Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Showing 91-100 of 142 Results
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Souradeep Mukherjee
Ph.D. Student in Earth and Planetary Sciences, admitted Autumn 2023
BioSouradeep is an Exploration Geologist-turned-AI Researcher developing decision-making algorithms to discover high-grade mineral deposits. With almost a decade of experience in on-field exploration of critical & strategic mineral deposits, he is now using his computer to unlock the full potential of mineral discovery.
Souradeep is currently a Doctoral Researcher at Stanford Mineral-X. His current work focuses on fusing multi-element soil geochemistry with 3D geological inference to build predictive models for subsurface intrusion-hosted Ni-Cu sulfide mineralization in the Curaçá Valley, Brazil. By leveraging machine learning, geostatistics, and compositional data analysis, he aims to reduce geological uncertainty and operational costs in mineral targeting, transforming how exploration is conducted in under-explored terrains.
Prior to Stanford, Souradeep held several technical and supervisory roles at the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), Government of India, where he spearheaded multiple national-scale mineral exploration campaigns. He led the exploration and evaluation of uranium-bearing sediments in the Bhima Basin, the mapping of lithium-rich pegmatites in Karnataka, and the delineation of heavy mineral sand deposits across the east coast of India. His work included advanced geological mapping, structural interpretation, kinematic analysis, downhole geophysics, petrological microscopy, and geostatistical modeling—skills that now enrich his algorithmic thinking in research.
His research interests span compositional data analysis, geospatial modeling, machine learning for Earth systems, building intelligent decision making agents for mineral exploration and mineral prospectivity analysis. He is particularly passionate about bridging the gap between traditional geosciences and computational intelligence to power the next generation of resource discovery tools.
When he’s not deep into code or core samples, Souradeep contributes to scientific outreach, mentors young geoscientists, and advocates for data transparency and sustainability in the mining sector. He is also a writer, a poet and loves to write pieces on existential philosophy. -
Mark Nikolic
Postdoctoral Scholar, Earth and Planetary Sciences
BioI study large scale processes of evolution through earth history using the fossil record. In doing so, I make use of computational and phylogenetic approaches along with large datasets. I also lead the History of Life and Biodiversity summer internship through the Stanford Young Investigators program. Aside from fossils, I'm also a big fan of riding my bike and disco music.
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Ayla Pamukcu
Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI have long been fascinated by magmas and volcanic eruptions, for reasons ranging from purely academic (trying to understand the magmatic construction of Earth’s crust) to purely practical (developing effective monitoring and mitigation strategies for volcanic eruptions). Consequently, my research revolves around understanding how, when, where, and why magmas are stored, evolve, and ultimately do (or do not!) erupt.
Within this context, I focus on two main themes: (1) the temporal, chemical, and physical, evolution of magmas, and (2) the interplay between magma storage conditions in the crust and magmatic processes. I employ a multi-faceted approach to explore these topics, integrating data from multiple scales and perspectives; my studies capitalize on information contained in field relations, crystal and melt inclusion textures (sizes, shapes, positions), crystal and volcanic glass geochemistry, geochronology, phase-equilibria and numerical modeling, and experiments. As a function of this approach, I am also engaged in the development of novel methods to address petrologic problems in new, better, and more refined ways than is currently possible.
A major focus of my research has been on supereruptions – gigantic explosive eruptions the likes of which we have never seen in recorded human history – but I am continually exploring other kinds of magmatic systems. I am currently particularly interested in the links (or lack thereof) between extrusive (i.e., erupted) and intrusive (i.e., unerupted) magmas, similarities/differences between large- and small-volume eruptions, and similarities/differences between magmas generated at different levels of the crust. I have also had a longstanding interest in the interactions and relationships between humans and their geologic surroundings (particularly volcanoes). -
Nidhi Utkarshbhai Patel
Ph.D. Student in Earth and Planetary Sciences, admitted Autumn 2023
BioPlants display enormous diversity of forms today that, have evolved over geological timescales after plants successfully colonized land. Currently, I am interested in learning more about evolutionary changes in plant structures including specialized reproductive organs of seed plants. I study plant fossil record from deep time and living plants with the aim to develop a better understanding of origins of plant reproductive structures and drivers of morphological evolution in plants. Previously, I have looked at spore-pollen record preserved in sedimentary rocks from Canada. These microscopic fossils and their distribution in space and time can help us elucidate the response of vegetation to past extinction events.
