Education
- Ph.D. Geology, Yokohama National University, Japan, 2004
- M.Sc. Geology, University of Kerala, 1999
- B.Sc. Geology, University of Kerala, 1997
Course Offered
- Introduction to Earth Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences
- Earth Resources and Tectonic Systems
- Planetary Geosciences
- Astrobiology (Geology Component)
Experience
- Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram (15 February 2010 onwards)
- Research Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea University, South Korea (December 2009-10 February 2010)
- Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Earth Sciences, Kanazawa University, Japan (November 2007-November 2009)
- Research Full time Lecturer (Post Doctoral Research Fellow), Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea University, South Korea (March 2007-October 2007)
- Part-time Lecturer in Metamorphic Petrology, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea University, South Korea(March 2007-July 2007)
- Specialist Researcher, Korean Institute of Landscape and Geology, Sunchon National University, South Korea(September 2006-February, 2007)
- Part-time Lecturer in Igneous Petrology, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea University, South Korea (September 2006-February 2007)
- Research Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea University, South Korea(May 2006-August 2007)
- Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chonbuk National University, South Korea(May, 2005- May, 2006).
- Foreign Visiting Research Fellow, Geological Institute, Yokohama National University, Japan (June 2004-April 2005)
Research Work / Area
- Understanding the petrologic and geochemical data to interpret the processes associated with the evolution of various magmas (ultramafic-mafic-felsic igneous systems) in diverse tectonic environments in the Earth’s upper mantle and deep lower crust
- REE-rich mineral formations associated with alkaline, mafic and carbonatitic magmas/melts and behavior of trace and rare earth elements in igneous systems
- Understanding the origin of anorthosites in earth and moon
- Chromite genesis associated with ultramafic to mafic and anorthositic magmatic systems; and genesis of chromitites in various tectonic environments.
- Fluid and melt inclusions in silicate and oxide phases, its major, trace and rare earth element compositions and significance in Economic Geology. Origin of various mineralizations associated with granites, adakites and mafic-ultramafic magmatic systems.
- Stable C-, S- and O- isotopes of minerals such as calcite, dolomite, pyrites, pyrrhotites, siderite, and graphite
- Radioactive isotopic systems such as Rb, Sr, Nd and Pb, Lu-Hf, Re-Os etc. in igneous petrogenesis.
- Geochronology and/or any other related fields.
Funded Project
- A comprehensive study on crustal dichotomy and extensional tectonics in and around Valles Marineris, Mars (ISRO MOM 1-AO project)
- Spectral characterization and Morphology of Olivine-Pyroxene Spinel bearing lithologies on Moon: implications for Lunar Endogenic processes (ISRO Chandrayaan 1-AO project)
- Arc accretion in the past and present and its bearing on metallogeny (DST-JSPS India-Japan bilateral project)
- Deep crustal processes during the evolution of archaean Nilgiri block, southern India (MoES Funded Project)
Awards
- Brain Korea (BK 21) Research Fellowship (Research Professor), Ministry of Education, South Korea (December, 2009)
- JSPS (Japanese Society for Promotion of Science) Post Doctoral Fellowship, Ministry of Education, Sports, Culture, Science and Technology, Japan (November, 2007)
- Brain Korea (BK 21) Research Fellowship (Post Doctoral Fellowship), Ministry of Education, South Korea (March, 2007)
- INOUE Foundation Fellowship, Inoue Science Foundation, Japan (March, 2006; declined)
- Post Doctoral Research Fellowship, Chonbuk National University, South Korea (May, 2005)
- Monbukagakusho Scholarship, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (October, 2000)
- State Level Eligibility Test for doing Ph.D. in Geology in various research institutes affiliated to University of Kerala (in 2000)
- State Level Eligibility Test for Teaching in Higher Secondary Schools in Kerala, India (in 2000)
- First position in order of merit in the M.Sc. Final Examination (University of Kerala, 1999).
- Fifth position in order of merit in the B.Sc. Final Examination (University of Kerala, 1997)
Memberships in International / National Organizations
- Fellow, International Association for Gondwana Research
- Screening Committee Member, International Association of Gondwana Research
- International Association of Gondwana Research Award Committee Member (2007)
- Editorial Board Member, Gondwana Research (2005-2007)
- Fellow, Korean Society for Economic and Environmental Geology (2007)
- Editorial Board Member, Journal of Korean Society for Economic and Environmental Geology (2007 onwards)
- Fellow, Japan Geoscience Union