Jay N. Meegoda, PhD, PE, is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at NJIT who utilizes scientific concepts and engineering technologies in his research to provide solutions to real-world problems. Among Meegoda’s most notable accomplishments has been pioneering contributions to centrifugal testing of soil contamination, micro mechanics of asphalt concrete, ultrasound to decontaminate dredged sediments, reuse of chromium-contaminated soils to produce chrom-steel, and development of a smart pipe and inexpensive solar water heater.

Meegoda has worked with state and local governments and foreign governments to provide technical input for broad range of problems. At NJIT, Meegoda as PI has successfully concluded several multidisciplinary research projects with total over $6M from agencies such as NSF, USEPA, US Army, FHWA, NJDOT and NJDEP that provides broader impact to the society. Some of those technologies are now extensively used while others are to be commercialized.

More recently, in addition to his classroom responsibilities, Meegoda helped create and serves as faculty advisor to the NJIT chapter of Engineers Without Borders. Under his direction, the group has worked since 2007 to bring potable water to a small village in northern Haiti. During the recent earthquake, Haitians called on students as well as Meegoda to determine via photos and discussions the integrity of buildings.

In 2010, Meegoda was named a Fellow by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).  The ASCE awards fellowships to civil engineers who have made significant technical or professional contributions to the profession, hold a PE license, and have at least 10 years of exceptional, responsible engineering experience gained while at member grade in ASCE.

Meegoda has published over 150 papers including over 60 journal papers. He has received the best practice paper award from the Environmental and Water Resources Institute of ASCE in May 2001 for the paper describing the results of one USEPA SITE demonstration project. His presentation is based on research he conducted for the New Jersey Department of Transportation and it is a modified version of the invited presentations to the ASCE New Jersey section, NJDOT and Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.

He received a PhD in civil engineering in 1985 from the University of California-Davis; an MS in civil engineering in 1983 from the University of California-Davis; and a BSc (Hon.) in civil engineering in 1980 from the University of Sri Lanka.

Last update: July 29, 2010