We Are Loureiro: Jonathan Synott
January 24th, 2024
Loureiro is pleased to acknowledge Engineer 1 Jonathan Synott, who recently passed his Engineer-in-Training (EIT) exam. Jon started at Loureiro as an intern between his junior and senior years as an undergrad student at UConn where he was completing his studies as a chemical engineering major.
“I didn’t have a ton of experience at the time,” Jon recalls when he was seeking out an internship. “I applied at Loureiro and got an opportunity in the facilities engineering department which was a completely new experience for me. I had been taking classes, but this was the first real engineering work I got to do. I took a lot of things away from my internship, and by the end of it I received an offer to come back full-time.”
Jonathan, who always had an interest in chemistry when he was growing up, enjoyed the environmental aspect of the projects he worked on during his internship, noting that finding solutions to environmental problems is a huge part of the work Loureiro undertakes. Since taking a full time position, Jonathan’s role encompasses a healthy mix of work in the office and work in the field. Depending on the day or week, he can be found calibrating pH probes, taking vapor readings, inspecting ventilation systems, and drafting up reports and proposals for clients.
“I work on a lot of wastewater projects, and do a lot of stormwater sampling and soil vapor extraction. One thing I appreciate about my role is the variety of projects I get to work on. It keeps everything fresh, and I’m always learning something new.”
For Jonathan, it’s all about a pursuit for knowledge – the desire to learn more about the field he’s working in and the greater purpose behind each and every procedure and system.
“Understanding the background and the purpose behind why we’re doing something, why certain systems are in place, why they are running, how they are running – that’s all very important to me,” says Jonathan. “The work we do at Loureiro isn’t busy work; it’s important work that has a tremendous effect on people and the environment.”
Jonathan appreciates the environment Loureiro has cultivated where seeking out advice or possible answers to puzzling questions is encouraged.
“I’ve been lucky to work with a lot of qualified individuals who have a lot to offer in terms of knowledge,” says Jonathan. “There’s a lot to know in this field, so you can’t be afraid to ask questions. Anytime something is confusing, people at Loureiro are always willing to step up to help.”
While studying at UConn, Jonathan worked as a sports editor for the school’s paper, traveling with and writing primarily about the UConn Men’s basketball team - a role that ultimately ended up helping him in his career.
“I like watching and reading about sports, so writing about it was something I enjoyed. It was a great experience. I met a lot of people, and it helped me develop writing skills that I’ve been able to apply to my work to this day.”
Outside of Loureiro, you can find Jonathan playing golf and reading. He’s planning on running a half marathon this year in Mystic, Connecticut. In terms of his future, he’s mostly concentrating on the present.
“I can take my PE exam in a few more years,” Jonathan says, “so I’m thinking about grad school down the road. Until then, I’m just focused on learning more every day.”
