Dr. Gaj Sivandran is an environmental engineer specializing in ecohydrology, sustainable development, and climate resilience. Holding a PhD from MIT and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Western Australia (referred to by Aussies as “U DUB”) in finance and environmental engineering, Gaj’s research focuses on integrating plant-water interactions into land surface models, studying contaminant fate and transport of nonpoint source pollution, and enhancing the climate resilience of water resources.

With significant industry experience, particularly at the Boston Consulting Group, Dr. Sivandran has led projects on decarbonization, circular economy initiatives, and carbon capture technologies across North America and Europe. His work encompasses developing strategies for the electrification and decarbonization of steel, implementing carbon capture and sequestration for cement, and advancing recycling technologies for plastics circularity. Additionally, Gaj has managed water and sanitation projects for the Red Cross during the 2005 Indian Ocean Tsunami, showcasing his dedication to applying engineering solutions in crisis situations.

Throughout his career, Gaj has held positions at Loyola University Chicago (2016-2022) and The Ohio State University (2012-2016). At Loyola, he played a pivotal role in obtaining ABET accreditation for the new Engineering program and developed a specialized curriculum focusing on environmental engineering, emphasizing active learning and project-based pedagogies.

In his leisure time, Gaj enjoys hiking and outdoor activities with his family, including his daughter, Ella who’s 9, and partner, Bec. Currently, he’s training for a 100-mile ultramarathon. Having spent 12 years running in the flatlands of the Midwest, Gaj acknowledges the need for additional hill workouts before tackling the terrain of Seattle.