Rosicky Kalombe, Ph.D. Email and Phone Number

As a Project Engineer, RM Kalombe is part of the team that works to construct the Stowe Headworks, Influent Pumping Station, and Mount Holly Pumping Station. Responsibilities:Manages project documents, including drawings, specifications, proposals, RFIs, submittals, and response letters. Reviewed submittals and distributed response packages to contractors to ensure they received timely feedback and approvals.Conducts onsite visits to ensure the construction work proceeded according to the design and specifications. Communicated with field engineers for daily progress reports on the projects.Collaborates with engineering and project managers to develop efficient methods and practices. Communicate weekly with contractors, clients/owners about the progress and details of the projects onsite.As a Resident Project Representative, RM Kalombe inspected the installation of approximately 24,300 LF of 36-inch and 3,200 LF of 16-inch ductile iron water transmission pipeline for 853W Zone Improvements, Phase 1 Transmission Main; about 4,900 LF of 16-inch ductile iron water transmission pipeline for the 853W Zone Improvements, Phase II – Secrest Shortcut Road; and constructed a new 3 MGD pumping station for Waxhaw Gravity Interceptor, Pump Station & Force Main. Responsibilities:Oversaw daily site activities and ensured compliance with design and specifications. Updated project managers about the field's daily progress activities. Managed field construction issues and facilitated drawings and specifications interpretation to superintendents, supervisors, or project managers.Inspected field tests (hydrostatic pressure/leakage tests and compaction soil and asphalt test), electrical conduits, duck bank, control panel, and generator installation, including pump station starting test. Wrote the punch list at the end of the project.Recorded hourly/daily labor, equipment activities, and materials used.Managed project control, particularly the Pay App process

Civil Engineering Materials and Geology.R.M. Kalombe worked on several projects: (i) treated wastewater containing nutrients with lab-made concrete filter media, water sample analyzed using ion chromatography (IC). (ii) Developed experimental designs and run experiments where he synthesized individual or blended phase change materials (PCMs), such as coconut oil, soybean oil, and paraffin wax. Conducted field tests of concrete samples containing TESA in winter and summer seasons in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. (iii) Investigated MCE Pavix (phase change material) using the DSC, TGA, XRD, SEM, heat of hydration, volume change, surface resistivity, water absorption, and compressive strength. (iv) Characterized and substituted cement with ground glass to produce concrete. (v) Investigated freeze and thaw cycles of different types of concrete using a Python program. (vi) Graded and replaced lightweight aggregate (LWA) with bottom coal fly ash to produce concrete using SEM, XRD, and compressive strength.(vii) Read and reviewed literatures articles, wrote experimental procedures and performed experiments. Wrote and published journal articles.He also served as a lab assistant for undergraduate students, and helping them with their coursework and experiments under the supervision of the professor. Guided them in performing experiments and writing reports and articles.

Ph.D. dissertation title "Thermal energy storage aggregate using low-cost organic phase change materials." This study aimed to create a process of incorporating household organic PCMs into expanded clay LWA to form TESA to be used in the production of concrete capable of enhancing the thermal insulation of infrastructure in summer and resisting freezing and thawing cycles inwinter weather.The novel findings of this study are (i) the produced and characterized blends of coconut and soybean oil (COSO) and paraffin wax and soybean oil (PWSO). (ii) The impregnation of COSO, PWSO, and PW to form TESA. (iii) First, actual field-collected data on the performance of TESA concrete in winter and summer weather.The findings of this study demonstrated the positive impacts of low-cost PCMs in producing new building materials capable of providing excellent thermal insulation in summer and great resistance to freezing and thawing cycles in winter, thus improving the thermal infrastructure performance in developed/developing countries in different weather conditions. Two articles and one Ph.D. dissertation were published and available online.

R.M. Kalombe (i) Designed, constructed, commissioned, and optimized a scale-up pilot plant from 80-L to 1500-L for treating acid mine drainage using coal fly ash. This demonstrates expertise in process engineering and optimization. The treatment process offers a cradle-to-cradle solution to acid mine drainage and coal fly ash. Led and trained employees and contractors in operating the pilot plant, sample collection, result analysis, and report writing. (ii) Led a pilot plant's scaled-up project and ran experiments to recycle wastewater and solid wastes. Wrote and published research proposals and journal articles. (iii) Developed project documents and reviewed/approved proposals. (iv) Developed formulations and conditions using coal fly ash to synthesize geopolymers for building materials like roofing tiles and paving bricks and led and trained employees in conducting experiments and mechanical tests. (v) Conducted bench-scale studies on passive treatment of acid mine drainage using coal fly ash and conducted column leaching studies, analyzing pollutant removal percentages. (vi) Characterized liquid (mine water) and solid waste (coal fly ash) using ICP-OES, IC, XRD, XRF, SEM, and EDS. (vii) Oversaw material procurement safety protocols, emphasizing the research group's commitment to safety in engineering processes. (viii) Wrote and compiled safety files for pilot plant implementations, indicating the dedication to safety and regulatory compliance in industrial processes. (ix) Discussed with contractors and funders to plan and execute process construction projects, ranging from bench-scale to pilot plant scale.

R.M. Kalombe assisted residents in receiving medical assistance and other necessities where he also learned how to communicate with different types of people with other emotions and morals.