Harsh Patel, Ph.D., E.I.T

Dynamic Environmental Engineer and Postdoctoral Research Associate with a proven track record in water and wastewater treatment, PFAS remediation, and computational modeling. Specialized in addressing emerging contaminants through the integration of experimental techniques, advanced adsorption processes, and data-driven methods including machine learning and fate and transport modeling. Experienced in pilot studies, BioWin simulations, and the development of innovative treatment technologies using waste-derived materials. Demonstrated leadership in mentoring, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and preparing technical reports, process evaluations, and design documentation. Skilled in Matlab, Python, Minitab, and other programming, analytical chemistry, and QA/QC protocols, with a passion for advancing resilient, sustainable water infrastructure solutions.

North Carolina A&T State University

Undergraduate

• CIEN 310 - Environmental Engineering - SP 19, SP 20
• CIEN 311 - Environmental Engineering Lab - SP21
• CAEE 363 - Engineering Fluid & Hydraulic Lab - FA 19, FA 20
• CIEN 412 - Environmental Engineering Design - FA 19, FA 23
• CIEN 416 - Solid Waste Management - SP 19

• Travel award, 2023 AEESP Conference at Northeastern University, June 19-23, 2023, Boston MA.
• Travel award, 2022 AEESP Conference at Washington University in St. Louis, June 28-30, 2022, St. Louis MO.
• HDR Water Scholarship, 2021 ($10k tuition + summer internship)
• First Runner-Up, 9th Annual Graduate Research Poster Presentation Competition, College of Engineering, NC A&T SU, April 28-29, 2020, Greensboro NC.

• Member, Water Environment Federation (WEF)
• Member, Association of Environmental Engineering & Science Professors (AEESP)
• Member, Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (CAPEES)

Peer Reviewed Journals

• Jahan, I., Tani, E. A., Patel, H. V., Zhao, R., & Zhang, L. (2025). Polyaniline-Coated Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers for Effective Short-Chain PFAS (GenX) Removal from Water. Fibers, 13(4), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib13040042
• Patel, H. V., Greer, M., Brazil, B., Yu, W., Hamoush, S., Zhang, L., & Zhao, R. (2025). Adsorption capacity and mechanism of modified coal fly ash (CFA) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in landfill leachate. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 484, 136763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136763
• Mallick, S. P., Patel, H. V., Gawande, S., Wadee, A., Chen, H., McKenna, A. M., Brazil, B., Yu, W., & Zhao, R. (2024). Using landfill leachate to indicate the chemical and biochemical activities in elevated temperature landfills. Journal of Environmental Management, 351, 119719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119719
• Patel, H. V., Zhao, R., Eramo, A., Blanc, S., Fahrenfeld, N. L., Brazil, B., & Luster-Teasley, S. (2024). Ammonium oxidation from concentrated synthetic wastewater and landfill leachate using partial nitritation in sequencing batch reactor. Water Environment Research, 96(7), e11075. https://doi.org/10.1002/wer.11075
• Patel, H. V., Brazil, B., Lou, H. H., Jha, M. K., Luster-Teasley, S., & Zhao, R. (2021). Evaluation of the effects of chemically enhanced primary treatment on landfill leachate and sewage co-treatment in publicly owned treatment works. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 42, 102116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2021.102116

Conference Papers

• Patel, H. (2021, October 18). Removal of Perfluoro-alkyl Substances (PFAS) and Recalcitrant Organic Matter in Landfill Leachate using Coal Fly-Ash. WEFTEC 2021. https://www.accesswater.org/publications/proceedings/-10077961/removal-of-perfluoro-alkyl-substances-pfas-and-recalcitrant-organic-matter-in-landfill-leachate-using-coal-fly-ash
• Patel, H. V., Brazil, B., Zhao, R., & Xia, K. (2020, October 5). Occurrence, Distribution and Mitigation of PFAS in Landfill Liquids. WEFTEC 2020. https://www.accesswater.org/publications/proceedings/-10028601/occurrence-distribution-and-mitigation-of-pfas-in-landfill-liquids
• Patel, H. V., Park, H., & Zhao, R. (2023). Data Driven Machine Learning for Estimation of PFAS Partitioning on Various Surface Materials. AEESP Research and Education Conference 2023. https://par.nsf.gov/biblio/10447093-data-driven-machine-learning-estimation-pfas-partitioning-various-surface-materials

Podium

• Harsh V. Patel, Hyoshin Park, and Renzun Zhao. Data Driven Machine Learning for Estimation of PFAS Partitioning on Various Surface Materials. AEESP Research and Education Conference, Northeastern University. June 20-23, 2023. Boston, MA, USA.
• Harsh V. Patel, Brian Brazil, Kang Xia, Zhiwu Wang, Sameer Hamoush, and Renzun Zhao. Sustainable Mitigation of Per and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Recalcitrant Organic Matter (DOM) from Landfill Leachate using Modified Coal Fly-Ash (CFA). AEESP Research and Education Conference, Washington University in St. Louis. June 28-30, 2022. St. Louis, MO, USA.
• Harsh V. Patel, Brian Brazil, Kang Xia, Zhiwu Wang, Sameer Hamoush, and Renzun Zhao. Sustainable Mitigation of Per and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Recalcitrant Organic Matter (DOM) from Landfill Leachate using Modified Coal Fly-Ash (CFA). 8th Global Waste Management Symposium. February 14-17, 2022. Indian Wells, CA, USA.
• Harsh V. Patel, Brian Brazil, Kang Xia, Zhiwu Wang, Sameer Hamoush, and Renzun Zhao. Removal of Perfluoro-alkyl Substances (PFAS) and Recalcitrant Organic Matter in Landfill Leachate using Coal Fly-Ash. WEFTEC. October 18, 2021. Chicago, IL, USA.
• Harsh V. Patel, Renzun Zhao, Kang Xia, Zhiwu Wang, and Brian Brazil. Occurrence, Distribution and Mitigation of PFAS in Landfill Liquids. WEFTEC. October 5-9, 2020. New Orleans, LA, USA. (Virtual)
• Harsh V. Patel, Alessia Eramo, Sophia Blanc, Nicole Fahrenfeld, Brian Brazil, and Renzun Zhao. Impact of Landfill Leachate Matrix on Nitrogen Removal Process with Heterogeneous Community of Heterotrophs and Autotrophs in a Sequencing Batch Reactor. 7th Global Waste Management Symposium. February 23-26, 2020. Indian Wells CA, USA.
• Harsh Patel and Renzun Zhao. Synergetic Effects of Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment (CEPT) on UV Quenching Phenomenon during the Co-treatment of Sewage and Landfill Leachate. WEFTEC. September 29 - Oct 3, 2018. New Orleans, LA, USA.
• Harsh Patel, Renzun Zhao, Brian Brazil, and Roger Green. Metal-humic Substances Complexation Under Landfill Leachate Matrix and its Implication on UV Transmittance.6th Global Waste Management Symposium. February 11-14, 2018. Indian Wells, CA, USA.
• Harsh Patel and Renzun Zhao. Mitigation of UV quenching substances (UVQS) by chemical enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) in co-treatment of landfill leachate and sewage. Texas Water. April 10-13, 2017. Austin, TX, USA.

Poster

• Harsh V. Patel, Renzun Zhao. Quantifying Multidimensional Effects of Physicochemical Parameters on PFAS Adsorption Using a Hybrid Response Surface Methodology-Machine Learning Approach. NC PFAS Testing Network All Scientist Meeting. NC Biotechnology Center. June 2-3, 2025. Durham, NC, USA.
• Harsh V. Patel. Environmental Intelligence: Advancing Sustainable Water Treatment Through Data and Novel Applications. AEESP Research and Education Conference, Duke University. May 19-22, 2025. Durham, NC, USA.
• Harsh V. Patel, Renzun Zhao, Stephanie Luster-Teasley, and Brian Brazil. Synergetic Effects of Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment on Leachate and Sewage Co-treatment. AEESP Research and Education Conference, Arizona State University, May 14-16, 2019.

• Editorial board: American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
• Ad hoc reviewer for Journals: Journal of Cleaner Production, Journal of Water Process Engineering, Heliyon

Renzun Zhao, PhD, P.E.

Associate Professor, Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering,

Email: rzhao@ncat.edu

phone: (336) 285-3684

North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411

Lifeng Zhang, PhD

Professor, Nanoengineering

Email: lzhang@ncat.edu

Phone: (336) 285-2875

Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, Greensboro, NC 27401

Helen H. Lou, PhD

Professor, Dan F. Smith Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Director, Center for Data Analytics and Cybersecurity

Faculty Advisor, Center for Midstream Management and Science (CMMS)

Email: helen.lou@lamar.edu

Phone: (409) 880-8207

Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77705

Yalan Liu, PhD

Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geomatics Engineering

Email: yalanliu@fau.edu

Phone: (561) 297-2808

Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431