as leaders committed to positive social change. The fellowship not only recognizes academic excellence but also empowers scholars to develop leadership skills that extend beyond the lab and into their communities.
For Juedemann, the fellowship has been transformative. “The Schmitt Fellowship has given me the space to explore skills essential to becoming an inclusive and thoughtful leader,” she says. “I practice these skills in the lab when supervising research and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, helping them find confidence and curiosity in their own work.”
Working under the guidance of Dr. Brooke Mayer and supported by funding from the Department of Defense, Juedemann’s research focuses on virus inactivation in water through innovative disinfection systems used in direct potable reuse, the process of recycling treated wastewater into safe, drinkable water. Her findings have the potential to strengthen global water security and ensure universal access to affordable and safe drinking water.
Juedemann’s interest in the field stems from a desire to apply her engineering background to real-world infrastructure challenges, including combined sewer overflow systems, outdated disinfection technology, and water scarcity. “I wanted to help modernize the systems that so many communities depend on for public health,” she explains.
The Schmitt Fellowship has also deepened her sense of purpose as a leader in the water industry. “The fellowship’s weekly discussions and cohort have been engaging and inspirational,” she says. After graduation, she hopes to continue advocating for public access to clean, navigable, and drinking water, bringing her research and leadership experience together to promote equitable water policy and practice.
Juedemann encourages other graduate students to apply for the fellowship, viewing it as an opportunity to enhance both academic and personal growth. “Stay connected to the passion that inspired you to pursue your doctoral degree,” she advises. “And think about how you can contribute not just to Marquette, but to your community and the broader world.”
In addition to her research, she volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, enjoys cooking, playing spikeball at Bradford Beach, and relaxing with a book or movie alongside her cat.
In April, she plans to present her research on virus inactivation using UV light advanced oxidation processes at the 2026 Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) Conference.
Through her research, mentorship, and leadership, Samantha Juedemann exemplifies the mission of both Marquette University and the Arthur J. Schmitt Fellowship which develops scholars who lead with purpose, compassion, and impact.
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