Tanveer Ahmed understands that active engagement and conservation are needed to alleviate the global climate crisis. He obtained his Master of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and decided to begin his Ph.D. journey.
“When I had the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering with a concentration in Civil Engineering, I seized it to advance my career as a water resource engineer and contribute to innovative solutions for flood management." he said, "The research and studies that are performed at the Institute for Coastal & Water Research and Louisiana Watershed Flood Center at UL Lafayette will be an ideal platform for me to advance my goal for research in these areas.”
Using engineering to improve the environment
Tanveer’s experience as an environmental engineer began in Bangladesh (the largest Delta in the world). He worked for five years on stormwater management, wetland and drainage master planning, and flood mitigation projects across Bangladesh, the U.S., and Africa.
“As a water resources engineer, I have always felt the urge to help my community solve flood-related problems and attain flood resiliency.”
With Bangladesh and Louisiana having similar “coastal-induced flooding factors due to climate change, flat topography, tropical storms, and limited resources,” Tanveer feels he can learn from both environments to help improve the circumstances.
He commends the research environment at UL Lafayette offering students the opportunity to apply theory to real-world projects.
“I have worked on projects such as the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI), riverine dredging impacts, unmanned aerial vehicle UAV-based flood monitoring applications, and understanding the complex flood dynamics of Vermilion River with its tributaries," he explained. "My dissertation is focused on assessing flood risk variability and data-driven flood risk estimation using probabilistic approaches.”
Through his journey, Tanveer appreciates his dissertation committee chair, Dr. Emad Habib, and faculty across the various engineering disciplines offered at the University.
“My coursework and research experience at UL Lafayette has given me a strong foundation in emerging areas like machine learning applications in flood forecasting," he said. "These skills have directly influenced my professional work, where I contributed to developing AI-powered flood forecasting tools for cutting-edge tech industries.”
Navigating as an international student
As an international student, Tanveer feels welcome at UL Lafayette.
“The inclusive and welcoming nature of UL Lafayette made me feel at home," he said. "The diverse and supportive community, combined with opportunities for meaningful research, has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my experience.”
In addition, UL Lafayette’s community-centered atmosphere helped with his transition to America.
“The strong sense of community on campus made the initial cultural adjustment after moving to the U.S. much easier. The Bangladeshi Student Association played a significant role in organizing social gatherings, helping me stay connected to my roots while building new friendships.”
To help advance professional development, Tanveer appreciates the UL Lafayette Career Center, annual career fairs, and Engineering and Technology Week. In addition, he thanks faculty members for career guidance in the transition from academia to industry.
He encourages international graduate students to embrace collaboration, choose a program with hands-on experience, and step outside of their comfort zone.
“As an R1 university, UL Lafayette offers a strong research-driven program with accomplished faculty," he said. "The University fosters collaboration between academia and industry, ensuring that research translates into real-world applications. The supportive community and high-quality education make it an excellent choice for graduate studies.”
