Dr. Zafar Bhatti, an experienced engineer in water and wastewater infrastructural facility design and a skilled regulatory compliance official, has joined the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University as an associate professor of practice. He has more than 18 years of experience in public service, four years as a lead process engineer with consulting engineering companies, five years in environmental protection in a developing country and five years of teaching experience at international universities.
With his long association with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Bhatti brings a unique perspective on regulatory compliance, including permits, licenses and field operations.
"Legislative compliance is my strength, and I bring a well-proportioned experience on the design and compliance of water and wastewater infrastructure facilities, stakeholder communications, and professional ethics and responsibilities," he said. "These are the basic ingredients of a professional engineer, and I plan to teach these strengths to our students, the leaders of tomorrow."
Bhatti has previous teaching experience and was ready to return to the classroom when he saw the opportunity at Texas A&M.
"I have taught in the past, and teaching is something that I enjoy," he said. "I had heard about Texas A&M University, and I knew it was a high-ranking university, so I didn't feel hesitant to apply. The rest is history, and I am happy to be here."
Bhatti said his favorite part of teaching is that he also learns when he teaches.
"When I am teaching the students, I must understand the contents of my lectures, but teaching the same lecture recurrently consolidates the basic concepts and allows me to comprehend further possibilities on the subject," he said.
Bhatti received his bachelor's in civil engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore, Pakistan, a master’s in civil engineering from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, and a doctorate in environmental engineering from Osaka University in Osaka, Japan. His research interests include fixed-film biological wastewater treatment systems, anaerobic wastewater treatment systems, drinking water treatment and environmental policy.