Student Profile: Tiffanie Torrey
Tiffanie Torrey graduated from the University of Georgia in 2025. During her time as an undergraduate, she worked in the Industrial Microbiology Laboratory at the UGA New Materials Institute, under the direction of Dr. H. Travis Ichikawa. Torrey pursued a double major in ecology, through the Odum School of Ecology, and plant biology, through the Department of Plant Biology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
Researchers in the UGA NMI’s Industrial Microbiology Laboratory focus on sustainable production of biopolymers that includes recovery and reuse of processed water.
Tiffanie Torrey spoke with us about her experiences working at the UGA New Materials Institute and how her experiences might impact her future. Her full interview is below.
How did you become interested in studying materials science?
Based on today’s climate, we need more sustainable materials made with the environment in mind, to help conserve and protect our ecosystems and food systems.
Provide some details on your specific area of interest.
In my time at the New Materials Institute, I have largely worked with the cyanobacteria called Synechocystis spp. and its application in the bioremediation of wastewater.
How has your experience with the New Materials Institute influenced your academic trajectory or career goals?
I’m going into environmental consulting post-graduation, but my experience at the New Materials Institute has largely helped shape my thought processes as well as my understanding of how industry works.
Describe a project or research you’ve worked on related to the NMI.
The project I’m currently working on is exploring the environmental advantages to culturing the cyanobacteria Synechocystis within municipal wastewaters.
What challenges have you faced in your work, and how have you overcome them?
Coming from a background not at all in material science meant I had a steep learning curve, but time and continual hands-on work very quickly helped me overcome this challenge.
How do you see your work at the UGA NMI contributing to global sustainability efforts?
Waste reduction is something I believe the UGA NMI is largely contributing towards, as well as understanding of the materials that are not recycled or compostable, such as where they end up and how long of a lifespan they have. This kind of data is essential to understanding our consumption as consumers and therefore meeting consumers where they are with sustainable materials, so that we decrease overall mismanagement of materials that get lost in the environment.
What skills have you gained from working at the UGA NMI that you believe will be the most valuable in your future career?
As I’m not going into material sciences, something most valuable to me is the way that I’ve been trained to think and problem solve here at the UGA New Materials Institute.
What advice would you give to other students interested in being involved with the UGA NMI?
I would always encourage someone to try it out when given the opportunity, especially if you don’t have a background in it, as I don’t. It can be really rewarding to get out of your comfort zone and learn more about something outside of your course work.