Bashar Al-Daomi is a highly talented Ph.D. student and researcher working on innovative ways to treat and reuse wastewater. His research aims to address global water issues by improving purification techniques. He has shown great aptitude and motivation, working tirelessly to build a prototype treatment facility and develop an applicable numerical model. Notably, Bashar has also begun establishing regional and international research partnerships that will benefit water treatment improvement. The recommendation letter writer gives Bashar their highest recommendation and praise for his dedication as a student and leader.

1. To: Whom it May Concern
From: William Fish, Ph.D.
Re: Recommendation for Bashar Al-Daomi
I am pleased to highly recommend to you Mr. Bashar Al-Daomi. He is a highly talented and outstanding
graduate student and researcher whom I have the privilege of advising for his Ph.D. work at Portland
State University. I have known him approximately 3 years.
Bashar’s research centers on developing innovative and more efficient ways of treating and re-using
wastewater. His interest stems from his life experience growing up in Iraq where water is a scarce and
critical resource, as it is throughout the Middle East and much of the world. Water quality and quantity
has emerged as one of the greatest resource issues facing the world and it is often said that in the near
future, conflicts over water may equal or exceed those of any resources. Guaranteeing ample and good
quality water is a cornerstone of civilization and peace.
Bashar is helping to address these issues by working to improve the purification and reuse of wastewater.
He has shown great aptitude for his work and has been possibly the most motivated and organized
graduate student I have worked with in the last 30 years. He has worked tirelessly to find financial
resources to pay for equipment and supplies and he has been painstaking in choosing the best possible
materials for the lowest price. He is building a complete prototype of a water re-use facility in our
laboratory and is using it to test innovative methods, especially in advanced treatment, such as
phosphorus and nitrogen removal. He also plans to develop a numerical model of the system so that his
results will be widely applicable. This work will be of great benefit in the improvement of water
treatment and re-use.
Notably, Bashar also has taken the initiative to begin establishing regional and international partnerships
and collaborations. Regionally Bashar has spearheaded an effort to establish a formal research and
education partnership between PSU and Clean Water Services, a major regional waste-water agency that
is known for its innovative facilities and operations. Bashar is also using a connection with a UNESCO-
IHE researcher to investigate the creation of an international research and education partnership between
PSU and UNESCO-IHE in Delft, Netherlands.
Bashar is also an outstanding student. He has gotten excellent grades in his coursework and he has taken
the initiative to complete a series of UNESCO-IHE advanced waste water treatment web-based courses,
which are very demanding. He is also an exemplary “citizen” of our student population in that he has
shown great leadership in working with other students on research projects. He recently was chosen by
the PSU-International Students Office to be a Mentor Leader after mentoring 40 international graduate
students since Summer, 2015. He also has earned great respect from faculty for his dedication as a
graduate teaching assistant.
In summary, I give Bashar Al-Daomi my highest recommendation. He is very deserving of any position
or resources you can provide to him. Please contact me at fishw@pdx.edu is you have any questions.
/s/
William Fish, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Environmental Science & Management
Portland State University