Bio
I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering at the University of Arizona. I am widely interested in analyzing the economic and environmental sustainability of technologies through the application of techno-economic and life cycle assessment tools. I am also enthusiastic about utilizing machine learning and the big data approach for ensuring technology sustainability.
Originally from Bangladesh, I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Production Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Being brought up in the world’s most densely populated and polluted country where scarcity of natural resources is a major hindrance to the development of society, I came to realize the importance of preserving the ecology and the environment through sustainability principles. This realization induced me to engage myself in the study of environmental systems through data analysis and optimization.
I am very much passionate about pursuing a research career at a renowned company that will provide me opportunities to contribute to sustainable technology development.
Education
My Studies
University of Arizona
August 2019 - Present
Ph.D. In Systems & Industrial Engineering
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology
May 2012-February 2017
B.Sc. in Industrial and Production Engineering
Professional Experience
Background & Expertise
August 2019 - Present
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Systems & Industrial Engineering, University of Arizona
Significant projects:
Microbial Curing of Cement for Energy Application
Ligand Facilitated Bioaccumulation: Biomining of Rare Earth and Other Critical Metals from Electronic Wastes
Sustainable Recycling of Rare Earth Elements from NdFeB Magnet Swarf
June 2017 - November 2018
Research Assistant, Department of Industrial & Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Analysis of Supply Chain Risks and Critical Success Factors to Ready-Made Garments Industry of Bangladesh
July 2017-June 2018
Lecturer, Department of Industrial & Production Engineering, Military Institute of Science and Technology
Measuring, Instrumentation, and Control; Managerial Accounting; Mechanical Drawing Session; Manufacturing Process Session; Computer-Aided Design
Research Interest
Ecology & Environment
Data analytics & machine learning
Techno-economic assessment
Optimization
Process Modeling & Simulation
Supply chain management
Publications
Chowdhury, N. A., Ali, S. M., Mahtab, Z., Rahman, T., Kabir, G., & Paul, S. K. (2019). A structural model for investigating the driving and dependence power of supply chain risks in the readymade garment industry. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 51, 102-113.
Chowdhury, N. A., Ali, S. M., Paul, S. K., Mahtab, Z., & Kabir, G. (2020). A hierarchical model for critical success factors in apparel supply chain. Business Process Management Journal.
Chowdhury, N. A., Deng, S., Jin, H., Prodius, D., Nlebedim, I. C. & Sutherland, J. W. (2021). Sustainable recycling of rare earth elements from NdFeB magnet swarf: techno-economic and environmental perspectives. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.
Chowdhury, N. A., Jin, H., Nlebedim, I. C., Ginosar, D. M. & Handwerker, C. (2021). Circular economy of hard disk drives and rare earth elements (in preparation).
Presentations & Awards
N. A. Chowdhury, “Sustainable Recycling of Rare Earth Elements from Nd-Fe-B Magnet Swarf: Techno-Economic and Environmental Perspectives”, 2021 CMI Winter Meeting at Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
N. A. Chowdhury, “Sustainable Recycling of Rare Earth Elements from Nd-Fe-B Magnet Swarf: Techno-Economic and Environmental Perspectives”, ACLCA 2021 virtual conference (September 21-24).
N. A. Chowdhury, “Sustainable Recycling of Rare Earth Elements from Nd-Fe-B Magnet Swarf: Techno-Economic and Environmental Perspectives”, GRADSLAM 2020, Systems & Industrial Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. (Awarded 3rd best presentation)
My Skill Set
Application
Microsoft Office
Adobe Illustrator
Simulation
SimaPro
SuperPro Designer
ARENA
Minitab
Programming
C
MATLAB
R, Python
Design
SolidWorks
CATIA
AutoCAD
Extra Curricular Activities
Student volunteer, ACLCA conference 2019, El Conquistador, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Champion (regional level), Math Olympiad-2010, Bangladesh
Cultural faculty advisor, Department of Industrial & Production Engineering, MIST, Bangladesh
Event Management Secretary, Department of Industrial & Production Engineering, BUET, Bangladesh
Performer, Cultural festival, Department of Industrial & Production Engineering, BUET, Bangladesh
"If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done"
Thomas Jefferson
