Research Group - BITS Pilani

Dr. Rajiv Kumar Chaturvedi

Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Climate Change, Forests ecology and Public Policy

Office no. A-313/5 Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani K. K. Birla Goa Campus Zuari Nagar, Goa - 403726

rajivc@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in

0832-2580265

Ferdin Sylvester

He is a domain expert in sustainability and circular economy with 10+ years of experience in project management and implementation, DPR, monitoring & evaluation, social development and entrepreneurship, communication strategy, SDGs and environmental policy, program design pertaining to climate change and sustainability, waste management and livelihoods. He has done Master's in Environmental Engineering from Nanyang Tech University and Bachelor's in Biotechnology from Dayanand Sagar . Currently he is pursuing Ph.D in Mangroves as a climate change adaption & mitigation solution for building coastal resilience.

Email: p20240115@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in

Tel: +91-8970712668

Kulkarni Ashutosh Anilbhai

Ashutosh Kulkarni recently (November 2024) obtained his PhD from BITS-Pilani Goa Campus under the guidance of Dr. Rajiv Kumar Chaturvedi. His thesis title was “Impact of Climate Change on the Glaciers of Indus and Spiti River Basin.” He also holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Nirma University. He has also received a prestigious Nehru-Grimsson award to study advanced courses at University of Iceland in glaciology and remote sensing. He is currently working on applying machine learning models to estimate glacier mass balance in the Himalayas and hydrological modelling of Spiti River basin with a larger aim of developing adaptation solutions for village communities to ensure their water security.

Email: p20190077@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in

Tel: 7760024807

Lab: A-307

Kulkarni Ashutosh Anilbhai

Saranya S Deth (Intern)

Saranya S Deth, a student who pursuing her Masters in Disaster Management from the Kerala university of fisheries and ocean studies, kochi, Kerala. She joined as an intern for her MSc Dissetation in the Department of Humanities and Social Science, BITS Pilani, Goa campus. Currently she is working on the project named “Assessing Heat Index trends in the Western ghats and Coastal states: A Long-term Climatic Study with Mitigation Approaches”.

Email : saranyasdeth20@gmail.com

Tel: 8590797574

Lab: A-307

Sona Shine S (Intern)

Completed Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Kerala University. Currently pursuing MSc Disaster Management at Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, Kerala. Joined at BITS Pilani KK Birla, Goa Campus for MSc dissertation on the topic “Assessing Wildfire Exposure Zones in the Central Western Ghats of India- An Ensemble Model Approach”.

Tel: 8086222847

Email: sona22on@gmail.com

Neha Nishan Parsekar (Office Assistant)

Neha Nishan Parsekar is a B.Com graduate with extensive experience as an Office Assistant. She has worked in the administration department across multiple organizations, where she has gained valuable expertise in managing various office operations. Her responsibilities include scheduling appointments, maintaining office records, coordinating meetings, managing office supplies, and financial documentation. She is also skilled in managing office communication, and providing general administrative support to ensure smooth day-to-day office functioning.

Email: 2023proj017@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in

Tel: 8408995460

Lab: A-307

Aritra Bandopadhyay Ph.D. scholar (JRF – Institute Fellow)

Aritra Bandopadhyay is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at BITS Pilani, Goa Campus. He holds an Integrated M.Tech. in Geoinformatics from the Central University of Jharkhand. He completed his M.Tech. dissertation at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, on the topic Understanding Land-Atmosphere Interaction and Quantification of Extreme Precipitation Events. Additionally, he has undertaken multiple research internships.

Email: p20220017@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in

Tel: 95704 48407

Lab: A-307

Nasla Najeeb

Nasla Najeeb holds a bachelor's degree in Physics and a master's degree in Remote Sensing & GIS from KUFOS, Kerala. Her expertise encompasses satellite studies, spatial ecology, remote sensing, GIS, and climate studies. Previously, Nasla worked as a project associate at BITS Pilani Goa Campus on the project "Modelling Forest Phenological Parameters from Time Series Remote Sensing Data" and also served as a project associate at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. Currently, she is engaged in research on biodiversity and biomass estimation using multi-sensor data and machine learning algorithms in the Western Ghats region."

Email: p20230027@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in

Tel: 7593 943 670

Lab: A-307

Bhawani Shankar (Doctoral Research and Research Fellow)

Bhawani Shankar has completed a Master's in Remote Sensing & GIS from the Central University of Jharkhand. He has previously served as a Senior Analyst in the WDSC department of the Govt. of Raj. and also worked on a land restoration project in Chhattisgarh with the Netherlands-based NGO Commonland. Currently, he is a Doctoral Researcher and Research Fellow at BITS Pilani, Goa. He is a UGC JRF Fellow.

Email: p20230040@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in

Tel: 8952973364

Lab: A-307

Jyothika Karkala (Project Assistant)

Jyothika Karkala holds a Master's degree in Remote Sensing Applications from Kuvempu University. Her expertise includes 3D mapping with stereo drone and aircraft images, and teaching Geoinformatics to master's students. Currently, she is a Project Assistant at BITS Pilani, Goa Campus, working on a MoEFCC Sponsored project titled “LULUCF Sector Studies for India’s First Biennial Transparency Report(BTR-1), Fourth Biennial Update Report(BUR-4), and Fourth National Communication(4NC)". She has co-authored six research articles and one book chapter on precipitation extremes, drought, and hydrometeorological studies.

Email: 2023proj054@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in

Tel: 9845321701

Lab: A-307

Dr. Sanjay Kumar (Postdoctoral Researcher)

Sanjay Kumar has completed his MSc in Remote Sensing and GIS from Kumaun University and then earned an MTech in Geoinformatics from GJU. In February 2023, He obtained his PhD in Geoinformatics from Kuvempu University. His doctoral research focused on analyzing the rainfall and drought scenarios in Tumakuru, a district in Karnataka. Presently he is pursuing Postdoctoral research with an ICSSR fellowship from BITS Pilani, Goa, where he is analyzing the effects of climate change on the Western Ghats.

Email: 2023pdf002@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in

Tel: 8398085208

Lab: A-307

JOYAL ARYA (Research Fellow)

Joyal Arya has obtained masters in the disciplines of Botany (MSU, Vadodara) and Remote Sensing & GIS (IIRS, ISRO). His expertise spans across Plant Identification, Spatial Ecology, Remote Sensing & GIS, as well as Machine Learning & AI, and Modelling for Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Joyal have previously served as an Associate GIS Analyst in a software firm and presently working as a Doctoral researcher and Research Fellow in the ISEF project, focusing on "Capacity Building for Modelling India’s Long-Term Land Use Emissions." Currently, Joyal works on the Integrated Assessment Models for monitoring India’s Land-Use Emissions.

Email: p20230024@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in
Tel: +91 9687048026
Lab: A-307

ALEX M J (Research Fellow)

Alex MJ completed Msc. Oceanography from Cochin University of Science and Technology in 2018. And joined as Project Associate in National Institute of Oceanography, Goa worked on the projects “Role of mixed layer salinity on the physics and biogeochemistry of Bay of Bengal: Subseasonal to interannual timescales” and “Variability of upper layer temperature and salinity fields in the Indian Seas”, published their findings in leading journals. Currently working as Research Fellow in the ISEF Sponsored project entitled “Capacity Building for informing India’s Climate Actions-Agriculture, Forestry and other land uses” at BITS Pilani, KK Birla, Goa Campus since June 2024.

Email: 2023proj072@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in
Tel: +91 9605828721
Lab: A-307

Fathima FItha J (Research Fellow)

Fathima Fitha J, a climate change adaptation postgraduate from the College of Climate Change and Environmental Science, Kerala Agricultural University in the year 2023. She completed her MSc dissertation from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune. She closely works on climate change and vegetation dynamic models. She joined as a research fellow in the department of Humanities and Social Science, BITS Pilani, Goa Campus. Currently she is working on the project "Capacity building for informing India's climate actions - AFOLU Sector

Email: 2023proj070@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in

Tel: 6282606520

Lab: A- 313/1

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Dr. Rajiv Kumar Chaturvedi

Ferdin Sylvester

Kulkarni Ashutosh Anilbhai

Saranya S Deth (Intern)

Sona Shine S (Intern)

Neha Nishan Parsekar (Office Assistant)

Aritra Bandopadhyay Ph.D. scholar (JRF – Institute Fellow)

Nasla Najeeb

Bhawani Shankar (Doctoral Research and Research Fellow)

Jyothika Karkala (Project Assistant)

Dr. Sanjay Kumar (Postdoctoral Researcher)

JOYAL ARYA (Research Fellow)

ALEX M J (Research Fellow)

Fathima FItha J (Research Fellow)

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