Trisha Sallakonda
From studying plastic pollution correlations to simulating circular economy models for urban waste management and winning 3rd place at her ACSEF
Where Trisha Started
Her Background
- • 10th grader at Emerald High School in Dublin, CA
- • Prior research on plastic pollution and income correlation
- • Earned 4th place at ACSEF with previous project
- • Active in basketball, music, and dance
- • Leadership class member and school event organizer
- • Rated 1/5 in programming experience
Her Goals
- • Continue research on environmental sustainability
- • Present work at conferences and science fairs
- • Publish a peer-reviewed research paper
- • Learn AI and machine learning techniques
- • Build a competitive edge for college admissions
In Her Own Words
"I recently conducted my own research to study the correlation between single-use plastic, ocean waste plastic, tap water plastics, and income. At the YRI Fellowship, I want to continue my research on diverse topics, be able to present these at conferences, and be able to publish a paper."
— Trisha's YRI application, September 2025
The Research
Working with YRI mentors, Trisha tackled a critical environmental challenge: urban organic waste ending up in landfills. She designed simulation models comparing composting and biogas pathways, proving that circular economy strategies can dramatically reduce emissions and recover valuable resources at the household level.
Waste Loop: Simulating Circular Economy Models for Urban Organic Waste Management
Urban organic waste sent to landfills causes methane emissions and wastes recoverable resources
System dynamics and agent-based models simulating composting vs. biogas pathways
Compost potential, recycling potential, biogas generated, CO₂ avoided
Both circular pathways outperformed landfill disposal in emissions and resource recovery
Composting vs. Biogas: A Data-Driven Comparison
Trisha's research filled a gap in the literature by comparing composting and biogas pathways at the household scale. Her simulations showed that composting excels at nutrient recovery, while biogas provides renewable energy and fossil fuel substitution. High-participation households achieved near-complete landfill avoidance, demonstrating that individual action can drive systemic change.
"The results confirm that circular waste pathways outperform linear landfill disposal. Composting excels in nutrient recovery, while biogas provides renewable energy and emission reduction."
— From Trisha's paper
Key Findings
Circular Pathways Modeled
Emissions Reduced vs. Landfill
Landfill Diversion Possible
The Outcome
3rd Place at ACSEF
ACSEF
3rd Place
Environmental Science & Sustainability
High school sophomore (Class of 2028)
4th place science fair, no programming experience, wanted to learn research methodology
3rd place ACSEF with original simulation-based environmental research
The Bigger Picture
Programming skill growth during the fellowship
Improved science fair placement with stronger research
Real-world applications: urban planning, policy, education
Ready to Start Your Research Journey?
Join the YRI Fellowship and work with expert mentors to conduct original research, present at prestigious conferences, and build a profile that stands out.
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