26 March 2024
Presented poster entitled 'Improving the performance of low-grade waste gasification in a fluidized bed using a machine-learning approach' at the Auburn Research Symposium 2025, Auburn University.
24 October 2024
Presented poster entitled 'Optimizing the gasification process parameters for enhancing hydrogen composition in syngas: Aspen Plus simulation and experimental validation' at the 2024 College of Agriculture Graduate Research Poster Showcase, Auburn University.
I am honored to present at the ASABE - American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers conference hashtag#ASABE24 in Anaheim, California—a dream I've held for a decade. During the conference, I delivered two presentations:
🔹 Oral Presentation: I discussed our latest findings on low-grade waste blends and CO2 effects on syngas composition and contaminants in gasification. This work is part of an ongoing U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded project aimed at producing hydrogen from low-grade waste through gasification. The U.S. government set a target in 2021 to produce 1 kg of hydrogen for $1 within a decade, and producing hydrogen from such low-grade waste shows promise in reducing production costs.
🔹 Poster Presentation: I highlighted the challenges of maintaining consistent feed rates in a screw-feeding system for a lab-scale gasifier and presented a methodology to develop a linear regression model we've developed to predict feed rates over time. Addressing these challenges is crucial for enhancing sustainability in industrial-scale gasifiers.
Additionally, the conference was an invaluable opportunity to expand my network and connect with researchers working in similar areas. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for funding this project, my supervisor Sushil Adhikari, P.E. and Biosystems Engineering at Auburn University for providing this incredible opportunity.
Excited to share my key takeaways from the "Verma Graduate Student Leadership Workshop" organized by the Biosystems Engineering at Auburn University. This one-and-a-half-day workshop was an incredible learning journey that provided me with valuable insights to shape my future and enhance my leadership skills.
My four key takeaways:
🗣️Just focus & tell what you've asked. Being concise and clear in communication is crucial. It ensures that you address the core issues directly without unnecessary elaboration.
❓ Learn to ask questions, listen, and ask follow-ups. Effective leadership involves not only speaking but also active listening. By asking insightful questions and follow-ups, we can better understand and engage with our team.
🎯 Adopt reasonable objectives rather than shooting for the moon. Setting realistic goals helps in maintaining motivation and achieving consistent progress. It’s better to accomplish feasible targets than to be discouraged by unattainable ones.
🙇🏽 Acknowledge what you do not know. Admitting gaps in our knowledge fosters a culture of continuous learning and builds trust and openness within our team.
Presented findings from two of our ongoing studies at the #ISDRS2024 conference in Kathmandu, Nepal.
In the first study, we have identified potential areas for industrial hemp cultivation in Nepal, examining production potential, economics, and profitability. We also discussed valorization possibilities, focusing on fuel and fiber. Despite hemp production and trading being illegal in Nepal, the government's 2024-25 budget speech allocated funds for marijuana research, reflecting rising public interest.
The second study has proposed a clustering approach for municipal solid waste (MSW) management facilities in Nepal, focusing on Metropolitan and Sub-metropolitan areas. Our study has identified MSW clusters and discussed quantity-based management approaches. Given that large-scale MSW organic waste biogas plants in Nepal are facing significant sustainability challenges, our proposal aims to enhance the sustainability of these existing plants.
25 April 2024
Presented our study's findings on the 'Effects of Particle Size on Flow Properties and Feedstock Blends on Syngas Composition and Contaminants' at the 2024 FECM/NETL Spring R&D Project Review Meeting, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), and National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The project's main aim is to convert low-grade waste, such as legacy coal, pine residue, and organic fractions of municipal solid waste, into high-value hydrogen through gasification technology.
24 Jan 2023
Shared my view and information on waste management scenarios in Biratnagar metropolitan city and how it is fueling air pollution in the region as a panelist in the sharing workshop organized by Clean Energy Nepal. The program's objective was to share the status of the air quality of Biratnagar based on the collected data from sensors and support local initiatives to reduce air pollution.
Clean Energy Nepal has been implementing “Safe and Clean Air for All” (SAFA) in Nepal with the financial support of the US Department of State. The SAFA campaign aims to promote clean air initiatives in eight major cities of Nepal (i.e., Dhangadi, Surkhet, Pokhara, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar, Illam Janakpur, and Kathmandu).
25 Sep 2022
Participated and presented the group discussion report in a writeshop on 'Developing Capacity Building Curriculum in Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus' organized by the Center for Water Resources Studies (CWRS), in partnership with the Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT and International Water Management Institute (IWMI). The writeshop discussed and drafted an outline and elaborated contents for capacity-building courses for policymakers, early-mid level professionals, and graduate students in the areas of WEFE nexus.
14 Aug 2022
Talked about my research journey focusing on 'Tar Fouling Reduction in Wood Pellet Boiler Using Additives' in a webinar organized by the Department of Mechanical Engineering with the support of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Laboratory -RSEL, Kathmandu University, Nepal. About 25 participants attended the virtual webinar, mainly the Master's Program in Planning and Operations of Energy Systems (MPPOES) students and Ph.D. scholars of Kathmandu University.
26-28 July 2022
Hosted and moderated a group discussion on the Regional/National sustainability agenda and goals required for basic sustainability curriculum and components (knowledge, practices, and issues) in the 'Strengthening Teaching and Research on Sustainable Development Goals Curriculum Co-development' workshop. The workshop was organized in collaboration with Potsdam Institute For Climate Impact Research (PIK) - Germany, Asian Institute Of Technology (AIT) - Thailand, Kathmandu University (KU)- Nepal, a project funded by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and Financially supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany.
21 July 2022
Facilitated a workshop organized by IAAS Nepal LC ERC. In the workshop, I mainly trained students to use KoboToolBox in conducting surveys. A total of 25 students actively participated in the workshop.
26 June 2021
Facilitated a workshop virtually on Research Paper Writing organized by the Society of Mechanical Engineering Students (SOMES).
16 January 2021
Virtual Symposium || Weathering the Storm: Nepal as a Regional Leader in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation During the Climate Crisis || January 16, 2021 || 6:00 PM NPT
The symposium is jointly organized by the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) and The Asia Institute and focuses on quick ramp-up ways of maximizing Nepal’s innate strengths to become a regional climate leader in ways that benefit both itself and its region, and by example, the world.
22 July 2018
Facilitated Entrepreneurship Workshop for Engineering Students organized by CeetleHeros Purwanchal Campus.
