Mrs. Pooja Chand | Paleoclimatology | Best Researcher Award

Senior Research Fellow Kumaun University Nainital India

Pooja Chand: Suitability for Best Researcher Award

Strengths for the Award

1. Research Excellence: Pooja Chand’s work focuses on paleoclimatology and climate change over the last millennium, specifically in the NW Himalaya. Her research is timely and relevant, contributing valuable insights into past climate variations and their implications.
2. Educational Background: Pooja has a solid academic foundation with a Master’s in Geology and ongoing Ph.D. research under the supervision of Dr. B.S. Kotlia, a noted UGC Scientist. Her academic training and current research position her well in the field.
3. Awards and Fellowships: She has received notable awards, including the INSPIRE Fellowship and the Australia-India Research Student Fellowship, highlighting her research potential and international recognition.
4. Technical Skills: Her experience with various advanced software and laboratory instruments (e.g., ArcGIS, XRD, IRMS) underscores her capability in handling complex data and analysis, which is crucial for her research.
5. Publication Record: Pooja has published in reputable journals and participated in significant conferences and workshops, demonstrating her active engagement in the scientific community and her commitment to disseminating her research findings.

Areas for Improvement

1. Broader Impact: While her research is specialized, expanding her work to address broader climate-related issues or interdisciplinary aspects could enhance its impact and applicability.
2. Collaborations: Increasing collaborations with researchers from other institutions or disciplines could provide new perspectives and resources, further strengthening her research contributions.
3. Public Outreach: Engaging more with the public or policy-makers could improve the societal impact of her research and raise awareness about climate change issues.

Conclusion

Pooja Chand is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to her significant contributions to paleoclimatology, her solid educational background, and her recognition through prestigious fellowships. Her technical skills and publication record further bolster her suitability. Addressing the suggested areas for improvement could enhance her research impact and broaden her influence in the field.

Pooja Chand is a Senior Research Fellow under the DST INSPIRE Program and an AIRS Fellow at the Department of Geology, Kumaun University, Nainital. Currently pursuing her Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. B.S. Kotlia, her research focuses on paleoclimatology, particularly the study of climate change during the last millennium recorded in selected lakes of the NW Himalaya. Pooja is skilled in various software and laboratory instruments, and she has participated in numerous workshops and conferences globally.

Profile

Orchid

Education 🎓

Pooja completed her M.Sc. in Geology with a 69.4% from Kumaun University in 2017. She earned her B.Sc. in Zoology, Botany, and Geology from the same university in 2015 with a 66.81%. Her intermediate studies in Uttarakhand focused on Hindi, English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, achieving 72%, and her high school studies in Uttarakhand covered Hindi, English, Mathematics, Social Science, and Science with 72.2%.

Experience 💼

Pooja’s research experience includes a summer internship project on dendrochronology at Gangolihat, Uttarakhand, and an M.Sc. dissertation on morphometric analysis of the Bhimtal-Bhowali area. Her pre-PhD dissertation involved grain size analysis of Quaternary lake deposits at Binta, Kumaun Himalaya. She has also completed a short-term research exchange program at The Australian National University and several workshops and training programs on paleoclimatology and geochronology.

Research Interests 🔬

Pooja’s research interests lie in paleoclimatology, with a focus on lake sediments and climate change during the last millennium. Her Ph.D. thesis is titled “Study of Climate Change During the Last Millennium Recorded in Selected Lakes of NW Himalaya.”

Awards 🏆

Pooja has received the Merit Certificate of Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) under the INSPIRE Scheme in 2012, the INSPIRE Fellowship for Doctoral Research, and the Australia-India Research Student Fellowship.

Publications Top Notes📚

Gururani K., Kotlia B. S., Chand P., Kukreti M., Parashar D., Kalkhundiya A., Bhatt P. K., Pandey A. (2023). Morphometric Analysis of Tectonically Active Bhimtal-Naukuchiatal Lake Basin, Kumaun Himalaya. Curr World Environ, 18(2). DOI: 10.12944/CWE.18.2.32

Kotlia B. S., Kukreti M., Bisht H., Singh A. K., Sharma A., Kothyari G. C., Porinchu D. F., Chand P., Kashyap R., Sharma G. K. (2023). Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction Through Granulometric Analysis of a Palaeolake Deposit at Bhikiyasain, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya. Journal of Climate Change, 9(1), 25-37. DOI: 10.3233/JCC230004

Estimation of suspended sediment concentration and meltwater discharge draining from the Chaturangi glacier, Garhwal Himalaya. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 13:248 (2020).

Sources of Solute and Hydrochemical Analysis of Gangotri Glacier Meltwater. In Water, Cryosphere, and Climate Change in the Himalayas, A Geospatial Approach (2021).