Michelle Duarte (she/her) is a PhD candidate in chemistry at Concordia University supervised by Prof. Rafik Naccache. Her research focuses on the development of carbon-based heterogeneous catalysts for the esterification/transesterification reactions of waste cooking and non-edible vegetable oils to produce biodiesel. Having worked on projects related to water remediation during her undergrad studies, Michelle’s fascination with sustainability and green chemistry persisted into her master’s program, where her project focused on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes using more environmentally friendly carbon sources for water treatment applications. Michelle is driven by her passion for green chemistry, and sustainability and her desire to address environmental challenges. She is also interested in entrepreneurship, aiming to translate academic research into real-life technologies. As a Connections Ambassador for Beyond Benign, she is committed to promoting green chemistry and encouraging the next generation to embrace sustainability.