Meet Njideka “Syndi” Nnorom. Nnorom is a fifth year Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice University. Nnorom is from Arizona and is a Rice Graduate Student Ambassador. Ambassadors are students who represent the university and help prospective students gain knowledge of student life as a graduate student at Rice.
Nnorom chose Rice as a graduate school because Rice is a NEWT (Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment) School. Her research focuses on synthesizing polymers for implementation in water treatment and purification systems. When she is not conducting research, she is serving in various leadership roles within the Rice community.
She has served in multiple roles with the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Graduate Student Association (CHBE GSA) and is a part of the Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA) on campus.
“Having that community has kept me engaged and here,” said Nnorom.
Nnorom tells prospective students that being prepared is not only limited to academics but also being prepared to live in the school’s location.
“Talk to as many graduate students as you can to help prepare,” said Nnorom. “I had a car but did not know where to go.”
Outside of academics, Nnorom enjoys the various food places in Houston and considers themselves a foodie. Nnorom enjoys eating at food halls such as Post Houston and boxing and watching anime.
Graduate ambassadors can be contacted via email at gradambassadors@rice.edu. Syndi Nnorom can be contacted directly by email at ncn2@rice.edu