Education

Chemical Engineering

B.Tech ChE
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
1982

Engineering Science

M.S.
University of California, San Diego
1983

Engineering Science (Biochemical Engineering)

PhD
University of California, San Diego
1986

Expertise

Bioenvironmental Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, Protein Purification, Appropriate Technology, Engineering Ethics, Service Learning

His bioenvironmental engineering research has focused on the use of biological technologies for the remediation of contaminated environmental media. As a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar to India in 2006-07, he organized and conducted a Symposium on Biological Methods of Waste Treatment in South India, the proceedings of which were published as an edited book. His appropriate technology research has had specific focus on technologies for water treatment and conservation, renewable energy production using solar and biomass resources, and waste management and resource recovery.  Professor Tharakan’s scholarly work has also focused on the ethics and philosophy of technology, with particular emphasis on the role of the research university in sustainable development. As Faculty Adviser to Howard University’s Engineers Without Borders student chapter, he has worked on appropriate water, sanitation and energy technology implementation in developing communities in Senegal and Kenya (http://www.howard.edu/Kenya). He has also served as Chair or Co-Chair of an on-going series of biennial International Conferences on Appropriate Technology (2004 – 2018) that have been held across Africa bringing together academics, researchers, practitioners and community groups to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer for social justice (http://www.appropriatetech.net), and he has served as the editor for the published proceedings of these conferences. From 2015 – 2016, he served as Fulbright-Nehru Senior Research Scholar, resident at the Cochin University of Science and Technology, where his research focused on the social impact assessment of innovative and appropriate technologies in the areas of water, energy and the environment.

Accomplishments

Senior Fulbright Research Scholar

As a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar to India in 2006-07, he organized and conducted a Symposium on Biological Methods of Waste Treatment in South India, the proceedings of which were published as an edited book.

Senior Fulbright-Nehru Scholar

From 2015 – 2016, he served as Fulbright-Nehru Senior Research Scholar, resident at the Cochin University of Science and Technology, where his research focused on the social impact assessment of innovative and appropriate technologies in the areas of water, energy and the environment.