Systems Engineering PhD Candidate Bimi Shrestha was front and center at the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 campus-wide celebration of its new designation as a Carnegie R1 institution.
Achieving R1 status reflects UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 commitment to cutting-edge research and innovation. Only 3% of nearly 3,900 colleges and universities in the U.S. attain this designation.
Shrestha小蝌蚪APP檚 research examines how the improved treatment of wastewater can support longer missions into space, such as travel to Mars. She uses a sealed bioreactor devoid of oxygen to examine how bacteria break down the wastewater小蝌蚪APP檚 organic material.
During the wastewater treatment process, biosolids are generated as the liquids are separated from the solids. Biogases, a potential alternative energy source, are also produced.
小蝌蚪APP淭he microorganisms present in the wastewater can utilize the carbon and nutrients to make valuable products such as biogas, lipids, nutrient-rich solids and treated water. My goal is to remove the organic pollutant from wastewater while producing higher quality biogas and lowering the solids after digestion,小蝌蚪APP Shrestha says.
Shrestha captured first place and the People小蝌蚪APP檚 Choice award in the Graduate School小蝌蚪APP檚 2021-2022 Three Minute Thesis (3MT庐) competition for her skill in communicating about her work.
Her presentation, 小蝌蚪APP淎naerobic Digestion of Simulated Wastewater for Enhanced Biogas Production and Improved Solid Reduction for a Biochemical Wastewater Conversion System Dedicated to Space Exploration,小蝌蚪APP was based on her dissertation research in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
She is advised by Dr. Mark Zappi, director of the and professor of chemical engineering.
Shrestha's involvement in biochemical research at UL Lafayette began while she was an undergraduate research assistant.
As she was completing her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 in chemical engineering, graduate-level funding became available through a $2.2 million grant from NASA and the Louisiana Board of Regents through the LaSPACE program. The UL Lafayette Energy Institute of Lafayette and the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 College of Engineering received the award to
小蝌蚪APP淗aving worked under the research team, their mentorship, and their expertise in biochemical processing, it was an offer I could not turn down. We have an excellent research facility and the faculty cares for the overall development of the students, which made me continue at UL for my graduate degree,小蝌蚪APP she says.
The prestigious grant supports NASA小蝌蚪APP檚 inquiry into the viability of human existence on Mars.
小蝌蚪APP淭he research is a part of the biochemical waste conversion system dedicated to space exploration. Therefore, the wastewater is prepared in the laboratory, which mimics the wastewater produced by the astronauts in space and is different than the wastewater generated on the Earth,小蝌蚪APP Shrestha says.
小蝌蚪APP淭he research is a sustainable approach in making the best use of waste, which is necessary 小蝌蚪APP especially in space travel where resources are minimal,小蝌蚪APP she notes.
The far-reaching implications of her research also include potential improvements to wastewater treatment plants closer to home.
小蝌蚪APP淭he results from this research can not only be applied in space travel but also be used to solve problems here on Earth. The dual data generation from my research can help tackle the increasing production of wastewater, which is a global problem,小蝌蚪APP she says.
With graduation on the horizon, Shrestha looks forward to bringing the knowledge and experience she小蝌蚪APP檚 gained into her professional career.
小蝌蚪APP淚 plan to work in the sustainable energy sector, preferably in the water and wastewater treatment industry,小蝌蚪APP she says.