I am an experimentalist working on the crystal plastic deformation of hydrous minerals. I employ instrumented micro- to nanoindentation at room and elevated temperature conditions to understand the dehydration kinetics and its role in the deformation mechanism of hydrous minerals, in particular, the transversely isotropic lattice structures.
I am currently employed as a PhD Scholar at the Experimental Rock Deformation Laboratory, working with Prof. Santanu Misra. To know more about our research group and lab activities, click here.
I am currently employed as a PhD Scholar at the Experimental Rock Deformation Laboratory, working with Prof. Santanu Misra. To know more about our research group and lab activities, click here.
Research interests
My research interests broadly focuses on Experimental Nanomechanics, Instrumented indentation experiments, Contact mechanics, Intracrystalline plasticity, Experimental rock deformation at high pressure and high temperature, Phase transformation of minerals and its mechanical signatures, seismic to aseismic slip in a subduction interface and its mechanism, scale dependent mechanics of minerals, and Geological materials sciences.
Teaching experience
Teaching Assistantship
- TA for ES417A (Geological Evolution of the Indian Plate) in 2021-2022-I and 2021-2022-II semesters.
- TA for ES654A (Advanced Structural Geology) in 2022-2023-I semester.
- TA for Online NPTEL course on Introductory Field Structural Geology.
Tutorship
As a part of my PMRF deliverables, I am currently teaching undergraduate Geology Students (Semesters - 4 and 6) of JIS University, Kolkata, via online mode. I have designed a course titled “Experimental and Analytical Methods in Earth Sciences”, which is being taught as a Value-Added Course (VAC) as per the UGC guidelines. Through this course, I try to teach the various experimental techniques in structural geology, rock deformation and geophysics, followed by various analytical techniques commonly used in geochemistry. Apart from that, I also teach metamorphic petrology, structural geology, mineralogy, and geochemistry. I also conduct extra classes where I discuss the different strategies to be taken during national level competitive examinations such as CUET, JAM, and GATE. I also talk about my research and try to encourage the students about the prospects of academia and research.
Internship
I joined as an Industrial Trainee at the Malanjkhand Copper Project under Hindustan Copper Limited (HCP) in July 2019. I worked in the Geology and R&D Division and learned about the geology of copper deposition and ore exploration techniques in opencast and underground mining. Other than that, I have attended the Mineral Development Awareness Programme (MDAP), held during 23-25th August 2019 at Joda, Odisha, organized by The Society of Geoscientists and Allied Technologies (SGAT).
Awards and Achievements
- Awarded with Prime Minister's Research Fellowship in 2022
- Two times Academic Excellence Award (2020 and 2021) for coursework at IIT Kanpur
- First Class 1st in MSc Applied Geology 2020, University of Calcutta
- First Class 3rd in BSc (H) in Geology, 2018, University of Calcutta
- Second position in District and 13th position in State, WBCHSE Higher Secondary Examination, 2015
Social activities
- Voluntary teacher for underprivileged children at Deenabandhu Trust, a Kolkata based NGO since 2017
- Organizer of “Free Community Tutorial Classes” where underprivileged students were helped with their studies during lockdown period due to COVID-19 pandemic
- Involved with pandemic relief program, organized by Science Communicators’ Forum (SCF), Kolkata in 2020
- Involved with Science Awareness Programs since 2017, organized by Science Communicators’ Forum (SCF), Kolkata
Contact
[Contact picture]
Rajiv Mukherjee
Prime Minister's Research Fellow, IIT Kanpur
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Experimental Rock Deformation Laboratory,
Block - B, OLD SAC Building
IIT Kanpur
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India