Environmental engineer researching methods to monitor river quality
Pradeep Ramtel is looking to understand long-term changes in the earth's rivers
Pradeep Ramtel has been conducting research on river water since he was an undergraduate student in Nepal. He's continued this work at the University of Cincinnati as a graduate student under the guidance of Associate Professor Dongmei Feng. Here, he is utilizing collected data and machine learning to better assess risks to river water quality and prepare for problems before they arise. Recently, he was named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
Why did you choose UC? What drew you here?
Pradeep Ramtel is assessing the state of the Earth's river water at UC. Photo/provided.
After completing my undergraduate degree in civil engineering in Nepal and gaining two years of industry experience, I decided to pursue a PhD. When I started looking at graduate schools, I connected with my current adviser at UC, Dr. Dongmei Feng. Her research studying the Earth's surface water using remote sensing and machine learning was exactly what I was interested in. From our very first virtual meeting, she was encouraging and genuinely invested in my growth as a researcher, and I knew she was someone I wanted to work with.
What made the University of Cincinnati the clear choice, though, was its culture. It's an R1 research university that also values practical and entrepreneurial skills. I wanted research that could be applied, and UC felt like the place to do that.
Why did you choose your field of study?
During my undergraduate degree, I led a research paper on rivers in Nepal with my mentor at the time, Shukra Raj Paudel. I'm grateful to him for introducing me to research and teaching me to approach real-world problems scientifically. The experience showed me how serious water quality issues are and that many of these issues exist because no one is measuring them. Conventional monitoring stations are expensive to maintain and often difficult to install, so the water quality of many rivers goes unmeasured. If we don't know a problem exists; we can't act in time to solve it. The realization shaped my path and led me to pursue research on low-cost and scalable methods to monitor river water quality.
Can you describe your research work? Why does it inspire you? What problems do you hope to solve?
Pradeep Ramtel was drawn to UC by the research happening in Dongmei Feng's Lab on river water quality. Photo/provided.
My research examines the water quality of Earth's rivers, with a focus on nutrients and sediment. I combine on the ground (in-situ) water quality measurements with remote sensing, environmental data, and machine learning to build models that produce reliable estimates in data-scarce regions and where no measurements exist at all. These estimates help us understand long-term changes in river water quality, assess present-day conditions, and prepare for the future by identifying emerging risks.
What inspires me is that the world around us changes every day, yet we rarely notice it. Changes in river water quality are often slow and gradual, so they go unseen until they become serious problems that harm aquatic ecosystems. My work reveals how rivers are changing and, more importantly, seeks to explain why. That understanding can support better-informed decisions.
I hope to develop methods/models that make river monitoring more widespread and consistent, raise awareness of how our Earth is changing, and support decisions that help protect our rivers and the people and ecosystems that depend on them.
UC is an R1 research university that also values practical and entrepreneurial skills. I wanted research that could be applied, and UC felt like the place to do that.
Pradeep Ramtel PhD student
What are some of the most impactful experiences during your time at UC?
My most impactful experiences at UC have come from both research and my involvement beyond it. Working in Dr. Feng's group on several projects has taught me how to ask sharper questions and grow into an independent researcher. Every day as a PhD student, I learn something new about our rivers and better ways to study them.
I've also learned to communicate research to a wider audience. Participating in events like Pave the Way Innovation Lab and the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition pushed me to explain my work clearly and think creatively under pressure. I've also learned a lot about entrepreneurship at UC, especially how to turn ideas into action and, eventually, into something that can be commercialized. That has changed how I think about the value of my own research.
Finally, working with the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering and the Graduate Student Association to organize events and advocate for students has been deeply rewarding. It taught me that the choices we make affect not only ourselves but also those around us and future generations, and it has helped me become a more considerate person.
What are a few accomplishments of which you are most proud?
I'm proud to have published multiple papers in high-impact (Q1) journals during my PhD. Presenting my work at the American Geophysical Union annual meeting, one of the largest Earth science conferences in the world, has been a highlight each year, and I've been fortunate to receive competitive travel grants to attend several years.
I'm also grateful for the recognition I've received from my department and from my graduate student community. This includes the IRiS Graduate Research Fellowship, the John David Eye Scholarship, and the Dionysiou Conference Travel Award for my research, as well as the Graduate Student Award for Exemplary Service for the initiatives I have led to support fellow students. And being featured as Graduate Student Engineer of the Month is really nice bonus! I am deeply grateful to all who have supported me throughout my journey.
When do you expect to graduate? What are your plans after earning your degree?
I expect to graduate in summer 2027. After earning my degree, I plan to work at the intersection of research and application, where I can continue learning about the Earth we live in while helping turn scientific knowledge into tools that guide decisions about our water and the communities that rely on it.
Do you have any other hobbies or involvements you'd like to share?
Outside of research, I enjoy painting and watching movies, and I love spending time with my cat, Kiki.
Featured image at top: Pradeep Ramtel is pursuing a PhD in environmental engineering at the University of Cincinnati. Photo/CEAS Marketing + Communications.
Related Stories
UC adds master's degree in sustainable energy engineering
August 7, 2023
The University of Cincinnati launched a new Master of Engineering degree program in Sustainable Energy, designed to equip future leaders with the expertise and skills needed to tackle the pressing global challenges of climate change and sustainable energy supply.
UC Ph.D. student receives award for algal toxin-detection research
August 14, 2018
UC research assistant Vasileia Vogiazi received the N.G. Kaul Memorial Scholarship from the New York Water Environmental Association for her work in developing sensors that detect dangerous toxins in algal blooms.
UC alumnus awarded for water infrastructure work
June 20, 2018
UC environmental engineering alumnus Jeff Szabo, PhD, received the Arthur S. Flemming Award for his water infrastructure decontamination work at the EPA.