Current Members
Doctorate Students
Eunice O Babatunde– Doctorate Student Researcher
Email: moh21@txstate.edu
: Eunice Babatunde
: Eunice Omotolani Babatunde
Bio: Eunice Babatunde is a dedicated civil engineer and researcher with a solid academic background and a passion for environmental sustainability. She earned her B.Eng in Civil Engineering from Covenant University, Nigeria, in 2018, followed by an M.Sc. in Engineering from Texas State University in 2023. Currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization at Texas State University, Eunice focuses on developing innovative water treatment solutions.
Her research spans key areas such as water quality, wastewater treatment, and pollution remediation, with a particular interest in using biochar for environmental applications. Eunice is committed to addressing global water challenges by making affordable water treatment technologies available to municipalities and communities, especially those with decentralized water systems. Through her work, she hopes to enhance access to clean water, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
Research Topic: Enhanced Vapor Extraction of Trichloroethylene (TCE) Using Engineered Biochar: Adapting Remediation Technologies for Climate Resiliency
Portia Agyemang– Doctorate Student Researcher
Email: nkz17@txstate.edu
: Portia Agyemang
Bio: Portia Agyemang holds a Master of Science degree in Integrated Water Resources Management from Technische Hochschule Köln, Germany in 2024. She is equipped with comprehensive knowledge and skills in sustainable water management, addressing the complex challenges of water scarcity and quality. Portia is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization at Texas State University with a specialization in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, where she is expanding her research to bridge the gap between environmental science and engineering innovation. Her doctoral research centers on the development and application of advanced materials for hydrological and environmental protection, aimed at enhancing sustainability and mitigating environmental degradation.
Research Topic: Assessment and implementation of suitable Low Impact Development (LID) technology for stormwater harvesting and treatment in Wilson historical district, Dallas-Texas.
Graduate Students
Prajwal Bhattarai– Graduate Student Researcher
Email- gfy16@txstate.edu
: Prajwal Bhattarai
Bio: Prajwal Bhattarai is a Graduate Research Assistant at Texas State University, pursuing a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and has two years of experience working in the mountainous regions of Nepal. His professional journey has fueled his interest in environmental engineering, focusing on sustainable infrastructure. Prajwal is passionate about advancing his expertise to tackle complex environmental challenges in civil engineering.
Kindness E Etu: Graduate Student Researcher
Email- axk12@txstate.edu
: Etu Kindness
: Kindness Emmanuel Etu
Bio: Kindness Etu is a master’s student in Civil Engineering at Texas State University, with a deep passion for Environmental and Water Resource Engineering. Hailing from Nigeria, he brings expertise in sustainable design and a strong commitment to advancing sustainable water practices. His diverse academic background, combined with experience in Architecture and an interest in tourism, has enriched his understanding of water management across various regions. In his free time, he enjoys surfing through abstract concepts, reading, and researching innovative approaches to designing sustainable materials that help reduce pollutants in aquatic ecosystems. Kindness is particularly enthusiastic about developing and applying cutting-edge techniques for engineered pervious structures in his research.
Felipe Farias– Graduate Student Researcher
Email- dop28@txstate.edu
: Felipe Farias Alvarado
Bio: Felipe Farias is a first-year master’s degree student in civil engineering at Texas State University. His current focus is on research in sustainable construction. He is working on a project related to pervious concrete and its impact in stormwater management, with an additional focus on remote sensing techniques.
Undergraduate Students
Pranesha Dangol– Undergraduate Student Researcher
Email: dzm17@txstate.edu : Pranesha Dangol
Bio: Pranesha Dangol is an undergraduate student majoring in Civil Engineering at Texas State University. She is passionate about environmental sustainability and is eager to apply her research skills to address ongoing environmental challenges. During her internship at Idaho National Lab, she worked on the project focusing on characterizing biochar to enhance PFAS absorption. This experience has provided her with the opportunity to work with advance tool and devices. Pranesha is eager to leverage her acquired knowledge and experience to contribute meaningfully to future research projects. She is committed to advance in the field of environmental science, making a positive impact.
Bibek Paudel– Undergraduate Student Researcher
Email: bibekp@txstate.edu
: Bibek Paudel
Bio: Bibek Paudel is an unndergraduate student at Texas State University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science. At the HEDGE Lab, he focuses on developing sensor-based automation systems, including real-time data acquisition and control logic for environmental monitoring. With a strong foundation in programming and system integration, Bibek is excited to apply his skills to impactful research while learning through hands-on collaboration.
Angely A Irizarry Chico- Undergraduate Student Researcher
Email: qog7@txstate.edu
Bio: Angely is a sophomore majoring in Civil Engineering at Texas State University. She has always enjoyed learning new things, and recently she has become especially fascinated by the environmental side of civil engineering. She is still exploring the many areas within environmental engineering and is eager to gain hands-on experience and learn how engineers can help protect and improve the environment. Through the HEDGE Research Group, she hopes to grow her understanding of sustainable practices and discover where her interests fit in the broader field.
Former Members
Postdoctoral Faculty
Dr. Ranjit Gurav (2022 – 2024)- Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr. Ranjit G. Gurav
: Ranjit Gurav
Current position: Associate Professor, School of Advanced Engineering (Sustainability Cluster), UPES Dehradun-248007, Uttarakhand, India
Graduate Students
Marufa Khondoker (2022 – 2023)- Graduate Student
Email: marufa.dita.90@gmail.com
: Marufa Khondoker
Thesis: Petroleum Hydrocarbon Removal from Waterways using Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Biomass
Current position: Engineer in Training, Ardurra Group Inc., Austin, TX
Joseph Ball (2023 – 2024)- Graduate Student
: Joseph Ball
Thesis: An Evaluation of Enriched Aerobic Bacterial Communities capable of Biodegrading TCE under Different pH and Temperature
Current position: Lab Operator, Emerald Cloud Lab, Austin, TX