Rakesh Kumar

About

Dr. Rakesh Kumar is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Auburn University, specializing in Soil and Water Engineering, and Environmental Hydrology. He completed his PhD in Ecology and Environmental Studies at Nalanda University, India, where he focused on the remediation of fluoride from contaminated water and soil using modified biochar. His academic journey also includes a Master of Science in Ecology and Environment Studies from the same institution and a Bachelor of Technology in Agricultural Engineering from Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, India.

Dr. Kumar's research primarily addresses issues related to nutrient management and water pollution, including the use of efficient adsorbents for wastewater treatment, specifically targeting nutrients and potentially toxic trace metals. He has been involved in various projects that explore the impacts of plastic pollution on ecosystems and human health, as well as innovative methods for wastewater treatment using biochar. His work has gained recognition in several academic publications, contributing to the understanding of groundwater contamination and nutrient management.

Employment

• OAE Publishing Inc. Junior Editorial Board Member
  2024 - 2025
• Auburn University Postdoctoral Fellow
  2023 - Present
• Auburn University Visiting Research Scholar/Visiting Scholar
  2023 - 2023

Education

• Nalanda University PhD
  2020 - 2023
• Nalanda University M.Sc.
  2017 - 2019

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (87)

• Toward Integrated Governance of Emerging Contaminants in Water
  ACS ES&T Water 2026 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.6c00749
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• Relevance of Sustainable and Green-Synthesized Biogenic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Remediation of Emerging Contaminants from Water Ecosystems and Their Associated Health Concerns
  Environmental Science & Technology Letters 2026 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.6c00068
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• Who Pays for Clean Natural Ecosystems: Rethinking Cost Abatement and Incentives for Wastewater Management in Developed and Developing Countries
  ACS Sustainable Resource Management 2026 DOI: 10.1021/acssusresmgt.6c00002
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• Approaches to Microplastic Removal: Utilizing Natural Materials for Municipal Wastewater Treatment in Developing Countries
  ACS Sustainable Resource Management 2026 DOI: 10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00550
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• Pinewood engineered biochar as a solution to nutrient leaching management: Mitigating phosphorus and nitrate loss from poultry litter under saturated porous conditions
  Journal of Environmental Management 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130641
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• Influence of iron-modified biochar on phosphate transport and deposition in saturated porous media under varying pH, ionic strength, and biochar dosage
  Chemosphere 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143932
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• Unravelling land-based discharge of microplastics in River Basantar of Jammu & Kashmir, India: Understanding sinking behaviors and risk assessments
  Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104490
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• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in environment and potential health impacts: Sources, remediation treatment and management, policy guidelines, destructive technologies, and techno-economic analysis
  Science of the Total Environment 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178803
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• Microbial degradation of plastic polymers: Organism diversity, mechanism, and influencing factors perspective
  Microplastic Pollution Occurrence Health Risk and Challenges 2025 DOI: 10.1201/9781032706573-15
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• Mechanism of Water Retention and Gas Flux in Unsaturated Soils Amended With Four Different Pyrolyzed Plant Based Biomass
  Soil Use and Management 2025 DOI: 10.1111/sum.70069
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