Curriculum vitae

CV

Surendra Pradhan, PhD

E-mail address: surendra.pradhan@gmail.com

Contact Number: +358 400973372

KEY EXPERIENCES

I have over 15 years of experience in project management, proposal writing, grant management, stakeholder management, resource management, monitoring and evaluation. I have worked with INGOs and various stakeholders, including the private and public sectors. My international experience spans Ghana, Nepal, and Finland. I possess extensive knowledge in the Circular economy, waste management, waste recycling business, sanitation-related climate resilience, and food security.

WORK FOCUS

·         Design, execute, and manage research and development projects in the circular economy, waste management, nutrient recycling, food security, livelihoods, and public health.

·         Expertise in technology development, experimental design, data analysis, and stakeholder management.

·         Demonstrate the benefits of nutrient recycling for food security.

·         Successful grant writing and donor management, securing funds from the Ministry of Environment (Finland), EU Nordic, IFAD, Gates Foundation and other foundations.

·         Focus on practical applicability in research and technology development.

EDUCATION

·         Ph.D., Environmental Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

·         Master in Public Health (MPH), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

·         Master in Science (MSc), Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

·         Bachelor in Science (BSc), Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

WORK EXPERIENCES

2019 to present, Researcher/project manager at the University of Eastern Finland and visiting researcher at the University of Helsinki.

·         Designed and initiated the PNExt process to treat sewage sludge, faecal sludge, septic waste, human urine, reject water, and other waste.

·         Extracted nitrogen and phosphorus from sludge to produce mineral fertilizers.

·         Secured and managed project grants from various foundations.

·         Mentored four students and collaborated with four stakeholders: the wastewater treatment plant in Helsinki, Neste Porvoo and the University of Eastern Finland.

·         Developed a business model for the newly developed PNExt process.

·         Collaborated with Apex College, Nepal, on the “Hygienize and Recycle Septic Waste Using PNExt process”.

·         Designed agronomic trials to test the mineral fertilizer produced from our process.

·         Designed a project about “organic fertilizer production from municipal and Fecal sludge (FS)” in Uganda for a sanitation company.

·         Design a Greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation from the WASH project for a consultant.

·         Piloted mineral fertilizer production from urine in Pokhara and Nawalparasi, Nepal

2015- 2019,   Worked as a project manager in the NPHarvest project at Aalto University,

·         Developed the NPHarvest technique to treat human urine and wastewater, producing mineral fertilizer.

·         Secured a three-year project from the Ministry of the Environment (Raki2 project), Finland, and additional funds from EU Nordic (Climate Kic project).

·         Coordinated with collaborators (Helsinki wastewater treatment plant, Nordkalk, Gasum, Biolan, etc), organized meetings, developed donor reports, and authored several articles.

·         The project also extends the study for the environmental impact assessments, baseline survey, feasibility study and market analysis for the NPHarvest process and products. The results were published on various platforms (can be seen in the publication segment).

·         Developed a business model for the pilot plant producing ammonium sulfate fertilizer from urine, and tested its fertilizer value in cabbage (agronomic trial).

·         Mentored four master’s students and taught courses on circular economy, waste recycling and environmental health.

2012-2015, Worked as a Post-doctoral fellow in IWMI (International Water Management Institute) Accra, Ghana.

·         Gathered data from 152 small and medium-scale waste recycling projects, including WASH projects worldwide, to produce a waste recycling business catalog and guidelines. These catalogs are published (see publication section).

·         Built a greenhouse, and composting platform and rehabilitated fecal sludge (FS) treatment plants. Trained urban farmers and field workers on FS treatment, recycling and reuse as fertilizer.

·         Developed a new process to produce recyclable fertilizer products from septic waste and municipal solid waste, created pellet fertilizers, and studied their fertilizer value in agronomic trials.

·         Developed a business model for sustainable waste recycling and food security in collaboration with the private and public sectors. Implemented the public-private partnership (PPP) model in Accra.

·         Conducted projects in Ghana in collaboration with Slamson Ghana, Jekora Venture, Valley View University, Ghana University, Accra municipality, DECO farming Tamale and others. Collaborated with INGOs, such as SNV and RUAF. Conducted a detailed study of DECO farming in Tamale and analyzed their business model.

·         Contributed to several other projects in roles of monitoring, evaluating, and supporting other research groups.

·         Converted rice husk and fecal sludge into biochar and mixed it with other waste to improve fertilizer quality. Tested the fertilizer quality of these products in tomato cultivation. 

·         Supervised several interns and field workers in Ghana and Nepal.

2010-2012, Research worker at the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio campus.

·         Conducted research on sewage sludge to biogas production. This study investigated the effect of iron, aluminum, and the presence of Microthrix parvicella in sludge on biogas production. The study found that iron, aluminum and Microthrix parvicella did not affect biogas production.

2005-2010,    Ph.D. candidate at the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio campus,

·         Carried out waste to food security projects in Finland and Nepal, mainly focusing on urine fertilizer. I had several responsibilities, including project management, budgeting, monitoring and evaluating the sub-contract of some projects, collaborators management, data analysis, reporting, publication, etc.

·         In Finland, an eco-sanitation to food security project tested the fertilizer value of urine and wood ash in cabbage, red beet, pumpkin and tomato. The agronomic trial was successfully conducted and the result showed that urine fertilizer is as good as mineral fertilizer.

·         In Nepal, constructed toilets in Schools and households. Rehabilitate the villagers' unused toilets. Built a water supply network and a drinking water tap for the school and the community. Conducted waste recycling for food security and livelihoods projects in Nawal Parasi, central Nepal. The fertilizer value of urine and wood ash was compared with mineral fertilizer and animal manure in radish, cabbage, and potato cultivation. Demonstrated eco-sanitation as a safe and affordable technique for food security and environmental protection. The local people learned that the use of freely available urine fertilizer helps in food security and livelihood. They also learned that 4 L of urine has a similar fertilizer value to 1 kg of animal manure.

·         Conducted a community survey on the people’s attitudes toward the use of urine for food security.  Demonstrated the way of making urine fertilizer safer to use by storing it for one month.

·         Supervised two master’s students. Managed several collaborators in these projects – Kuopio wastewater treatment plant, Tribhuvan University Nepal, Local NGO, local women's group Mainaghat, government schools (Chitwan, Nawalparasi) in Nepal, etc.

2001-2004- Lecturer at Tribhuvan University, Nepal

·         Teaching at Tri Chandra College and Birendra Multiple College of Tribhuvan University. Practical and theoretical classes were taught to the Bachelor of Science students.

AWARDS AND HONORS

·         Received Patent sign rewards from Aalto University,

REFERENCES

·         Dr. Eila Torvinen (eila.torvinen@uef.fi) Department of Environmental Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.

·         Dr. Helvi Heinonen-Tanski (helvi.heinonentanski@uef.fi) Department of Environmental Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland,  (Emirates)

·         Dr. Padam Shrestha (padamleads@hotmail.com), Executive Director, Livelihoods Education and Development Society (LEADS), Nepal

·         Dr. Drechsel Pay (p.drechsel@cgiar.org), Resource Recovery and Reuse, CRP5, International Water Management Institute, 127, Sunil Mawatha, Pelawatte, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka.

TRAINING

·         Personal skill development training (Sri Lanka and Ghana).

·         International biogas training (IBBK-2010), Germany.

Language skills: Nepali = Native language,        English = Professional,        

Computer skills: Microsoft Office, SPSS, ArcGIS (basic), MS Project, R

MOST RELEVANT ARTICLES:-

.        Pradhan, S.K., Viskari, E-L. Nagy, J., Heinonen-Tanski, H., City Sanitation - a Potential Source of Human Waste as Fertilizer for Enhancing Food Security. Sanitation (accepted 2025)

II.     Pradhan, S.K., Heinonen-Tanski, H., Veijalainen, A.M., Peräniemi, S., Torvinen, E., Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge Using Acidithiobacilli. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 7135. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137135

III.  Pradhan, S.K., Cofie, O., Nikiema, J., Heinonen-Tanski, H., 2019. Fecal Sludge Derived Products as Fertilizer for Lettuce Cultivation in Urban Agriculture. Sustainability 11 (24), 7101.

IV.  Pradhan, S.K., Mikola, A., Heinonen-Tanski, H., Vahala. R., 2019. Recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from human urine using membrane and precipitation process. Journal of Environmental Management, 247, 593-602.

V. Nartey, G.E., Amoah, P., Ofosu-Budu, K.G., Muspratt, A., Pradhan, S.K. 2017 Effects of co-composting of faecal sludge and agricultural wastes on tomato transplant and growth. Int J Recycl Org Waste Agricult. DOI 10.1007/s40093-016-0149-z

VI.  Pradhan, S.K., Piya, R.C., Heinonen-Tanski., H. 2011. Eco-sanitation and its benefits- an experimental demonstration program to raise awareness in central Nepal. Environment, Development and Sustainability. 13, 507-518. DOI: 10.1007/s10668-010-9273-5.

VII.                               Heinonen-Tanski, H., Pradhan, S.K., Karinen, P. 2010. Sustainable sanitation-a cost-effective tool to improve plant yields and the environment. Sustainability, 2, 341-353. Books (B)

1.      Resource Recovery from Waste: Business Models for Energy, Nutrient and Water Reuse in Low- and Middle-income Countries, Chapter II. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781317703785

2.  Yield and quality of vegetables fertilized with human urine and wood ash. PhD dissertation 2010 featured in Savon Sanomat. http://www.savonsanomat.fi/savo/virtsasta-apua-nalkaongelmaan/1046847

Research reports (D)

1.  Pradhan S.K., Mikola, A., Sihvonen, M., Vahala, R., 2018. Nitrogen and phosphorus harvesting from liquid waste using gas permeable hydrophobic membrane (GPHM) - NPHARVEST: – End-Product Market study. Aalto University publication series SCIENCE + TECHNOLOGY, 4/2018. https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/34140

Article in Newspaper (E).

1.    Surendra Kumar Pradhan. Sustainable waste management. The Kathmandu Post, Publication date, 2022/8/25. Source- https://kathmandupost.com/columns/2022/08/25/sustainable-waste-management

Patent (H)

1.  The developed technique is applied for the patent “Production of mineral fertilizer from liquid waste (Patent) (https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2017140957A1/en)

2.       Membrane reactor, wastewater treatment arrangement and method (Patent owned by Aalto University). https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2023111398A1/en