About Me

Thinesh Selvaratnam, Ph.D.
Associate Professor


Thinesh Selvaratnam, Ph.D.

Dr. Selvaratnam is an Associate Professor/Environmental Engineer with a primary focus on sustainable energy-positive wastewater treatment technologies and biological water/wastewater treatment processes. His main research focus revolves around achieving bioremediation of municipal/ industrial wastewater using an algal-based system. For his doctoral studies, he evaluated a novel approach to treat municipal wastewater using an acidophilic mixotrophic algae.

Professional Experience

  • Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Lamar University, Beaumont Texas, 2023-Present
  • Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Lamar University, Beaumont Texas, 2017-2023
  • Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI), Arizona State University, AZ, 2015-2017
  • Post-Doctoral Researcher, Civil Engineering Department, New Mexico State University, NM, 2015
  • Graduate Assistant/ Research Assistant, Civil Engineering Department, New Mexico State University, NM, 2012-2014
  • Assistant Site Engineer, VINCI Construction, South Tottenham, United Kingdom, 2011

Professional Service

Professional Society membership

  • Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP)

Professional Committee memberships

  • Diversity Advisory Board member, ReNUWIt (Re-inventing the Nation's Urban Water Infrastructure): NSF ERC center (2013-2014)

Reviewer

  • Reviewer - NSF-CBET Environmental Engineering Program (2016-17)

Reviewer of peer-reviewed journals

  • Algal Research
  • Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
  • Applied Energy
  • Renewable Energy
  • International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation

University Service

  • Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, Aug. 2017-Current
  • Graduate Committee, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, 2017-Present