Dr. Tabassum Abbasi

Dr. Tabassum Abbasi is a faculty member in the Sustainability Cluster. She received her bachelor’s degree in Instrumentation and Control Engineering (2012), master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and Management (2014), and PhD in Environmental Technology (2021), all from Pondicherry University, graduating at the top of her class and receiving gold medals throughout her academic journey. Dr. Abbasi’s research focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to quantify the environmental impacts of anthropogenic activities. In parallel, she has been actively involved in developing and refining novel, low-cost, clean and green technologies for wastewater treatment and solid waste management in developing countries. She is the author of several research papers in indexed journals, three authored books, and has received three patents. 

Dr. Tabassum has served as an Assistant Professor at UPES for seven years since joining in 2019. She was promoted to Senior Scale in 2022 and to Selection Grade in 2025. She also spent a year (2023–2024) in postdoctoral research at the University of Edinburgh on a Women in STEM Fellowship sponsored by the British Council. 

Application of AI techniques in modelling environmental systems and their impacts; assessing the environmental impact of renewable energy sources; modelling the Climate–Land–Energy–Water nexus; development of green, inexpensive, and efficient technologies for wastewater treatment and solid waste management; process safety and risk assessment. 

As a teacher, Dr. Abbasi strives to create an ambience of collective learning, wherein students are encouraged to critically analyse what is taught and participate with the teacher in framing and answering incisive questions. She enriches her lectures with visuals and anecdotes to make the classroom experience engaging for students. 

Dr. Tabassum teaches courses for the M.Tech Health, Safety and Environment; B.Tech Fire and Safety Engineering; and B.Tech/M.Tech Sustainability Engineering programmes. Her courses include Environmental Pollution and Control, Process Safety and Security, Process Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Programming for Engineers, Industrial Hygiene Lab, Water Supply, Refugee Health and Sanitation in Emergencies, Principles of Safety Management, and many more. 

Dr. Tabassum was awarded the Gold Medal for securing first rank in her M.Tech Environmental Engineering programme. She was also a medal winner in her B.Tech programme. She received the British Council-sponsored Women in STEM Fellowship to pursue postdoctoral research at the University of Edinburgh in 2023. 

Dr. Tabassum has authored several research papers in indexed journals, earning over 1,900 citations. Besides an authored book published by Academic Press, she has two books in press with Springer and Taylor & Francis. Additionally, she has received three patents. Her scholarly work reflects a strong commitment to sustainable technologies, environmental systems modelling, and the application of artificial intelligence for addressing pressing environmental challenges. Through research, publications, and innovation, she continues to contribute meaningfully to sustainability science and engineering education. 

tabbasi@ddn.upes.ac.in