Master’s thesis support program

Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences (KIAS) announces applications for dissertation support for masters students in Nepal on following topic.

Topic: Evaluation of surface and groundwater quality in current and former landfill locations in Kathmandu, Nepal

Selected student will be supported by necessary funding and supervision to complete the research work.

Project description: In Nepal, municipal solid waste is primarily deposited in open dumps or landfills located near riverbanks with very minimal treatment of raw waste. Therefore, landfills are known to generate large quantity of leachate as waste goes through biological, physical, and chemical degradation processes when pressure, heat, and temperature is applied to the waste. While Kathmandu city generates 524 tons per day of municipal solid waste (Dangi et al., 2011), most of it is either never collected or whatever is collected ultimately is deposited in layers either near the river corridors in Kathmandu or in its temporary landfill located in Aletar in Okharpauwa Village Development Committee of Nuwakot district. There aren’t any comprehensive studies that have measured leachate and its impact into groundwater quality near landfilling activities in Nepal. Therefore, to fill this void, the proposed study anticipates to examine surface and groundwater quality in current used & closed landfill, and in two of the former dumps in river corridors in Kathmandu.

We are looking for a dedicated master’s level student in environmental science or related subjects.

Supervisors:

Dr. Basant Giri, Scientist, Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal

Dr. Mohan B. Dangi, Professor, California State University, Fresno, USA

Interested?

Send your CV and a 500-word essay on why you are the best candidate for this support program to Dr. Basant Giri at bgiri<at>kias.org.np.

Please write #CAS1702 in the subject line of your email.

Deadline: December 15, 2017

International foundation for science funds KIAS research

KIAS scientist Dr. Basant Giri has received individual research grant from the International Foundation for Science (IFS). The funding was granted for a project that aims to develop inexpensive paper-based analytical methods for measuring the quality of medicinal plants. According to Dr. Giri new methods will involve the quantitative determination of total phenolic, flavonoids and antioxidant scavenging activity of plant materials. The phenolic compounds (e.g., flavonoids) in plant are widely known antioxidants, which help to protect healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals and are associated with the cure of various degenerative diseases. To uncover the medicinal value of plant based products, routine screening of a large number of samples is required. The paper device will be modified with appropriate reagents for given test reactions before sample solution is added. A smartphone camera will be used to capture the signal produced from test reactions. The new methods require relatively small sample/reagent volume thereby generate less waste. Dr. Giri hopes that this new high throughput method will allow to uncover the medicinal value of plants in, specially, resource limited countries like Nepal.

IFS, based in Sweden, supports excellent individual and collaborative scientific research to build capability of early-career scientists in the developing world. IFS grants are highly competitive. The grants are awarded after reviewing proposals by expert panel.

This grant is a major step towards building a world class laboratory in KIAS.