Yashodhara Chowdhury is seeking opportunities in environmental engineering. She has expertise in water quality, wastewater treatment, and anaerobic digestion of food waste. Currently, she is researching nutrient recovery from anaerobic digester effluent using air stripping, acid scrubbing, and chemical oxidation. She has a Master's in Environmental Science and Engineering from Clarkson University and is conducting a thesis on nutrient/material recovery from anaerobic digester effluent.

1. Yashodhara(Yash) Chowdhury
www.linkedin.com/in/yashodharachowdhury
Chowdhy@clarkson.edu 30 ½ Maple Street, Apt G7
+1-334-494-9000 Potsdam, NY- 13676, USA
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
 Environmental engineer with expertise in water quality, wastewater engineering, anaerobic digestion using food
wastes as substrate.
 Knowledgeable in wastewater treatment modeling and design, landfill leachate treatment, bio-solids treatment,
wastewater engineering processes such as flocculation, sedimentation and such as air stripping, chemical oxidation.
 Involved in design of air-stripping column and acid scrubber for ammonia absorption and recovery.
EDUCATION
Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York, USA
M.S. Environmental Science and Engineering, GPA 3.33 (on a scale of 4) Expected graduation: June 2015
 Thesis: Nutrient/materials recovery from anaerobic digester effluent
P.E.S College of Engineering, Karnataka, India
Baccalaureate in Environmental Engineering Graduation: June 2013
 GPA 8.56 (on a scale of 10)
PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE
NYSP2I Project, Graduate Research Assistant, Potsdam, NY May 2014-present
Nutrient Recovery from Anaerobically Digested Food Waste Stream
 Currently using air-stripping, acid scrubbing and chemical oxidation as treatment methods for recovery of
ammonia and other nutrients from biosolid effluent.
 On an average 87-90% of nitrogen in the form of ammonia was recovered from the air stripping treatment
process.
 Microfiltration and UV disinfection was done to ensure functionality in aeroponic sprayers and food grade
quality.
 Increased crop yields 5% using processed digestate effluent in a PLC controlled year-round high-rise
farm.
Local Living Venture, Volunteer, Potsdam/Canton, NY May 2014-November 2014
Association with the LLV mainly involved outreach and education to local communities
 Community workshops for rain-water harvesting that help understand the working and benefits of reservoir units
at individual homes.
RELATED PROJECTS
Treatment of leachate from a Class 2 Inactive Hazardous Waste Site
Potsdam/Salina Township, NY January 2015-present
 This design project, with collaboration from CHA Companies required Environmental Engineering majors at
Clarkson to develop a remediation process and design a treatment plant for contaminated groundwater underlying
the Salina Town Landfill.
 The major contaminants in the landfill leachate were VOCs, PCBs and mercury, which seeped into the
groundwater. Flow-rates of the leachate were established at different sections of the trench.
 A pump station was designed that would convey contaminated groundwater leachate into a nearby wastewater
treatment plant.
 A wastewater treatment matrix along with cost analysis is being evaluated at present.

2. Assessed the efficiency of microfiltration in conjunction with different pretreatment strategies for treating Raquette river
water, Potsdam, NY March 2014-June 2014
 The project investigated using microfiltration technique along with other pre-treatment methods like Alum
coagulation and sedimentation to achieve appreciable removal of natural organic matter in Raquette river water.
 Coagulant dose, pH and operation situation of coagulation-microfiltration system were optimized.
 Different pretreatment strategies were integrated in order to improve the performance of low pressure
membranes.
 The performance of low pressure membranes were defined in terms of water quality
Determined factors that affect methane production in a bench-scale food waste digester
Mandya, Karnataka, India December 2012-May 2013
 The project involved design of a bench scale digester for treating food waste samples from school (P.E.S College
of Engineering) cafeteria.
 Tested various parameters such as pH, temperature, VOC concentration that affect methane production were
tested.
 The role of seeding (cow manure) was also investigated that increased methane concentration in the gas over the
period of time.
Workplace hazard and safety assessment at Bengal Non-Resident Indian Urbana Project construction site
Kolkata, West Bengal, India September 2013-November 2013
 The project involved carrying out a detailed assessment of working conditions and the necessary level of
safety measures and practices in place.
 Workers involved in hot works, work at height and conditions at the cement batching plant were examined.
 General layout of pedestrian routes, vehicle routes, possible conflicts, adherence to wearing personal
protective equipment were observed.
CERTIFICATION
NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) International General Certificate in
Occupational Health and Safety
 Management of International Health and Safety
 Control of International Workplace Hazards
 International Health and Safety Practical Application
COMPUTER PROGRAMS
Microsoft Office 2010
BIOWIN v. 4.1
AutoCAD 2D, 3D
Visual Minteq 3.0
PROFESSIONALORGANIZATIONS
New York Water Environment Association
Environmental Health and Safety Professionals
Water Environment Federation
Graduate Student Association
Clarkson Sustainability Initiative