Skip to main content

Annesh Borthakur, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering

Courses Taught

CVNG 3040: Sustainability and Environmental Engineering; CVNG 3041: Sustainability and Environmental Engineering Lab; CVNG 4270/5270: Green Infrastructure; CVNG 4930/5930: Environmental Aquatic Chemistry; SE 1700: Engineering Fundamentals

Education

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles 2022
  • M.S., Civil Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles 2019
  • B.E.(Hons), Civil and Environmental Engineering, BITS Pilani, India 2016

Research Interests

  • Engineered capsule microenvironments for improved microbial survival and resource recovery
  • Symbiotic relationships between algae, bacteria and fungi
  • Fate, Transport, and Degradation of Emerging Pollutants

Labs and Facilities

Water Quality analysis, including nutrients, heavy metals, total organic carbon and nitrogen, dissolved gases and microorganisms
Greenhouse gas analysis in gaseous samples, including CO₂ and CH₄, as well as O₂, H₂, and N₂.

Publications and Media Placements

1. Boakye O, Omole-Ohonsi Maria, Pesarlanka , Huang L, *Borthakur A. (2026) Algae-supplemented anaerobic biofilters enable nutrient recovery from agricultural runoff and atmospheric carbon capture. Chemical Engineering Journal: Green and Sustainable. 3, 100082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cejgas.2026.100082

2. *Borthakur, A., Dorner, M., Johnson, K., Arnold, W. A., Novak, P. J. (2025) Protection and Enrichment: How Two Different Carbonaceous Biofilm Supports Improve Methane Yield from Encapsulated Anaerobic Microorganisms. Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology.11 (6), 1542–1553. 
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EW01043D

3. ∗Polasko, A.L., Koutnik, V.S., Tsai, K., Alkidim, S., Borthakur, A., Mohanty, S.K., and Mahendra, S. (2024) Evaluation of historical data on persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals in Lake Baikal: Implications for accumulation in marine environments Environmental Research. 119035. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.119035

4. Borthakur, A., Das, T., Zhang, Y., Libbert, S., Prehn, S., Ramos, P., Dooley, G., Blotevogel, J., Mahendra, S., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2022) Rechargeable stormwater biofilters: In situ regeneration of PFAS removal capacity by using a cationic polymer, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride. Journal of Cleaner Production. 134244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134244.

5. Borthakur, A., Chhour, K., Gayle, H., Prehn, S., Stenstrom, M.K., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2022) Natural aging of expanded shale, clay, and slate (ESCS) amendment with heavy metals in stormwater increases its antibacterial properties: Implications on biofilter design. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 128309. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128309.

6. Ghavanloughajar, M., Borthakur, A., Cira, M., Chhour, K., Jay, J., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. Submerged layer in stormwater biofilters increases the release of antibiotic resistance genes. Journal of Environmental Engineering. 149. 06023001. 
https://doi.org/10.1061/JOEEDU.EEENG-7297.

7. Leonard, J., Borthakur, A., Koutnik, V.S., Brar, J., Glasman, J., Cower, W., Dittrich, T.M., ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2023) Challenges of using leaves as a biomonitoring system to assess airborne microplastic pollution in urban areas.. Atmospheric Pollution Research. 101651. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2023.101651.

8. Koutnik, V.S., Borthakur, A., Leonard, J., Alkidim, S., Koydemir, H.C., Tseng,D., Ozcan, A., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2022) Mobility of polypropylene microplastics in stormwater biofilters under freeze-thaw cycles. Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters. 100048. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazl.2022.100048.

9. Ramos, P., Kalra, S.S, Johnson, N.W., Khor, C.M, Borthakur, A., Cranmer, B., Dooley, G., Mohanty, S.K., Jassby, D., Blotevogel, J., ∗Mahendra, S. (2022) Enhanced Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Complex Matrices by polyDADMAC-Coated Regenerable Granular Activated Carbon Environmental Pollution. 118603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118603.

10. Borthakur, A., Leonard, J., Koutnik. V.S., Ravi, S., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2022) Inhalation risks from wind-blown dust in biosolid-applied agricultural lands: Are they enriched with microplastics and PFAS? Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health. 100309.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2021.100309.

11. Borthakur, A., Olsen, P., Dooley, G., Cranmer, B.K., Rao, U., Hoek, E.M.V., Blotevogel, J., Mahendra, S., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2021) Dry-wet and freeze-thaw cycles enhance PFOA  leaching from subsurface soils. Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters. 2. 100029. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazl.2021.100029.

12. Borthakur, A., Wang, M., He, M., Ascensio, K., Adamson, D., and Blotevogel, J., Mahendra, S., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2021) Perfluoroalkyl acids on suspended particles: Unexplored transport pathways in surface water and subsurface soils. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 417. 126159. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126159.

13. Borthakur, A., Cranmer, B.K., Dooley, G., Blotevogel, J., Mahendra, S., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2021) Release of soil colloids during flow interruption increases the pore-water PFAS concentration in saturated soil. Environmental Pollution. 286, 117297. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117297.

14. Dubey, A.A., Borthakur, A., and ∗Ravi, K. (2021) Investigation of Soil Suction Characteristics Induced by the Degradation of Organic Matter Geotechnical and Geological Engineering.1-8. 
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-021-01986-7.

15. Ghavanloughajar, M., Borthakur, A., Valenca, R., McAdam, M., Khor, C., Dittrich, T.M., Stenstrom, M., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2021) Iron amendment minimizes the first-flush release of pathogens from stormwater biofilters. Environmental Pollution. 116989. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116989.

16. Alam, S., Borthakur, A., Ravi, S., Gebremichael, M., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2021) Managed aquifer recharge implementation criteria to achieve water sustainability Science of the Total Environment. 768,144992. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.144992.

17. Valenca, R., Borthakur, A., Zu, Y., Stenstrom, M. K., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2021) Biochar selection for Escherichia coli removal in stormwater biofilters. Journal of Environmental Engineering. 
https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001843.

18. Ghavanloughajar, M., Le, H., Rahman, M.D., Valenca, R., Borthakur, A., Ravi, S., Stenstrom, M., and ∗Mohanty, S.K. (2020) Compaction conditions affect the capacity of biochar-amended sand filters to treat road runoff. Science of the Total Environment. 735, 139180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139180.

19. Dubey, A.A., ∗Ravi, K., Devrani, R., Rathore, S., and Borthakur, A. (2020) Characterization of Steel Slag as Geo-material, in: Latha Gali, M., P., R.R. (Eds.), Geotechnical Characterization and Modelling, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering. Springer, Singapore,. 113–122.

* Corresponding author

Honors and Awards

  • Dissertation Year Fellowship (2022)                                          
  • Environmental Research and Education Foundation Scholarship Award (2021)
  • United Contractors Scholarship Award (2021)                           
  • John Reis Scholarship, Expanded Shale, Clay, and Slate Institute (2019)

Professional Organizations and Associations

  • Member, Association of Environmental Engineering and
  • Science Professors (AEESP)
  • Member, American Chemical Society