Profiles of the Organizing Committee members - IGAC Project

Dr. Vinayak Sinha
Indian Institute of Science
Education and Research
Mohali (IISER-M), SAS Nagar,
Manauli PO, 140 306
vsinha@iisermohali.ac.in
Dr. Lokesh Kumar Sahu,
Physical Research
Laboratory (PRL)
Ahmedabad 380 009, INDIA
lokesh@prl.res.in
Dr. Ramya S. Raman,
Indian Institute of Science
Education and Research
Bhopal (IISER-B)
Bhopal 462 023, INDIA
ramyasr@iiserb.ac.in
Dr. Anoop Mahajan,
Indian Institute of
Tropical Meteorology,
(IITM, Pune)
Pune 422 008, INDIA
anoop@tropmet.res.in
Dr. Shubha Verma,
Indian Institute of
Technology Kharagpur
(IIT-KGP)
Kharagpur 721 302, INDIA
shubha@iitkgp.ac.in
Dr. Sachin S. Gunthe,
Indian Institute of
Technology Madras
(IIT-M)
Chennai 600 036, INDIA
s.gunthe@iitm.ac.in
1 | Member profiles

Dr. Lokesh K. Sahu; PRL Ahmedabad
Lokesh Kumar Sahu, PhD
Reader, Space and Atmospheric Sciences Division
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad - 380 009, India.
Tel: +91 (0)79 - 2631 4553, Fax: - 2631 4900
lokesh@prl.res.in
Dr. Lokesh Kumar Sahu did his Bachelor and M.Sc. in Physics from the department of School of
Studies in Physics Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India. He joined Physical
Research Laboratory (PRL) for the Ph.D. program in 1998 and obtained the degree from Mohan
Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, India. He was a Research Associate in the Indian Institute of
Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune during May-October 2006. He was awarded the prestigious
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) fellowship to work in the University of
Tokyo during October 2006-October 2008. Later, he was a Special Researcher in the University
of Tokyo during November 2008-July 2010. He has received the Certificate of Appreciation
from the President of the JSPS, Government of Japan, 2007. The National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) Group Achievement Award in 2009 for outstanding
accomplishments in the successful Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from
Aircraft and Satellite mission in Alaska and Canada. Dr. Lokesh is an executive member of the
Indian Science Association in Japan (ISAJ). He has been working in the topics of atmospheric
trace gases and aerosols such as ozone, black carbon and reactive species like volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) in the troposphere using ground-based, ship-borne and aircraft observations.
Dr. Lokesh has published more than 35 papers in peer reviewed journals. He has been involved
in several research projects of the NASA, Japan Science Technology (JST), Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO), Asia Pacific Network (APN), etc. Presently he is a Reader in the
Space and Atmospheric Sciences Division of PRL, India.
2 | Member profiles

Dr. Ramya S. Raman; IISER-B, Bhopal
RAMYA SUNDER RAMAN, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Coordinator
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal
Transit campus: ITI (Gas Rahat) Building, Govindpura
Bhopal – 462 023, Madhya Pradesh, INDIA
Phone: 91-755-4092 321; Fax: 91-755-4092 392
Email: ramyasr@iiserb.ac.in
Web: http://www.iiserbhopal.ac.in/faculty/~Ramya-Sunder-Raman.html
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, PhD (Chemical Engineering), 2007
Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA.
PhD dissertation title: Investigation of the nature and behavior of carbonaceous aerosol, and
source apportionment of ambient fine particulate matter
Advisor: Prof. Philip. K. Hopke
Master of Science, MS (Chemical Engineering), 2005
Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA.
MS thesis title: Analysis of water-soluble short-chain organic acids in ambient particles Advisor:
Prof. Philip. K. Hopke
Bachelor of Engineering, BE (Chemical), 2002
R.V College of Engineering, Bangalore, India
Affiliated to Vishwesvariah Technological University (VTU)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2009-present Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, IISER,
Bhopal, INDIA
2008-2009 Post-doctoral Fellow, Space and Atmospheric Sciences Division, Physical
Research Laboratory, PRL, Ahmedabad, INDIA
2007 Post-doctoral Fellow, Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science,
Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
3 | Member profiles

Dr. Ramya S. Raman; IISER-B, Bhopal
RESEARCH
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research focuses on investigating source-receptor relationships for airborne pollutants. I am
specifically interested in understanding the chemical composition and optical properties of
ambient particles. I also focus on studying the atmospheric transformations of aerosol and assess
their relationships with gaseous co-pollutants, and understand how specific aerosol sources affect
climate. The overall goals of my work are to provide scientific inputs for policy making, and
develop strategies/control technologies to protect human, animal, and plant health.
While it is well recognized that changes in greenhouse gas concentrations
influence climate there remains considerable uncertainty in our understanding of the role of
aerosols and their interplay with gaseous co-pollutants in regulating and altering climate, both on
regional and global scales. In an effort to overcome this gap in understanding a lot of recent
scientific studies have focused on the climate forcing effects of aerosols in general, and black
carbon in particular. Research efforts have also highlighted the conflicting role of black carbon
(warming) and sulfate (cooling) aerosols in radiative forcing. Additionally, recent studies have
shown that ambient aerosols influence climate not only via direct radiative forcing and indirect
aerosol-cloud interactions, but also through biogeochemical feedbacks on longer time-scales. My
research activities are an endeavor to contribute as many “pieces” as possible to help solve the
“aerosol induced climate change puzzle”.
ONGOING PROJECTS
1. “Chemical Profiling of Airborne Crustal Material to Enhance the Source Resolution of
Receptor Models” – funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of
India.
2. “Fine Particles over an Ecologically Sensitive Zone-Source Apportionment, Visibility and
Climate Effects” – funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.
4 | Member profiles

Dr. Vinayak Sinha; IISER-M, Mohali
Short CV
Dr Vinayak Sinha
Assistant Professor
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)
Mohali,
Knowledge City, Sector 81, SAS Nagar, Manauli PO 140306,
Mohali, India.
Email: profvsinha@gmail.com ; vsinha@iisermohali.ac.in
http://www.iisermohali.ac.in/html/faculty/vinayak.html
Dr. Vinayak Sinha is an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education
and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali) where he also heads a Max Planck DST India
Research Partner Group. He has set up a new state of the art atmospheric chemistry
research facility in north western India (Mohali) which houses India’s first Proton
Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer and a self developed OH Reactivity instrument.
Prior to joining IISER Mohali in August 2010, Dr. Sinha worked at the Max Planck
Institute for Chemistry in Mainz , Germany for six years from 2004-2010 as a doctoral
and postdoctoral research scientist in the atmospheric chemistry division led by Prof. Jos
Lelieveld. His doctoral thesis was awarded the highest grade possible for a PhD thesis in
Germany (summa cum laude) in 2007.
He did his Bachelors in Science (BSc with Honours in Chemistry) and Master in Science
(MSc : specialization in organic chemistry of natural products) in 2002 from Sri Sathya
Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prashantinilayam and subsequently completed a Master
of Technology (M.Tech) in Analytical Chemistry from the Indian Institute of
Technology, Delhi in 2004. He was awarded the Dr. Adivi Reddy Gold Medal for
securing the highest marks in the entire university for the BSc (Chem Hons) degree in
2000. In 2003 during his M.Tech course, he was awarded the prestigious PETROTECH-
CII fellowship by the then Prime Minister of India.
Dr. Sinha is known internationally for his contributions as an analytical and atmospheric
chemist especially in atmospheric chemistry field measurements of hydroxyl radical
reactivity (OH reactivity) and volatile organic compounds using proton transfer reaction
mass spectrometry. His current research is focused on fundamental radical and ozone
photochemistry with view to improving current understanding of emissions and air
quality over the Indian region. He has also worked on forest methane emissions with
5 | Member profiles

Dr. Vinayak Sinha; IISER-M, Mohali
Nobel laureate Prof. Paul J. Crutzen and published circa 40 scientific articles (including
18 peer reviewed international journal publications). He serves as Editor (subject area:
atmospheric chemistry and physics) for Earth System Science Data, an international peer
reviewed open access journal published by Copernicus Publications, Europe (since 2010).
He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of Aryabhatta Research
Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES, a Department of Science and Technology,
India funded institute), Nainital, India since 2012 and is a member of the Scientific
Advisory Board of Sankar Foundation Research Institute, Vishakhapatnam, A.P., India
since October, 2010.
6 | Member profiles

Dr. Anoop Mahajan, IITM, Pune
Anoop Sharad Mahajan
Research interests: Atmospheric chemistry, oxidation capacity of the troposphere,
halogen chemistry, differential optical absorption spectrometer (DOAS).
Address: Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM),
Centre for Climate Change Research (CCCR),
Dr Homi Bhabha Road, Pune: 411008, India
Email: anoop@tropmet.res.in
Phone: +91 (0)20 2590 4480
Fax: +91 (0)20 2586 5142
Mobile: +91 750 734 1001
Details of employment
2012-present
Scientist 'D' at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune,
India.
2009-2012
Postdoctoral research fellow at the Laboratory for Atmospheric
and Climate Science (CIAC), Toledo, Spain.
2009
Postdoctoral research fellow at the School of Chemistry,
University Leeds, Leeds, U.K.
Academic Qualifications (from graduation):
2005-2009
Ph.D: Reactive halogen species in the marine boundary layer,
School of Chemistry, University Leeds, Leeds, U.K. (Supervision
by Prof. John Plane).
2004-2005
M.Sc. in Atmospheric Chemistry, School of Environmental
Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K.
2003-2004
M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, Department of Environmental
7 | Member profiles

Dr. Anoop Mahajan, IITM, Pune
Sciences, University of Pune, Pune, India.
2000-2003
B.Sc. in Chemistry (Honours), Department of Chemistry,
Fergusson College, University of Pune, Pune, India.
Research experience:
2010-2011 La Expedición de circunnavegación Malaspina, Circumnavigation cruise.
2010-2011 Climate and HAlogen Reactivity tropicaL EXperiment (CHARLEX),
Galapagos Ispands, Ecuador.
2010 Laminariae Emissions in Galicia: Observation by fLuorescence and
Absorption Spectroscopy (LEGOLAS), Galicia, Spain.
2010 HaloCarbon Air Sea Transect-Pacific (HaloCAST-P), cruise in the Eastern
Pacific.
2008 Oxidant and Particle Photochemistry Processes (OP3), Borneo, Malaysia.
2008 Impact of combined iodine and bromine release on the Arctic atmosphere
(COBRA), Kuujjuarapik, Canada.
2006-2007 Reactive Halogens in the Marine Boundary Later (RHAMBLE-II), Sao
Vicente, Cape Verde.
2006 Reactive Halogens in the Marine Boundary Later (RHAMBLE-I),
Roscoff, France.
2004-2005 Chemistry of the Antarctic Boundary Layer and Interface with Snow
(CHABLIS). Halley Bay, Antarctica.
Publications available online at http://www.mendeley.com/profiles/anoop-sharadmahajan/
:H-index – web of science – 11
8 | Member profiles

Dr. Shubha Verma; IIT-KGP, Kharagpur
Shubha Verma
Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Kharagpur-721 302, INDIA
Email: shubha@civil.iitkgp.erent.in; shubhaverm@gmail.com; shubha@iitkgp.ac.in
FAX: +91-3222-282254
Tel: +91-3222-281794 (office); 9647036745 (cell)
Education:
Doctor of Philosophy, PhD (Environmental Engineering), 2006
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
PhD dissertation title: Sources and Transport of continental aerosols over the Indian Ocean
Master of Technology, MTech ( Environmental Engineering), 2001
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India
M.Tech thesis title: A study on arsenic removal from ground water using activated alumina and
manganese-dioxide coated sand
Bachelor of Engineering, BE (Civil Engineering), 1998
Govt. Engineering College, Ujjain, M.P., India
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
October 2008-present
Engineering
May 2007-October 2008
August 2006 -May 2007
Pilani
March 2003-July 2003;
USA;
September 2005-May 2005
March 2009-June 2010
Embassy
Assistant Professor and Joint Faculty, Department of Civil
and Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere, and Land Sciences
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian
Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India
Assistant Professor, Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Visiting Research Scholar, LOA, Lille France (START fellowship,
Sandwich fellowship, French Embassy, India)
Visiting Scientist, LSCE, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France, (French
Fellowship; CEA, France fellowship)
RESEARCH
Research Interests: Atmospheric Aerosols, Radiative & Climate Impacts.
9 | Member profiles

Dr. Shubha Verma; IIT-KGP, Kharagpur
Research area is mainly focused on understanding atmospheric aerosols, their sources, and
radiative effects through integrating measurement and modelling tools. Aerosol transport
simulations in general circulation model are assessed to improve model prediction and reduce
uncertainty on aerosol climate interactions and their feedbacks on hydrological cycle and Indian
monsoon.
ONGOING PROJECTS:
1. Aerosol Chemical and Optical characteristics over an urban coastal city in the Ganges Delta,
funded by SRIC, IIT-Kharagpur.
2. Submicron aerosols in east India: sources, chemical characteristics, climate impacts, funded
by DST, India
10 | Member profiles

Dr. Sachin S. Gunthe; IIT-M, Chennai
SACHIN S. GUNTHE
EWRE Division, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras
IIT post office, Chennai – 600 036, India
Phone/Fax: +91-44-2257-4308/4252, E-Mail: s.gunthe@iitm.ac.in
Web : www.sachingunthe.com
Professional Experience
10/2011 – :Assistant Professor, EWRE Division, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Indian
Institute of Technology, Madras, India
07/2006 – 10/2011 :Post doctoral researcher, Dept of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany (– Ulrich Pöschl, Director: M. O.
Andreae)
Current scientific focus areas
Aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions with special emphasis on Indian summer Monsoon
CCN properties of aerosols (filed campaign, laboratory studies, and numerical modeling),
Measurements of biological aerosol particles
Urban ozone and aerosol pollution
Urban meteorology
Education
07/2002 – 07/2006 1 : Ph.D., Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, India
06/1999 – 06/2001: M. S., Dept of Electronic Science, University of Pune, India
06/1996 – 06/1999: B. S., RYK College of Science, Nasik (University of Pune)
Fellowships and Awards
Marquis Who’s Who for Science and Engineering (for aerosol research) 2010
Five “Highly Cited Papers” (Top 1% in their journal) – ISI web of knowledge
Junior research fellowship awarded by Defense Research Development Organization
(DRDO),Govt. of India
Junior research fellowship by Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.
Senior research fellowship by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, India
Research assistantship by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, India
Post doctoral assistantship by Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Germany
1 Submitted June 2006 and awarded June 2008; due to the sad demise of one of the chosen referees, official process
was delayed.
11 | Member profiles

Dr. Sachin S. Gunthe; IIT-M, Chennai
Courses taught/currently teaching
Air quality management (IIT Madras)
Environmental chemistry and microbiology
Ecology and environment
Sponsored scientific projects (includes sanctioned and under review proposals)
Study of primary biological aerosol to characterize the diversity in particulate matter over
Indian tropical region: assessment for climatic and health impact (DBT)
DST-Max Planck Partner group establishment at IIT Madras (DST-Max Planck)
The National Carbonaceous Aerosol Program (MoEF)
Size-resolved CCN measurement over Indian continental and marine region (MoES)
Characterizing properties of atmospheric aerosols for climatic and health impact over
Indian tropical region (DST)
Characterizing properties of atmospheric aerosols in south Indian region (IITM seed grant)
Scientific projects involvement
Amazonian Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO): Sampling of trace gases and aerosols from 320
meters tall tower in middle of Amazon north of Manaus, Brazil. 2011 – 2012, Brazil
Zotino Tall Tower (ZOTTO): Aerosol sampling for SEM and TEM analysis of aerosol to
characterize physical and chemical properties of pristine air masses. Sep – Oct 2009, Zotino,
Krasnoyarsk Krai, Siberia, Russia
Amazonian Aerosol Characterization Experiment (AMAZE-08), Jan –Mar 2008, Amazon
Forest, Manaus, Brazil
Inter comparison workshop for various instruments used for measurements of physical
properties of atmospheric aerosols. 10-23 Mar 2007, Leipzig, Germany
Cloud and Aerosol Characterization Experiment, Feb-Mar 2007, Jungfraujoch (4200 asl),
Switzerland
Campaign of Air quality research in Beijing (Part of effort to diagnose and clean the air of
Beijing for 2008 summer Olympics), Aug-Sep 2006, Beijing, China.
Program of regional integrated experiments of Air Quality over Pearl River Delta campaign,
Jul-Aug 2006, Guagzhou, China
Measurements of various pollutants under different environments (sugar industries, chemical
industries, and pristine conditions), Jan-Feb 2005, Feb 2006, Around Pune region, India.
Study of relation between ozone and secondary pollutants for chemical forecasting funded by
Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, Jul 2003-Jul 2006, Indian
Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, India.
Installation and supervision of field mills at Satish Dhavan Space Center (SDSC),
Shriharikota, 14-29 April 2003 (to ensure the optimal performance during satellite launch),
Shriharikota, India.
12 | Member profiles

Dr. Sachin S. Gunthe; IIT-M, Chennai
Professional visits abroad
Country visited Purpose of visit Period
Max Planck Institute To carry out collaborative Dec 2011
Mainz, Germany
research
Max Planck Institute To carry out collaborative May 2012
Mainz, Germany
research
Peking University Young Scientists organizing Sep 2012
Beijing, China
Committee member,
IGAC-2012
Computer skills:
Excellent skills in programming (FORTRAN, MatLab, IGOR, C, C ++ ) and well versed with
windows, Unix and Linux operating system, and MS packages.
Ph. D. and post doctoral advisor
Dr. Ulrich Pöschl, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Post doctoral advisor)
Dr. Gufran Beig, Indian Institute for Tropical Meteorology (Ph. D. advisor)
13 | Member profiles