Raven Althouse
PhD Environmental Engineering
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
The more you learn, the more you’ll realize there’s so much you don’t know: It’s okay to not know things. What’s important is being willing to learn.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
Prioritizing my mental health, particularly when transitioning to a new program and city during lockdown.
What's your favorite impulse purchase from the past 12 months?
A new pair of running shoes!
Please describe a little about your research and what excites you about it.
My research focuses on microbial processes in engineered water systems. Currently I’m investigating the use of novel archaea in membrane biofilm reactors (MBfRs) to remove dissolved greenhouse gases. Understanding that this research will be a piece to the puzzle of combating global climate change is extremely exciting to me, particularly considering this research has the possibility of one day helping to lower, and possibly even eliminate, the greenhouse gas emissions that water treatment systems currently produce.
If you could choose any other profession outside of engineering or computer science, what would it be?
If I had to choose a profession outside of engineering, I would explore interior design (or be a farm hand on a dude ranch).
What are some factors that helped you decide to pursue your PhD at USC?
When deciding on attending USC, there were a few things that set Viterbi apart from other programs I had applied to. First, I loved how much freedom I was given as a PhD in choosing the courses for my degree. While there are of course required core courses, having the power to choose electives that I think are relatable and valuable to my research, regardless of the department by which they’re taught, is extremely unique and I love the interdisciplinary approach. Second, I wanted to go to a school that offered the opportunity to not only be a research assistant, but a teaching assistant as well. Wanting to go into academia in the future, this is an extremely valuable way for me to learn what goes into teaching a course, and to help me strengthen my skills as an educator. Lastly, by observing the atmosphere created by the students, faculty, staff, and alumni, I knew USC would offer not only a rigorous education, but a supportive environment as well as a valuable network both during and after my time at Viterbi.
If you were to recommend to an incoming student 3 places to go in California/Los Angeles, what would they be?
Although LA has so much to offer and explore, sometimes it’s nice to get out of the city rush for a bit and have a change of scenery. For that reason, I recommend incoming students check out Descanso Gardens, Chino Hills State Park, and Normandy Village.
What is a memory you'll cherish about your time at USC?
I love getting together with fellow PhDs outside of the lab—whether it’s going out for a meal after a long day in the lab, watching movies at someone’s apartment, or exploring a new part of the city together, those memories mean so much!
What's one thing about you that might surprise me?
I’ve been to the Greenland Ice Sheet!
What are your plans after graduation?
’m hoping to go down the path of applying to be a post-doc for a few years before securing a faculty position at a university.
Hometown (city, country):
Rebersburg, PA, USA.
Personal Website (if any):
USC Smith Lab website: https://www.smithresearchusc.com/
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Adam Smith
