The prestigious CAREER Awards are presented nationwide to junior faculty who “exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education, and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations,” according to the NSF website.

A highly competitive grant award designed to establish a “lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research,” the CAREER Award is considered a clear indication of achievement. A number of UNLV faculty have received this prestigious award through the years; here is the story of one of them.

Sajjad Ahmad, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Sajjad Ahmad’s research brings a whole new meaning to the term “flow chart.”

The civil and environmental engineering professor conducts research on how the flow of water into certain geographical areas, particularly the Colorado River Basin, is affected by various environmental and human factors.

As part of this research, he produces complex charts and diagrams depicting water infrastructure and then introduces variables to see how they will impact water resources. The variables that he analyzes include climate change, land use, population growth, and energy needs, among others.

“The major contribution of this research is a new theoretical framework, based on a systems approach,” Ahmad says. “The goal is sustainable management of water resources that will reduce the vulnerability of water infrastructure to climate variability and change.”

He is developing what he calls a “decision support framework” that will be used to evaluate the vulnerability of infrastructure to climate change. Water systems as well as flood control systems will be evaluated. He will also analyze different short- and long-term policies for sustainable management of water resources.

What is the impact of this research?

The theoretical contributions of his work, including the new approaches and modeling tools, will be useful for other researchers in arid regions around the world, he says.

“But locally, the results of the research and the policy recommendations will be useful primarily to water management agencies, such as the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,” he says.

His decision support framework will be used to explore important questions in Southern Nevada, including:

o What are the major short- (by 2020) and long-term (by 2035) changes expected in population growth, land use, energy and water demand, and water availability?

o How vulnerable is water infrastructure to climate variability and change?

o What are the most promising, sustainable, and cost-effective policies for water management in response to growth and climate change?

Ahmad has received approximately $1.4 million in grant funding for this research from both the NSF and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

How did he become interested in this area of study?

“Floods were one of the frequent natural disasters when I was growing-up in Pakistan,” Ahmad says. “I always wondered if something could be done to reduce the damage that they caused.

“Later, as an undergraduate major in civil engineering, I had the opportunity to visit several large dams that were developed to meet flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectric power needs,” he adds. “This was the turning point in my life when I decided to do my graduate training in the area of water resources planning and management.”

As time went on, Ahmad also developed a larger concern for the environment that still guides his interest today.

“Considering the population growth in the Las Vegas Valley and the limited water supply from the Colorado River,” he says, “sustainable water management is a challenge for Southern Nevada, especially in the presence of climate variability and change. With my background in water resources planning and management, working to address this challenge is a natural fit for me.”

How are students involved?

Though Ahmad’s grant is fairly new, four graduate students have already been fully or partly funded through the grant, and two master’s-level students have completed their degrees. Once the project reaches a certain stage, undergraduate students will also be involved. In the final year of the grant, the team will even include several high school students.

What other areas does he study?

“I study stream flow forecasting with long lead times – greater than one year,” Ahmad says. “I’m also interested in the water-energy nexus. Our group is studying energy use in water and wastewater treatment plants and energy use in water distribution systems. We are also studying water conservation in semi-arid regions through desert landscaping, water-smart appliances, and water reuse.”

Collaborating with colleagues at other institutions, Ahmad has also contributed to research on malaria control efforts in sub-Saharan Africa with his study of water ponds that provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

How does he feel about receiving the NSF Career Award?

“I am humbled by this honor,” Ahmad says, noting that he is also grateful for the support of his colleagues Thomas Piechota and Jacimaria Batista, who provided guidance during the preparation of his proposal.

“The CAREER Award has allowed me to build an excellent team of students and researchers by providing a steady source of funds over five years,” he says. “The results produced by our research group have advanced understanding of important issues and have paved the way to other awards and recognition.”

Ahmad has also received the Graduate/Professional Student Association Outstanding Mentor Award, the College of Engineering Distinguished Researcher Award; the Barrick Scholar Award; and the Regent’s Rising Researcher Award.