A/Prof
Sherub PhuntshoProfile page
Associate Professor
School of Civil, Environmental & Sociotechnical ENG
- Associate ProfessorSchool of Civil, Environmental & Sociotechnical ENG
- (02) 9514 2582 (Work)
- University of Technology Sydney, School of Civil and Evironmental Engineering, Faculty of Enginering and Information Technology, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
BIO
Dr Sherub Phuntsho is an Associate Professor at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT), University of Technology Sydney (UTS). He is a core member of the Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater (CTWW) and a globally recognized expert in membrane technologies, water and wastewater treatment, desalination, nutrient circular economy, onsite sanitation and humanitarian engineering.
Dr Phuntsho holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering and a Master of Engineering from UTS, and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from SVRCET (now SVNIT), Surat, Gujarat in India. Prior to his academic career, he served in various capacities with the Royal Government of Bhutan from 2001 to 2008, where he led national initiatives in urban waste management and infrastructure development under the DANIDA funded Environment and Urban Sector Programme Support project.
His research interest spans green hydrogen, humanitarian engineering, desalination, brine mining, resource recovery, circular economy, and climate change adaptation. He has led numerous impactful projects, including:
- A solar-powered capacitive deionization system for off-grid desalination in Tuvalu, in collaboration with UNDP and the Government of Tuvalu.
- A biofilter-based wastewater treatment system using recycled plastic bottles, developed with the Royal University of Bhutan, currently piloted at CST and funded by the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation.
- Converting human urine into liquid fertiliser through membrane processes
- Pioneering work on the application of fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis (FDFO) for sustainable fertigation.
Dr Phuntsho has secured over AUD 10 million in research funding and achieved about 190 academic publications as of July 2025.
At UTS, he teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including:
- Fluid Mechanics (48641)
- Water and Environmental Design (48881)
- Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment (42991)
He is an editorial board member and subject editor of the Process Safety and Environmental Protection and Membranes), and serves as a subject editor and guest editor for special issues in these journals.
Dr Phuntsho actively engages in community and professional service. He served as the President of the Sydney Bhutanese Community Association (2017-2024) and Vice President of Kharchu Centre Australia (2017-22024). He has also served as a co-chair and organizing committee member for several international conferences, including CECE 2024, IFOS, and IMSTEC.
Prospective PhD applicants should contact A/Prof Phuntsho for inquiry to join his research group.
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY APPOINTMENTS
- Associate ProfessorUniversity of Technology Sydney, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & IT, Sydney, Australia5 Jan 2024 - present
- Senior LecturerUniversity of Technology Sydney, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Sydney, Australia1 Jan 2020 - 4 Jan 2024
- LecturerUniversity of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, Sydney, Australia1 Jan 2018 - 31 Dec 2019
- Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research FellowUniversity of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, Sydney, AustraliaJan 2015 - Dec 2017
- Postdoctoral Research FellowUniversity of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, Sydney, AustraliaAug 2012 - Dec 2014
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY ORGANISATIONAL UNITS MEMBERSHIP
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
- School Academic Advisor for UG and PG studentsUniversity of Technology Sydney, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Sydney, Australia1 Jan 2023 - present
- Visiting Research ScholarYale University, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, New Haven, CT, United States1 Sep 2017 - 29 Dec 2017
- Member of School Research CommitteeUniversity of Technology Sydney, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Sydney, Australia1 Jan 2025 - present
NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS
- Head of the Urban Waste Management SectionRoyal Government of Bhutan, Department of Urban Development & Engineering Services, Ministry of Works & Human Settlements, Thimphu, Bhutan1 Nov 2006 - 10 Feb 2009
- Dy. Executive EngineerRoyal Government of Bhutan, Environment and Urban Sector Program Support, Department of Urban Development & Engineering Services, Ministry of Works & Human Settlements, Thimphu, Bhutan1 Jul 2004 - 10 Feb 2005
- Assistant Program Manager/Assistant EngineerRoyal Government of Bhutan, Urban Sector Program Support, Department of Urban Development & Housing, Ministry of Communications, Thimphu, Bhutan1 Jan 2001 - 30 Jun 2004
DEGREES
- PhDUniversity of Technology, Sydney, Sydney, Australia16 Feb 2009 - 17 Mar 2013
- M.EUniversity of Technology, Sydney, Sydney, Australia15 Feb 2005 - 30 Jun 2006
- B.ES.V.R College of Engineering & Technology, South Gujarat University, Surat, India1 Jul 1996 - 30 Jun 2000
LANGUAGES
- EnglishCan read, write, speak, understand and peer review
- DzongkhaCan read, write, speak and understand
- NepaliCan speak and understand
- HindiCan speak and understand
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
- 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
- 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
- 13 Climate Action
- 14 Life Below Water
PROFILE TYPE
- Academic
AVAILABILITY
- Masters Research or PhD student supervision
- Collaborative projects
- Industry Projects
- Join a web conference as a panellist or speaker
- Membership of an advisory committee
- Mentoring (long-term)
- Mentoring (short-term)
- Teaching provision
- Technical support