Divya Pant Email & Phone Number

United States

As the CEO and Founder of Carbon Away and a global business partner in the Waste to Energy Project, I lead innovative initiatives to transform food and agricultural waste into valuable resources while combating climate change. Our startup, Carbon Away, aims to integrate a holistic approach to waste management into a sustainable commercial model. We gained recognition by winning second place in a student business pitch competition at Penn State, which provided seed funding for our pilot project. The Waste to Energy Project, backed by the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) with a $250,000 investment, operates an anaerobic digester in Dhangadi Sub Metropolitan City, Nepal. This facility processes 30 tons of organic waste daily, generating 1,200 kg of biogas and 3.5 tons of fertilizer.Key Contributions:- Secured second place in a Penn State student business pitch competition, funding the pilot project. Developed a sustainable business model for converting organic waste into economic, social, and environmental value.- Established an anaerobic digester in Nepal with a $250,000 investment, processing 30 tons of waste daily.-Fostered partnerships with local organizations, including Dev Training and Management Service Center Pvt. Ltd., to provide training to 120 farmers.- Coordinated with 4 academic institutions and 3 nonprofit organizations to research social, environmental, and economic impacts of the project.- Built collaborations with 5 agriculture startups to enhance the project's research and implementation in Nepal.

As a Graduate Research Assistant at Penn State University, I spearhead life cycle assessments for NSF and USDA-funded projects, specializing in circular nitrogen bioeconomy and sustainable biomass energy. I oversee interdisciplinary collaboration, data integration, and stakeholder engagement to evaluate environmental impacts and advance regenerative agriculture. My role involves conducting in-depth environmental impact analyses, crafting detailed reports, and sharing insights through academic publications and conferences. I actively contribute to advancing sustainable agricultural practices and promote innovative environmental strategies.Key Contributions:- Led comprehensive life cycle assessments for major NSF and USDA sustainability projects.- Managed and analyzed large datasets using openLCA software.- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to refine research methodologies.- Presented key findings to stakeholders and academic forums.- Published research and contributed to conferences on sustainable agriculture.- Promoted regenerative agriculture and environmental strategies through outreach activities.

Lamjung, Nepal

o Identify, organize, and coordinate programs and thereby deliver hands-on training to foster community development, youth mobilization for climate actions, and women empowerment into sustainable agriculture and food security.o Collaborated with Gov, NGO & private funding agencies to organize green climate, leadership/community development program for undergraduates, food security, and conservation agriculture training for farmers.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Agricultural Engineering

Master'S Degree, Agronomy And Crop Science, 3.9

Activities and Societies: Nominated and recognized for outstanding academic achievement and leadership potential at the graduate level.

Bachelor'S Degree In Agriculture Science, Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And Related Sciences, High Distinction

High School, Science, Major Biology, Distinction