UTT alumna Devika Rooplal shows how a foundation in Process Engineering can lead to opportunities far beyond one industry - from engineering and laboratory management to major water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
Where can a degree in UTT's Process Engineering take you?

For Devika, the answer has extended beyond a single industry or career path. Her professional journey has taken her from process engineering and environmental laboratory management to quality and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), construction, commissioning and project management, with experience from Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Guatemala and the British Virgin Islands.

Today, Devika is a Project Manager with Toshiba Water Solutions America Inc., having progressed within the organisation from Project/Process Engineer to Senior Project Engineer, Deputy Project Manager and eventually Project Manager.
Her journey began at The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) where she completed the Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc) in Process Engineering, followed by the Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Process Engineering.
Devika was intrigued with the programme because it combined subjects she enjoyed with an opportunity to solve practical issues.

"I was drawn to process engineering because of its combination of science, engineering and problem-solving and its application across a wide range of industries."

UTT's practical approach was another important factor. Rather than learning engineering concepts only in isolation, she gained an understanding of how they work together within real industrial systems. That foundation would later prove valuable as her career moved into increasingly diverse sectors.

During the initial stages of her professional development, Devika gained experience through an internship with bp Trinidad and Tobago and ArcelorMittal. She subsequently joined Kaizen Environmental Services (Trinidad) Limited, progressing from Laboratory Supervisor to Laboratory Manager and eventually Analytical Services Division Manager.

Her career later transition into water and wastewater infrastructure, where she steadily advanced into senior engineering and project leadership roles.

From engineering calculations to leading projects, Devika also manages multidisciplinary water and wastewater projects from planning and engineering through procurement, construction, commissioning and operational handover.
Her responsibilities extend well beyond technical calculations. They include scheduling, budgeting, contract administration, procurement and logistics, stakeholder management, subcontractor coordination, quality, HSE and ensuring that facilities perform as intended.
Her development reflects her belief that prospective students should understand that being qualified in the field of process engineering, does not restrict graduates to one career or one industry.

"My process engineering foundation at UTT has supported a career spanning process engineering, water and wastewater infrastructure, environmental laboratory management, quality and HSE management, procurement, commissioning, construction and project management."

One of the experiences at UTT that helped prepare Devika her career was her final-year industry-based design project, "Optimisation of the Unilever Caribbean Wastewater Treatment Plant." The project required her team to apply the knowledge they had developed to a real industrial wastewater-treatment challenge.

The experience also introduced her to systems thinking and problem solving that remain central to her profession. The project was supervised by Dr Ejae John, Associate Professor, Process Engineering, whom Devika credits as a mentor in both her academic and professional development.

Devika also developed technical skills in process analysis, equipment and process design, data analysis and troubleshooting all in which have become equally important throughout her career.

Among her professional milestones was successfully helping to lead the transition from ISO/IEC 17025:2005 to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 within laboratory operations. In 2017, she was also selected to participate in the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme in India, where she completed specialised training in sewage-treatment processes at Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited.

For students considering UTT's Process Engineering programme, Devika believes it is important to look beyond the traditional perception of process engineering as a pathway primarily into oil, gas and petrochemicals.
Process engineers can contribute to water and wastewater treatment, renewable and sustainable energy, food and beverage production, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, utilities, waste management, environmental services, quality management, process optimisation, project management and sustainable infrastructure, among other areas.

For the next generation of students considering UTT's Process Engineering, Devika's journey offers a simple message: your first degree may be where the journey starts but it does not determine where it has to end.
View the programme here for more information -  https://utt.edu.tt/?wk=23&programmes=1&utt_programme_key=169