• BS, Physics
• MS, Civil (Environmental) Engineering: Ultraviolet disinfection for drinking water treatment

• PhD, Civil (Environmental) Engineering: Remediation of radiologically contaminated groundwater at WVDP

Shannon Seneca, PhD, REHS/RS, EIT is a Haudenosaunee environmental engineer. She completed a bachelor of science in physics and then moved into civil engineering for her graduate studies. Seneca's master’s work was focused on drinking water treatment, while she gained expertise in geochemistry, contaminant hydrology and groundwater remediation during her doctoral studies. Graduating in 2012, she was the first female Native American to earn her PhD in engineering at UB. Seneca obtained ecosystem restoration training and experience through the University at Buffalo’s National Science Foundation IGERT Ecosystem Restoration through Interdisciplinary Exchange (ERIE) program. For almost a decade, she worked with the Seneca Nation and served as the Seneca Nation Health System's environmental health director. She briefly worked with the Center for Indigenous Cancer Research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute as an assistant faculty member to respond to Indigenous community desires to see more active environmental health cancer research. She brings in diversity as an Indigenous person and as an environmental engineer delving into environmental health to tackle the impact of environmental contaminants on human health. As a research assistant professor with the Department of Indigenous Studies, she strives to be a part of many interdisciplinary teams as each individual brings unique backgrounds to the table to solve large scale problems together.