People with Purpose: Prathap Parameswaran

Water touches every life — but for Prathap Parameswaran, University Outstanding Scholar and associate professor of civil engineering, water defines his livelihood. His research, centered on wastewater resource recovery, has enabled interdisciplinary projects that transform wastewater into energy, nutrients and sustainable solutions for local communities.

That same commitment to impact shapes his teaching, where he helps students connect large-scale engineering concepts to real-world applications, finding his purpose in shaping a more resilient future through unlocking untapped potential.

Q: How did you decide to start a career in your field?

Parameswaran: My first job was as an entry-level environmental engineer in a pulp and paper mill. This experience opened my eyes to the tremendous need to efficiently reuse water, energy and resources, while minimizing environmental impact. With knowledge from my undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, I felt ill-equipped to make a difference, so I resolved to pursue higher education to address these challenges.

Q: What's your favorite part about working with students?

Parameswaran: Students are curious and want to try things, often without bounds. Once you make them feel appreciated, you can push them and challenge them to succeed.

Q: What is your teaching style, and what is at the heart of it?

Parameswaran: I try to get a pulse of every class so I can adjust the content to their level of interest and preparation. I enjoy learning students' perspectives and challenges with the content, and I ask for regular feedback so I can continuously improve my teaching. Since the content breadth and coverage needs to stay the same the entire time, it's a challenge, but I like handling it.

Q: What is a long-term research goal you have?

Parameswaran: My long-term research goal is to demonstrate that resource recovery from domestic, industrial and agricultural wastewater can be accomplished at scale through multiple routes. Working with experts from complementary fields such as agronomy and veterinary medicine, the goal is to integrate anaerobic biotechnology, membrane science and process development — making the systems appealing, attainable for our state and region, and accepted by community members. If I can accomplish such a scalable, real system, I'll feel like we have accomplished something as a team.

Q: What's the coolest thing in your office?

Parameswaran: A piece of the first concrete pipe sewer in North America, placed in 1842 in Mohawk, New York. This may sound bizarre, but it resonates with my line of work and holds sentimental value. The relic was gifted to me by the former head of the civil engineering department, Robert Stokes, who led my hiring process and has since passed away. I am always thankful for his kind gesture and for bringing me to K-State.

Q: What has been your most impactful day at K-State?

Parameswaran: The day that I found out I received funding for a Department of Energy project researching resource recovery from livestock wastewater. This was in 2021, right after the pandemic, and I was looking for an opportunity to pivot my work from strictly waste to resource recovery for livestock waste. This project marked the beginning of that journey, which continues to shape my academic and professional journey today.