Teaching/Mentorship

My teaching philosophy centers around the belief that effective instruction is grounded in the latest research and is responsive to students' interests. I strive to integrate my research into the classroom to cultivate an engaging learning environment and to keep students up-to-date with the most recent scientific advancements. This approach helps students recognize that science transcends theoretical knowledge and is integral to solving real-world problems, while simultaneously allowing me to learn from their reactions and perspectives. To enhance this experience, I prioritize providing students with hands-on exposure to laboratory settings, both indoors and in fieldwork. This immersive approach not only deepens their understanding of scientific concepts but also fosters critical thinking and practical skills. ​Engaging students in real-world contexts is essential for helping them appreciate the relevance of science in everyday life and encouraging them to become active participants in the learning process.

ENE 262: Introduction to Environmental Engineering

Semester: Fall

Year: 2024

Undergraduate - 26 students

This course introduces the interdisciplinary science, engineering, design, and management concepts of engineered environmental systems. Also, it will cover environmental parameters, mass balance and natural systems, water quality management, water and wastewater treatment, air pollution control, noise pollution, and solid and hazardous waste management. 

EEN 321: Solid and Hazardous Waste Treatment

Semester: Spring

Year: 2024

Graduate: 12 students

This course provides an in-depth understanding of solid and hazardous waste characteristics and management. It covers the planning, legal, and engineering aspects of liquid and solid hazardous waste treatment and disposal.  This course surveys all aspects, including the traditional, emerging, and controversial issues associated with solid and hazardous wastes, while focusing on issues most relevant today.

421: Advanced Wastewater Treatment

Semester: Spring

Year: 2023

This course focuses on the application of theory and engineering experience to the design of unit operations for the treatment of wastewater. Information presented includes detailed descriptions of the equipment and advanced treatment processes used for odor control, pure oxygen activated sludge treatment, solids removal from secondary effluents, residual solids management, enhanced biological control including nitrogen and phosphorus removal, and wastewater reclamation.

Mentorship 

Semester: Spring

Year: 2024-2025

I consider mentoring students to be a vital component of the educational experience. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to mentor several undergraduate students, particularly those interested in water resources and environmental engineering.

Recently, I was honored to receive the NRES Fellowship from Kansas State University, through which I have actively mentored students on their senior capstone projects. This project focuses on evaluating salinity concentrations in tap water across the K-State campus and examining their correlations with parameters such as temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). Our objective is to understand the spatial variation of salinity levels at different points—upstream (entry), midstream, and downstream—within the campus water distribution system and assess their potential short-term effects on human health. To achieve this, our team selected eleven buildings across the campus, each representing one of the three distribution stages. Water samples were collected and analyzed in the Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory to measure salinity and other key parameters. Using the collected data, we applied multiple indices to conduct a human health risk assessment.