Education
Brief Bio
Dr. Achyuth Ravilla is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Portland State University. There he assessed the environmental and economic sustainability of solar and green hydrogen technologies, including work at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maine, he conducted economic analyses of composite bridge systems and sustainability assessments of emerging PFAS treatment technologies. His research combines life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) to build decision-support frameworks for early-stage technologies. At SD Mines, he focuses on advanced water treatment, PFAS treatment, and critical materials recovery, helping stakeholders understand trade-offs and move promising technologies toward commercialization.
Research Expertise
Dr. Ravilla develops decision-support frameworks that combine life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis (TEA), and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) to evaluate emerging technologies early in development. His current research focuses on advanced water treatment, PFAS treatment and destruction, and critical materials extraction and recycling, building on prior work in solar energy, green hydrogen, and sustainable infrastructure. His work helps researchers, industry, and policymakers understand environmental and economic trade-offs and guides promising technologies toward commercialization.
Teaching
Dr. Ravilla teaches courses in environmental engineering science and water treatment. He emphasizes the fundamental principles and design of treatment processes and their practical application in engineering. In Spring 2027, he will teach CEE 326: Environmental Engineering and Science I and CEE 426/526: Environmental Engineering Unit Operations and Processes. He previously taught Building Energy Use Modeling at Portland State University.