Meet Jena, a BS in Freshwater Sciences student who graduated in Fall 2025.
Jena Choi’s experience in the undergraduate Freshwater Sciences program at 51ÁÔÆæ School of Freshwater Sciences helped her build confidence, gain hands-on research experience and clarify how she wants to make a difference in Milwaukee. During her time as an undergraduate, Jena’s coursework combined fieldwork, lab research and real-world problem-solving. She has been heavily involved in the SURF program through the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) on campus and even worked for OUR as an administrative assistant. Additionally, she graduated with honors from the 51ÁÔÆæ Honors College. Outside of academics, Jena volunteered her time to help Freshwater outreach efforts, often working annual events like the Harbor Fest open house.
Through countless research projects and national conference presentations, she learned how to take ownership of her work and share scientific knowledge with broader communities. Jena earned an Outstanding Presentation Award at the 51ÁÔÆæ Research Symposium and plans to continue her education through the Accelerated Master’s Program at the School of Freshwater Sciences. Her goal is to graduate career-ready and contribute directly to freshwater research and impact in Milwaukee.