Dr Nihar SAMAL (India)

Nihar’s research focuses on water quality modelling in freshwater and wastewater systems. He is currently working on hydraulic capacity analysis of sewers and collection infrastructure across a broad range of modelling scenarios applying a hydrologic-hydraulic model and support long-term planning of system growth. The major focus is on the design and implementation of green infrastructure and low impact development to manage stormwater within New York City.

PhD in Water Resource

Current position: City Research Scientist at the Office of Agency of Chief Engineer (OACE), The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, United States of America

Research focus: advanced hydraulic and hydrologic modelling in urban environments and river floodplains, climate change impact analysis, valuation of ecosystem services

Nihar's previous project at the University of New Hampshire, United States, was developing and applying a process-based spatially distributed hydrology model that dynamically accounts for the interactions among atmospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic processes. The model aims to quantify the environmental impacts at regional scales due to spatially distributed changes in land use and climate in the 21st century.

2019 Always Creating Excellence (A.C.E.) Employee Award, New York City Department of Environmental Protection
2016 Senior NRC Research Associateship Award with the US Environmental Protection Agency
2009 Young Engineer’s award from the Institution of Engineers Government of India

CV as submitted for the Green Talents award (2009):

National Institute of Technology Durgapur, India

Research focus: water and wastewater treatment

Nihar Ranjan Samal currently works as a faculty member at the Department of Civil Engineering of the National Institute of Technology Durgapur (NITD) in West Bengal in the far northeast of India. His current research interest is in biological decontamination in the area of wastewater treatment. He is particularly interested in the removal of toxic heavy metals from ground and surface water. Areas of eastern India are particularly affected by such water contamination, specifically with arsenic, iron and fluoride. In particular, the jury took note of the number of awards and grants, Nihar Ranjan Samal has won as well as his numerous scientific publications.

Through the Green Talents Forum, Samal hopes to establish long-term research cooperation with research institutions and companies in Germany, not only for himself but also to create relations to Germany for his students. During May to July 2009, his four undergraduate students are selected and enjoyed the summer internship programme at various universities in Germany through the DAAD scholarship (DAAD-WISE). This year he is also specifically seeking solutions to problems related to rainwater harvesting and would like to discuss various issues relating to water and contaminated land management.