TXST graduate student earns national and regional recognition for water reuse research

Texas State University engineering master’s student Anjumand Ashraf has earned three competitive honors for her research on sustainable water solutions: a Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Research Grant, the Water Environment Association of Texas Central Texas Section Scholarship, and the Texas American Water Works Association Capital Area Chapter Scholarship.

“Receiving these awards has been both encouraging and humbling,” said Ashraf. “Each scholarship represents not only financial support, but also recognition that my research and community involvement are making a meaningful contribution.”

An international student from Dhaka, Bangladesh, Ashraf grew up witnessing how water quality directly affected people’s health and quality of life.

"It made me realize how essential safe water is to human well-being,” she said.

When Ashraf began studying civil engineering, she was driven to find a solution. Under the mentorship of Keisuke Ikehata, Ph.D., associate professor in the Ingram School of Engineering, she studies alternative approaches to potable water reuse. 

“My research focuses on developing sustainable drinking water solutions through the blending of reclaimed water, rainwater, and HVAC condensate for direct potable reuse,” Ashraf said.

Her research evaluates whether blended water systems can provide safe, reliable drinking water without relying on reverse osmosis, a treatment process that produces costly waste streams that can be difficult for inland communities to manage.

“The ultimate goal of this work is to develop practical and affordable approaches to potable water reuse that can help growing communities strengthen water security while reducing environmental impacts,” she said.

How can Ashraf tell if these approaches will work in practice? She collects water samples from wastewater treatment facilities and campus buildings, analyzes more than 50 water quality parameters, and uses machine learning and Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate system performance and storage needs.

“Seeing my research progress from laboratory testing to conference presentations and publications has reinforced my belief that engineering research can create meaningful solutions for real-world challenges,” Ashraf said.

These external awards have provided Ashraf with opportunities for conference participation, engagement with utility professionals and industry experts, and exposure to emerging technologies in the water industry.

Notably, Ashraf has received many other internal and external awards during her academic career, including the Graduate College Scholarship, Graduate Merit Fellowship, Student Government Scholarship, and the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship. She expressed appreciation to The Graduate College’s external funding coordinators for their guidance in helping her pursue opportunities during her graduate studies. Most of all, she said she is deeply grateful for her husband—a Ph.D. student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell studying electrical and computer engineering—and his support.

“Spending nearly two years living apart while both of us pursued our academic goals and dreams has been emotionally challenging. His constant encouragement, understanding, and support throughout this journey motivated me to continue pushing forward and strive to shine brighter,” she said.

Ashraf recently passed the Fundamentals of Engineering Environmental exam and plans to pursue licensure as a professional engineer.

“One of my aspirations is to help develop closed-loop water systems that allow communities to reuse water safely and efficiently rather than relying solely on traditional water sources,” she said.

For Ashraf, the honor of receiving these awards represents more than past accomplishments.

“These recognitions motivate me to continue pursuing excellence and remind me that the work I am doing has the potential to create a more sustainable water future,” she said.