Dr. Pooja Preetha | Water quality modeling | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor, Alabama A&M University, United States 🌟

Dr. Pooja P. Preetha is a dedicated Environmental and Water Resources Engineer with over a decade of expertise in hydrological modeling, water quality assessment, and climate change impact analysis. Currently an Assistant Professor at Alabama A&M University, she specializes in spatiotemporal stormwater quality modeling, groundwater recharge estimation, and GIS-based environmental research. Her contributions extend to mentoring students, collaborating on funded research projects, and advancing sustainable water resource management. With a strong interdisciplinary approach, she integrates remote sensing, hydrological models, and machine learning to solve complex environmental challenges. 🌎💧

🎓 Education

Dr. Preetha earned her Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), focusing on spatiotemporal stormwater quality modeling using satellite remote sensing and GIS. She also holds a Master’s degree in Hydraulics and Water Resources from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT), where she assessed climate change impacts on surface and groundwater potential. Her Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering is from the College of Engineering, Trivandrum (CET), solidifying her foundation in hydrology and environmental sustainability. 📚🏗️

💼 Experience

As an Assistant Professor at Alabama A&M University, Dr. Preetha leads undergraduate and graduate courses, mentors students, and spearheads cutting-edge research on hydrology and water resources. She has collaborated with the University of Alabama’s Center for Water Quality Research to integrate hydrological modeling with AI-based techniques. Her experience also includes industry roles at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), where she managed construction, sustainability, and risk assessment projects. With expertise in geospatial analysis and environmental modeling, she continues to shape water resource policies and engineering solutions. 🏫💦

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Preetha’s research focuses on hydrological modeling, remote sensing applications, and climate change impacts on water resources. She explores spatiotemporal water quality dynamics, groundwater recharge estimation, and nutrient transport modeling. She also investigates the integration of machine learning with hydrological processes to enhance predictive models for flood risk, sediment transport, and water sustainability. 🌍🛰️

🏆 Awards & Recognition

Dr. Preetha’s contributions have earned her prestigious recognitions in environmental and civil engineering research. She serves as a faculty advisor for ASCE, a review panelist for NSF, and an editorial board member for leading hydrology and environmental science journals. She has also been a session chair, guest editor, and invited speaker at international conferences, advancing discussions on water sustainability and geospatial modeling. 🏅📖

📖 Publications

Preetha, P., Bathi, J. R., Kumar, M., & Kode, V. (2025). Predictive Tools and Advances in Sustainable Water Resources Through Atmospheric Water Generation Under Changing Climate: A Review. Sustainability, 17(4), 1462.

Preetha, P., & Seeda, S. V. T. (2025). A Review of Utilizing Remotely Sensed GRACE Data for Integrated Water Management in CONUS River Basins. Advances in Hydro & Meteorology, 2(4).

Preetha, P., & Hasan, M. (2023). Scrutinizing the Hydrological Responses of Chennai, India Using Coupled SWAT-FEM Model. Land, 12(5), 938.

Preetha, P., & Maclin, K. (2023). Evaluation of Hydrogeological Models and Big Data for Quantifying Groundwater Use in Regional River Systems. Water Science and Technology Library, vol 120. Springer, Cham.

Preetha, P., & Johns, M. (2022). A Review of Recent Water Quality Assessments in Watersheds of Southeastern United States. Global Journal of Engineering Science, 9(4).

Preetha, P.P., & Al-Hamdan, A.Z. (2022). A Union of Dynamic Hydrological Modeling and Satellite Remotely-Sensed Data for Spatiotemporal Assessment of Sediment Yields. Remote Sensing, 14, 400.

Preetha, P.P., & Al-Hamdan, A.Z. (2022). Synergy of Remotely Sensed Data in Spatiotemporal Dynamic Modeling of the Crop and Cover Management Factor. Pedosphere, 32(3), 381-392.

Preetha, P.P., Joseph, N., & Narasimhan, B. (2021). Quantifying Surface Water and Ground Water Interactions using a Coupled SWAT_FEM Model. Water Resources Management, 35, 2781–2797.

Preetha, P.P., Shirani-Bidabadi, N., & Al-Hamdan, A.Z. (2021). Floodplain Assessment in Mixed Land Covers: Implications on Flood Vulnerability. Water Resources Management, 35, 1603-1618.

Preetha, P.P., & Al-Hamdan, A.Z. (2020). Integrating Finite-Element Model and Remote-Sensing Data into SWAT for Nitrate Transit Time Estimation. Hydrogeology Journal.

Conclusion ✅

Dr. Pooja P. Preetha is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award, given her outstanding research contributions, innovative methodologies, and commitment to sustainable water resource management. With continued expansion into large-scale collaborations and policymaking, she is poised to make even greater strides in hydrology, environmental engineering, and climate resilience. 🌍🔬