SM

Sisir K. Mondal

Jadavpur University Faculty of Science, American Museum of Natural History, University of Calcutta

ORCID iD 0000-0003-1354-6937
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About

Since 7/2012 I am a Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences, at Jadavpur University, Kolkata. I have chaired the department for 2 years (01/2020-01/2022). I spent 2 years (2004-2006), as a Postdoc, at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), New York, where I am a Research Associate (faculty-level adjunct honorary appointment) since 2008. During 2008-2010 (2 years), I was a Postdoc (Level 8) at the ‘Nordic Center for Earth Evolution (NordCEE)’, University of Copenhagen. In 2012, I was awarded a ‘Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Invitation Fellowship (short-term)' from Japan under 'Overseas Researchers with an Excellent Record of Research Achievements'. I was a visiting faculty for 12 months at Indiana University, Bloomington during 2002-2003 with a DST-BOYSCAST Fellowship.

I conduct research in the field of ore deposits related to igneous systems such as Cr-Ti-V-Fe-PGE-Ni-Cu. One of the important aspects of my research is the use of relative and absolute concentrations of the PGEs in rocks as a geochemical tracer. This has allowed me to investigate the evolution of the Earth’s mantle and the magmatic processes responsible for the formation of ultramafic-mafic complexes and mineral deposits. My several articles on the Nuasahi Complex, Orissa have helped to unravel the PGE-rich areas in chromitites, breccias, and in magnetitites in India. My research to understand the genetic processes involved in chromitite formation in particular, in the Bushveld Complex of South Africa, is a fundamental contribution to petrology. Based on extensive studies, it was concluded that the UG2 chromitite layer was formed by the accumulation of chromite from new batches of magma in which chromite crystals were suspended, contrary to the conventional wisdom of the time. My research projects involve sustainability issues such as ‘sustainable resourcing of PGEs’ and completed a British Council UKIERI project (2013-2016) with Cardiff University and have an ongoing CEFIPRA Indo-French project (2019-2023) with CNRS-CRPG, Nancy.

I have been awarded ‘N.N. Chatterjee Medal’ in 2000 for ‘Outstanding Research in Economic Geology’ by the Asiatic Society, Kolkata. I have received ‘Prof. M.R. Srinivasa Rao Award' in 2010 by the Geological Society of India ‘In recognition of valuable outstanding contribution in the field of Petrology’. I have contributed to and featured as a Scientist in a textbook for kids published by the Macmillan-McGraw-Hill, New York. This book is a part of teaching materials for the school kids of Grade 4. With Prof Ed Mathez, Curator at the AMNH, I conducted fieldwork in the Eastern Bushveld, South Africa in 2004 and collected ~500 kg of rock samples from 2 drill cores that cut through the famous UG2 chromitite layer. The UG2 is the greatest PGE resource on Earth. These drill core samples were described and documented by me, which are preserved systematically in the AMNH and comprise an important part of the petrology collection of the Museum.

I was a member of the ‘Nominations Committee' of the Geochemical Society (USA) for 3 years (2018-2020). I serve the academic community by convening and chairing sessions at the Goldschmidt conferences. I have been taking a leading role in the organization of workshops since 2004 e.g., as a co-chair of the IGCP-479 workshop and short course at the University of Hong Kong (2004), as a convener of the Geological Society of India Conference 2012 (Bangalore), and the field-training program in 2010 (Nuggihalli belt). I coordinated the AMNH-EPS seminars for 2-semesters during 2004-2006 and also chaired a session in the IGCP-project 479 workshop in 2004. I was the ‘Ore Geology’ work-group leader (2011-2014) for the IGCP-SIDA project 599 on ‘The Changing Early Earth’. I was the Secretary (2013-2017) of the ‘Commission on Ore Deposits in Mafic-Ultramafic Rocks (CODMUR)’, and a Regional Councilor for India of the IAGOD.

I have been serving as an expert member of the selection committee for the faculty promotion and selection processes of scientists in different research institutes and universities in India. I have edited special volumes on Ti-V magnetite, chromite, and PGE-Ni-Cu-sulphide deposits: (1) Special Vol of Geological Society London (2022-ongoing); (2) Special Issue of Lithos (2021); (3) ‘Elsevier Book (2018), 10 Chapters, 384 pages; (4) Special Issue of Ore Geology Reviews (Elsevier, 2017); (5) Special Issue of Lithos (Elsevier, 2013); (6) Abstract Vol of Geological Society of India (2012); (7) Special Issue of Applied Earth Science: IMM Transactions Section-B (London); (8) Special Issue of Journal of Geological Society of India (JGSI, Springer, 2008). Since 2018 I am a Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Asian Earth Sciences (Elsevier), and since 2016 I am an Associate Editor of the Journal of Ore Geology Reviews (Elsevier). From 2008-1018 I was a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of the Geological Society of India.

Employment

  • Jadavpur University Faculty of Science HEAD of the Department
    2020 - 2022
  • University of Calcutta Guest Teacher
    2013 - 2013
  • Jadavpur University Faculty of Science PROFESSOR
    2012 - Present
  • Jadavpur University Faculty of Science Associate Professor
    2009 - 2012
  • American Museum of Natural History Research Associate (Faculty Level Honorary Adjunct Appointment through Museum Senate)
    2008 - Present
  • Nordic Center for Earth Evolution (NordCEE), Copenhagen University Postdoc Level 8
    2008 - 2010
  • Jadavpur University Faculty of Science Reader
    2006 - 2009
  • American Museum of Natural History Postdoctoral Research Fellow (AMNH-NSF-USGS)
    2004 - 2006
  • Indiana University Visiting Scientist-Postdoctoral Research with BOYSCAST Fellowship
    2002 - 2003
  • Jadavpur University Faculty of Science Senior Lecturer
    2001 - 2006
  • Jadavpur University Faculty of Science Lecturer
    2000 - 2001
  • Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute Scientist Grade IV (1)
    1997 - 2000
  • Jadavpur University Faculty of Science CSIR-NET Research Scholar (JRF & SRF)
    1993 - 1997

Education

  • Jadavpur University Faculty of Science PhD in Science - Awarded in 2000 (Thesis title: Study of chromite, sulfide, and noble metal mineralization in the Precambrian Nuasahi ultramafic-mafic complex, Keonjhar district, Orissa, India)
    1994 - 1999
  • Jadavpur University Faculty of Science MSc in Applied Geology (Dissertation: Ore geological aspects of the Chendapathar tungsten deposit, Bankura district, India)
    1991 - 1993
  • Jadavpur University Faculty of Science BSc (Geology-major; Physics & Maths - subsidiary)
    1988 - 1991

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (75)