Dr. Rumman Mowla Chowdhury: Graduate Student at Rowan University, United States
Title/Designation: Dr.
Name: Rumman Mowla Chowdhury
Current Role/Designation: Graduate Student
Organization/Institution: Rowan University
Country: United States
Subject Track: Engineering
Award Categories: Best Innovator Award
Rumman Mowla Chowdhury is a highly experienced environmental engineer, specializing in hydrological modeling, flood risk assessment, and climate adaptation strategies. With over a decade of expertise in GIS, remote sensing, and environmental consultancy, he has contributed to a variety of high-impact projects in both academic and real-world settings. Currently a PhD Fellow in Civil & Environmental Engineering at Rowan University, Rumman leads cutting-edge research on flood vulnerability assessments, integrating machine learning and traditional hydrodynamic models. His academic pursuits are driven by a passion for addressing the challenges posed by climate change, particularly in vulnerable coastal regions and landfill facilities. Rumman’s work not only enhances environmental resilience but also contributes to policy decision-making through high-level technical analyses and stakeholder engagement.
Online Profiles
Total Citations: 260
Citations Since 2020: 178
h-index: 5
i10-index: 4
Education
Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rowan University, NJ (Anticipated 2025)
Currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rumman’s research is focused on integrating machine learning with hydrological modeling for flood risk assessment and climate adaptation in the northeastern United States. His doctoral work combines geospatial tools with flood modeling to enhance predictions and mitigation strategies.M.Sc. in Water Resources Engineering and Management, University of Stuttgart, Germany (2014)
Rumman’s master’s program emphasized the development of sustainable water management strategies, focusing on climate change impacts on water systems, hydrological modeling, and environmental protection. His thesis involved the integration of remote sensing and GIS for water resources management in arid and semi-arid regions.B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET), Bangladesh (2011)
During his undergraduate studies at BUET, Rumman acquired a solid foundation in civil engineering, with a focus on hydrology, water resources engineering, and environmental impact assessment. His early research laid the groundwork for his subsequent specialization in flood risk modeling and water quality management.
Research Focus
Rumman’s research bridges the fields of environmental engineering, GIS, and climate science, with a focus on applying advanced modeling techniques to assess and mitigate flood risks, water quality degradation, and climate-driven hazards. His work uses cutting-edge technologies like machine learning and remote sensing to model hydrodynamic systems and predict the impacts of extreme weather events on critical infrastructure, particularly in coastal and landfill regions. Rumman is particularly interested in how climate change influences groundwater salinity, sea-level rise, and floodplain dynamics. His approach combines both theoretical models and practical applications, contributing to climate adaptation strategies and sustainable environmental planning. By engaging with interdisciplinary teams, he ensures that his research informs both policy decisions and real-world engineering solutions.
Experience
Rumman has a diverse professional background that combines academic research, environmental consultancy, and hands-on teaching. As a PhD Fellow at Rowan University, he leads research on the vulnerability of landfill facilities to flooding, specifically using advanced hydrologic-hydraulic models to assess the impacts of climate-driven hazards on infrastructure. His previous role as a Climate Change Specialist for the UK Met Office in Bangladesh saw him guiding national climate resilience efforts by developing high-resolution vulnerability maps for coastal regions affected by sea-level rise and salinity intrusion. Additionally, he has served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Asia Pacific, where he mentored more than 20 students on GIS-based environmental modeling projects and taught various courses related to urban hydrology, environmental engineering, and remote sensing. This teaching experience was coupled with his work on environmental assessments, including a notable water quality study for a large power plant project. His career trajectory showcases his versatility in both academic and applied environmental science.
Research Timeline & Activities
2023–Present: Rumman leads the USDA-funded research project on flood vulnerability assessment for landfill sites in New Jersey. This involves applying HEC-HMS/HEC-RAS models for hydrologic and hydraulic simulations and integrating them with machine learning techniques to assess the potential impacts of future climate scenarios on flood depth and infrastructure resilience.
2021–2022: As a Climate Change Specialist with the Institute of Water Modelling, Rumman focused on GIS-based salinity and sea-level rise risk mapping for vulnerable coastal regions in Bangladesh. His work supported national adaptation policies, helping inform strategies for coastal zone management and disaster resilience.
2020–2021: Rumman contributed to a water quality index study for the Faridpur-Barisal Corridor, a project under the Asian Development Bank, analyzing 34 water quality stations and providing insights into water management practices for urban and rural communities in Bangladesh.
2012–2013: During his tenure as a research assistant for the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Rumman worked on a hydro-morphological study of the Old Madhumati River. This involved using MIKE11 modeling to develop strategies for river rehabilitation, mapping erosion-prone zones, and advising on floodplain management.
Awards & Honors
Rumman’s contributions to the field of environmental engineering and climate adaptation have been recognized through numerous awards. Notably, he received the Outstanding Clinic Mentor Award from Rowan University in 2025 for his guidance of graduate students on applied environmental research projects. He also earned the NJWEA Presentation Grant in 2024, which supported his presentation on flood modeling at the NJ Water Environment Association conference. His ongoing research on flood risk and climate adaptation has been further recognized by the USDA, which named him a Research Fellow for their funded flood vulnerability study.
Top Noted Publication
Chowdhury, R.M., Ahn, J., Torlapati, J., Jahan, K. (2025). Enhancing Management of Flood Forecasting in Southern New Jersey: A HEC-HMS Model Development for Maurice River and Raccoon Creek Watersheds. Applied Water Science, 15(9), 1-24.
This paper presents an advanced flood forecasting model developed using HEC-HMS for flood prediction in Southern New Jersey’s Maurice River and Raccoon Creek Watersheds. The study aims to improve flood risk management strategies in the region, leveraging new modeling techniques.
Chowdhury, R., Jahan, K. (2024). Climate Change Impact on Municipal Landfills: An Integrated HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS Approach in Data-Scarce Cumberland and Gloucester Counties, New Jersey. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2024 (849), H43A-0849.
This abstract focuses on integrating HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS models to assess flood risks associated with climate change in municipal landfills, specifically in Cumberland and Gloucester counties. It addresses challenges of working in data-scarce regions and provides vital insights for local climate adaptation strategies.
Chowdhury, R.M., Mahmud, C.A., Alminara, M. (2024). Farmer’s Awareness on Climate Change and Needs for Adaptation: Case Study in Dinajpur and Feni Districts, Bangladesh.
This study explores the awareness and adaptation strategies of farmers in Bangladesh’s Dinajpur and Feni districts, focusing on climate change impacts and the community’s preparedness for agricultural shifts. The findings contribute to understanding local climate resilience efforts in rural areas.
Chowdhury, R.M. (2023). Existing Water Quality Scenario of Mirpur Water Supply and Distribution Network, North Dhaka City Corporation, Bangladesh. In Proceedings of the Waste Safe 2023 – 8th International Conference on Waste Management
This paper evaluates the current water quality conditions in the Mirpur water supply and distribution network, identifying key challenges in urban water management in Dhaka. The study informs policy makers on necessary improvements for water treatment and distribution.
Chowdhury, M.R.A., Mahmud, A. (2023). Farmer’s Awareness on Climate Change and Needs for Adaptation: Case Study in Dinajpur and Feni District, Bangladesh. 6th International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering, 1035-1042.
This publication expands on the 2024 study, focusing on farmer awareness of climate change and adaptation needs. It provides additional analysis of regional agricultural practices and their sensitivity to shifting climatic conditions.