As the Dean of Students Affairs at Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), his vision centers on the philosophy that “Technological and Social Interventions can bring Sustainability.” In a world filled with challenges, he believes that the power to transform lies within each of us. His mission is to help students discover and nurture their latent talents, ensuring they realize their full potential. In this pursuit, he see every individual as a unique stone, capable of being meticulously chiselled to reveal an inspiring and timeless masterpiece. While there is immense randomness around, he encourages students to cultivate a keen eye to connect the dots within that randomness, unlocking hidden opportunities and treasures that drive both personal and societal growth.

He has over 25 years of teaching and research experience in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is currently serving as both the Dean of Students Affairs and as an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at the School of Technology, PDEU. He also lead the university’s team as a Schedule-I Auditor for the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and am an Executive Member of the Indian Meteorological Society Ahmedabad (IMSA).

His educational journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad (1999), followed by an M.Tech in Environmental Engineering and Management (2006), and later, a PhD in Urban Microclimate, both from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (2015). In addition to this, he has authored a book “Elements of Civil Engineering,” now in its fourth edition, which is widely used as a textbook across many Indian engineering colleges. He holds a design patent for a roadside green shelter kiosk using bamboo and have published 19 research papers in international journals, which collectively have garnered over 1,178 citations (h-index: 11; i-index: 13). He along with his co-authors have presented more than 75 research papers at International and National conferences and have visited countries like the USA, UK, Japan, Canada, Egypt, Dublin, Singapore, France and Australia for scientific deliberations.

He has 5 doctoral students under his supervision, each pursuing research on topics ranging from air pollution and groundwater contamination to solar energy and sewage sludge treatment. His research interests are diverse, covering critical areas such as Urban Climate, Heat Islands, Air Pollution (Indoor and Outdoor), Satellite Meteorology, Climate Smart Agricultural Practices, Ground Water Modelling, Sewage Sludge, Wastewater Treatment, Solar Energy Harvesting Potential and Green Buildings (Energy Modelling and Conservation). He is particularly focused on role of technology and data driven strategies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Through his research, he aims to bridge the gap between economic profitability and environmental sustainability, and am exploring solutions that can be scaled for real-world impact.

Over the years, he has successfully secured funding to a tune of Rs 25 million + for various projects from esteemed organizations such as ISRO, BRNS, DST, ICSSR, and CSIR. Currently, He is engaged in several major research projects, including:

Smart Sustainable Agriculture Villages – Developing climate-smart agricultural practices to support productivity and sustainability goals.
Urban Air Quality Assessment – Analyzing satellite data to assess air quality.
Hygienized Organic Manure Production – Utilizing gamma radiation for sustainable manure production.

Additionally, he is involved in various minor projects focusing on topics such as intelligent transportation, nanofiber filtration and green buildings.

Throughout his career, he feels fortunate to receive several awards in recognition of his research and teaching contributions:

National Weather and Climate Hackathon (WATCH-2024) – 2^nd Runner-Up.
Senior Scientist International Travel Grant by DST, Government of India (2023).
Best Poster Award – Indian Space Research Organization (2020).
Summer Innovation Challenge – Winner, Government of Gujarat (2018).
Visiting Fellow at Lamar University, Texas, USA (2017).
Best Paper Award – International Association of Urban Climate (2015).
Young Scientist International Travel Award from DST, Government of India (2011).

Other notable awards include the International Travel Grant from PanIIT-GAA and EURASAP, recognition from institutions such as the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Beyond his personal achievements, my mentorship has facilitated significant accomplishments by students. Notably:

Best Research Project 2022 by the Gujarat Cleaner Production Centre.
Youth Club ‘Envirocrats of PDPU’ emerged the Winners of the Green Campus Challenge 2016

In his early years, he has received the Best Speaker Award from the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) multiple times and won prestigious National Debate Competitions.

At PDEU, he is committed to empowering students, enhancing our university’s culture, and driving initiatives that promote sustainability, resilience, and innovation. As the Dean of Students Affairs, he envisions cultivating a vibrant, supportive environment that allows students to thrive, express themselves, and make a lasting impact.