Water Resources Expert

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PhD Candidate in Sustainability Science

Bridging urban water challenges with innovative solutions. Specializing in integrated water resource management, urban metabolism, and sustainable development at the intersection of policy, technology, and community engagement.

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My Journey

Explore my professional milestones year by year

2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

2025

Present

Awards & Recognition

  • Outstanding Student Award - Urban Science Summer School, Chinese Academy of Science
  • Continued JfUNU Full Scholarship

Publications

  • "A Political Industrial Ecology of Water in Bodh Gaya, India" - Journal of Industrial Ecology, Wiley
  • "Water-Caste-Gender-Tourism Nexus" - Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer Nature

Key Achievements

  • Finalizing PhD thesis on urban water metabolism
  • Publishing research findings on water infrastructure
  • Collaborating on international sustainability projects

2024

Research & Publications

Publications

  • "Engineering hydro-anxieties: agrarian urbanization and water" - Area Development and Policy
  • Co-authored with Negi, R. & Dhiman, A.

Key Achievements

  • Continued fieldwork in Bodh Gaya on water systems
  • Presented research at international conferences
  • Advanced research on peri-urban water challenges

2023

Research Advancement

Publications

  • "Bodh Gaya's Rural–Urban Dilemma" - Urbanisation, Sage
  • "Un-Slumming the Slum: An Ethnographic Account" - The Urban Ecologies of Divided Cities, Springer
  • "Water Economies of Bodh Gaya: Urban Water in Rural Town" - Habitat International, Elsevier

Key Achievements

  • Published 3 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals
  • Advanced to PhD candidacy
  • Conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork

2022

PhD Commencement

Scholarship & Recognition

  • Received JfUNU Full Scholarship (2023-2026)
  • Accepted to United Nations University, Tokyo

Key Achievements

  • Began PhD research on integrated water resource management
  • Relocated to Tokyo, Japan
  • Developed thesis framework on urban metabolism and water

2021

Smart City Fellow

Position

  • Smart City Fellow - Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, New Delhi
  • Duration: Oct 2021 - Oct 2022

Key Achievements

  • Developed data-driven digital tools for integrated water management
  • Piloted innovative water infrastructure solutions in Nashik Smart City
  • Analyzed water policies and institutional frameworks
  • Applied hydro-informatics and remote sensing for system analysis

2020

Urban Fellow & Master's Completion

Education

  • Completed Master of Ecology and Environment Studies - Nalanda University
  • Nalanda Excellence Scholarship Recipient

Position

  • Urban Fellow - Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), Bengaluru
  • Duration: Aug 2020 - Jul 2021

Key Achievements

  • Developed expertise in urban water management and sanitation
  • Analyzed rental housing impacts on water infrastructure
  • Published peer-reviewed research on urbanization challenges

2019

Summer Internship

Position

  • Summer Intern - Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society, Patna
  • Duration: May 2019 - Jul 2019

Key Achievements

  • Assessed sustainability challenges of SLRM center
  • Developed wastewater reuse strategies
  • Designed microfinance models for rural infrastructure
  • Gained hands-on experience in sanitation and waste management

2018

Bachelor's Completion

Education

  • Completed Bachelor of Science in Chemistry - Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
  • Graduated: May 2018

Key Achievements

  • Transitioned focus from chemistry to environmental studies
  • Developed interest in water resources and sustainability
  • Enrolled in Master's program at Nalanda University

About Me

Passionate about sustainable water solutions and urban development

Education

PhD in Sustainability Science from United Nations University, Tokyo. JfUNU Scholar with expertise in integrated water resource management and urban metabolism.

Experience

4+ years in water sector across government, academia, and development organizations. Smart City Fellow with focus on policy, infrastructure, and community engagement.

Expertise

Urban water systems, sanitation, wastewater treatment, climate adaptation, hydro-informatics, policy frameworks, and nature-based solutions.

Education

Academic journey and achievements

PhD in Sustainability Science

United Nations University, Institute of Advanced Study of Sustainability

Tokyo, Japan

Expected: August 2026

  • Specializing in integrated water resource management and urban metabolism
  • Thesis: "Waters of Buddhistscape: Urban Metabolism and Political Ecology of Water in Bodh Gaya"
  • JfUNU Full Scholarship Recipient

Master of Ecology and Environment Studies

Nalanda University, School of Ecology and Environment Studies

Rajgir, India

May 2020

  • Specialized in IWRM, WASH, hydrology, and nature-based solutions
  • Nalanda Excellence Scholarship Recipient

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Jamia Millia Islamia, Department of Chemistry

New Delhi, India

May 2018

Professional Experience

4+ years of impactful work in water sector

Smart City Fellow

Water and Urban Planning

Oct 2021 - Oct 2022

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

New Delhi, India

  • Developed data-driven digital tools for integrated water management
  • Piloted innovative water infrastructure solutions in Nashik Smart City
  • Analyzed water policies and institutional frameworks
  • Applied hydro-informatics and remote sensing for system analysis
Hydro-informatics Remote Sensing Policy Analysis
Urban Fellow

Urban and Water Specialist

Aug 2020 - Jul 2021

Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS)

Bengaluru, India

  • Developed expertise in urban water management and sanitation
  • Analyzed rental housing impacts on water infrastructure
  • Published peer-reviewed research on urbanization challenges
Urban Planning Research WASH
Research Intern

Water Resources

Apr 2021 - Jul 2021

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University

New Delhi, India

  • Analyzed water transformation in Delhi's rural belt
  • Conducted life history and semi-structured interviews
  • Published articles on water governance
Qualitative Research Water Governance
Summer Intern

Waste Management and Sanitation

May 2019 - Jul 2019

Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society

Patna, India

  • Assessed sustainability challenges of SLRM center
  • Developed wastewater reuse strategies
  • Designed microfinance models for rural infrastructure
Sanitation Microfinance

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Research contributions to water and sustainability

2025

A Political Industrial Ecology of Water in Bodh Gaya, India

Rajput, R. and Pu, J.

Journal of Industrial Ecology, Wiley

Water Infrastructure Urban Metabolism

Analyzed water infrastructure modernization and service delivery models.

View Publication
2025

Water-Caste-Gender-Tourism Nexus

Rajput, R. and Pu, J.

Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer Nature

Water Equity Urban Politics

Applied Urban Political Ecology Framework to assess water inequalities.

View Publication
2024

Engineering hydro-anxieties: agrarian urbanization and water

Negi, R., Rajput, R., & Dhiman, A.

Area Development and Policy

Peri-urban Water Agriculture

Examined irrigation and drainage systems in peri-urban contexts.

View Publication
2023

Bodh Gaya's Rural–Urban Dilemma

Rajput, R.

Urbanisation, Sage

Small Towns Infrastructure

Analyzed water infrastructure planning in small towns.

View Publication
2023

Un-Slumming the Slum: An Ethnographic Account

Rajput, R., Rai, A.

The Urban Ecologies of Divided Cities, Springer

Informal Settlements Water Access

Water access in informal settlements and urban equity.

View Publication
2023

Water Economies of Bodh Gaya: Urban Water in Rural Town

Rajput, R., & Sharma, A.

Habitat International, Elsevier

PPPs Finance

Analyzed PPPs and blended finance mechanisms.

View Publication

Skills & Expertise

Comprehensive skill set in water and sustainability

Water Systems

Urban Water Supply 95%
Sanitation 90%
Wastewater Treatment 85%

Policy & Governance

Water Policies 92%
Institutional Frameworks 88%
Integrated Planning 90%

Digital & Technology

Hydro-informatics 88%
Remote Sensing 85%
QGIS/ArcGIS 90%

Climate & Sustainability

Nature-based Solutions 87%
Climate Adaptation 90%
Biodiversity 82%

Finance & Economics

PPPs 85%
Blended Finance 80%
Carbon Markets 78%

Research Methods

Quantitative Research 92%
Qualitative Research 95%
Mixed Methods 93%

Awards & Recognition

Achievements and honors

Outstanding Student Award

Urban Science Summer School

Chinese Academy of Science

June 2025

JfUNU Scholarship

Full PhD Funding

United Nations University

2023-2026

Nalanda Excellence Scholarship

Academic Excellence

Nalanda University

2018-2019

National Republic Day Parade

Special Invitation

Ministry of Education, India

2020

Blog & Articles

Insights on water, sustainability, and urban development

Water & Society 2024

Water & Worries of Bodh Gaya

Un-Slumming the Slum of a Small Town: An Ethnographic Account from Bodh Gaya, India. A slum is considered a place which suffers from poverty, overcrowding and fundamental infrastructural deprivation.

5 min read
Read Article
River Systems 2024

East Kaali River (Naagin Nadi)

Exploring the ecological and cultural significance of the East Kaali River. Understanding the seasonal and perennial water flow patterns and their impact on local communities and biodiversity.

6 min read
Read Article
Urban Development 2023

Nashik's Goda Ghat

In the Name of Development: How Nashik's Goda Ghat Juggled Concretisation and De-concretisation Over Two Decades. A case study on urban water infrastructure transformation.

7 min read
Read Article
Climate & Religion 2022

Religion & Climate Change

Unity in Religion for Solving Climate Change: Lessons from Swami Vivekananda. Exploring how spiritual and religious perspectives can contribute to climate action and sustainability.

8 min read
Read Article

Get In Touch

Let's collaborate on sustainable water solutions

Location

Tokyo, Japan

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