I am a geologist specializing in Organic Geochemistry. The primary focus of my research is to decipher ancient biota, paleoecology, mass extinction events, and petroleum systems.

Academics

• Ph.D. Organic Geochemistry, IIT Bombay 2010-2015
• M.Sc. Applied Geology, Presidency College, Kolkata 2007-2009
• B.Sc. Geology, Presidency College, Kolkata 2004-2007

ScholarGoogle:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=W-eyqaEAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

I study organic molecular fossils (biomarkers) preserved in sediments for unravelling geochemical information on ancient microbes, flora, and fauna across the geological time scale and study of energy resources.

• Bhattacharya, S., Summons, R.E., Murthy, S., Foster, C., Husain, F., Ankit, Y., 2025. Impact of wildfires on Gondwanan flora during the Permian-Triassic transition. Geochemical Perspective Letters 36, 35–41.
• V. Selvakumar, V. Mushtrif Tripathi, G.S. Abhayan, S. Naik, R.K. Prasad, V.N. Prabhakar, Bhattacharya, S., 2024. Status of the Neolithic Culture in Molapalayam Tamil Nadu: Excavations at (2020-21), Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu. 1st International Seminar in Commemoration of Padmasri Iravatham Mahadevan, pp. 93–109.
• Srivastava, P., Sanyal, P., Bhattacharya, S., Mishra, P.K., Dutta, S., Chakravarti, R., Rai, N., Navani, N., Ambili, A., Karanth, K.P., Joshi, J., Singh, S., Kumar, S., 2023. A need to integrate metagenomics and metabolomics in geosciences and develop the deep-time digital earth-biome database of India. Current Science 124, 26–37.
• Behera, D., Mishra, P.K., Sabale, P., Bhattacharya, S., Anoop, A., 2023. Late Holocene climate variability and its impact on cultural dynamics in central India. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 515, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP515-2020-220.
• Behera, D., Bhattacharya, S., Rahman, A., Kumar, S., Anoop, A., 2022. Molecular tracers for characterization and distribution of organic matter in a freshwater lake system from the Lesser Himalaya. Biogeochemistry 161, 315–334.
• Bulbul, M., Bhattacharya, S., Ankit, Y., Yadav, P., Anoop, A., 2022. Occurrence, distribution and sources of phthalates and petroleum hydrocarbons in tropical estuarine sediments (Mandovi and Ashtamudi) of western Peninsular India. Environmental Research 214, 113679.
• Ankit, Y., Muneer, W., Gaye, B., Lahajnar, N., Bhattacharya, S., Bulbul, M., Jehangir, A., Anoop, A., Mishra, P.K., 2022. Apportioning sedimentary organic matter sources and its degradation state: Inferences based on aliphatic hydrocarbons, amino acids and δ15N. Environmental Research 205, 112409.
• Bhattacharya, S., Kishor, H., Ankit, Y., Mishra, P.K., Srivastava, P.K., 2021. Vegetation history in a peat succession over the past 8000 years in the ISM-controlled Kedarnath region, Garhwal Himalaya: Reconstruction using molecular fossils. Frontiers in Earth Science 9, 703362.
• Bhatt, A., Behera, D., Bhattacharya, S., Mishra, P.K., Ankit, Y., Anoop, A., 2021. Distribution and characteristics of microplastics and phthalate esters from a fresh water lake system in central Himalayas. Chemosphere 283, 131132.
• Bhattacharya, S., Yadav, A., Murthy, S., Kushwaha, V., 2021. Biotic response to environmental shift during the late Permian-Early Triassic transition: Assessment from organic geochemical proxies and palynomorphs in terrestrial sediments from Raniganj Sub-basin, India. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 576, 110483.
• Bhattacharya, S., Dutta, S., Kumar, S., 2021. Identification of lanostanes, A-ring methylated steranes and secosteranes in late Neoproterozoic crude oils by GC×GC-TOFMS: New insights into molecular taphonomy of steroids. Geobios 68, 47-59.
• Misra, S., Bhattacharya, S., Mishra, P.K., Misra, K.G., Agrawal, S., Anoop, A., 2020. Vegetational responses to monsoon variability during Late Holocene: Inferences based on carbon isotope and pollen record from the sedimentary sequence in Dzukou valley, NE India. Catena 194, 104697.
• Tewari, A., D’Rozario, A., Bhattacharya, S., Barua, A., Bera, M., Bera, S., Dutta, S., 2019. Biomarker signatures of the iconic Glossopteris plant. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 531, Part B, 108887.
• Bhattacharya, S., Khan, M.A., More, S., Paruya, D.K., Chakraborty, T., Bera, S., Dutta, S., 2018. Amber embalms essential oils: A rare preservation of monoterpenoids in fossil resins from eastern Himalaya. Palaios 33, 218–227.
• Dutta, S., Mehrotra, R.C., Paul, S., Tiwari, R.P., Bhattacharya, S., Srivastava, G., Ralte, V.Z., Zoramthara, C., 2017. Remarkable preservation of terpenoids and record of volatile signalling in plant-animal interactions from Miocene amber. Scientific Reports 7, 1–6.
• Bhattacharya, S., Dutta, S., Summons, R.E., 2017. A distinctive biomarker assemblage in an Infracambrian oil and source rock from western India: Molecular signatures of eukaryotic sterols and prokaryotic carotenoids. Precambrian Research 290, 101–112.
• Bhattacharya, S., Dutta, S., 2015. Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian biota and ancient niche: A synthesis from molecular markers and palynomorphs from Bikaner-Nagaur Basin, western India. Precambrian Research 266, 361–374.
• Bhattacharya, S., Dutta, S., Dutta, R., 2014. Molecular fossils in Cretaceous condensate from western India. Journal of Earth System Science 123, 923–934.
• Dutta, S., Bhattacharya, S., Raju, S.V., 2013. Biomarker signatures from Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian oil, western India. Organic Geochemistry 56, 68–80.
• Chatterjee, A., Bhattacharya, S., 2013. Identification of regional-scale cuspate–lobate folds in Singhbhum region, India using satellite remote sensing. Current Science 104, 31–34.

• Introduction to Earth Sciences (EES 201)
• Geochemistry (IDC 631)
• Sedimentology and Concepts in Stratigraphy (EES 304)
• Global Tectonics (EES 640)
• Geomorphology and Earth Surface Processes (EES 413)
• IDC 623 Field and Lab based methods in Geology, Ecology and Archeology

Coming soon…

Completed Projects:

• “A probe into the changeover of flora and fauna during Permian–Triassic mass extinction: Biomarker, palynomorph and stable isotope investigations from marine and terrestrial successions, India”; INSPIRE grant – Funded by Department of Science and Technology (DST), India; Research grant – 35 lakhs @ 7 lakhs/year; November 2017-November 2022. Principal investigator.
• “Distribution and quantification of organic contaminants and micro-plastic concentrations in lake systems from Himachal Pradesh, India”; Small grant project funded by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoFE&CC); Research grant 38.5 lakhs for 3 years; February 2019- February 2022. Co-Principal investigator.

Projects Approved (Discontinued when joined a private company):

• “Organic geochemical and palynological investigations of Cretaceous–Palaeocene rocks from the Indian Subcontinent: Exploring the most recent mass extinction event”; SRS grant – Funded by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India; Research grant – 14 lakhs @ 7 lakhs/year; September 2023-September 2025. Principal investigator.

Collaborators:

• Prof. Prabir Dasgupta, (formerly) Presidency College Kolkata, Durgapur Govt. College
• Prof. Roger E Summons, MIT, USA
• Dr. Srikanta Murthy, BSIP Lucknow, India
• Prof. Clinton Foster, ANU, Australia
• Dr. Anudeb Mandal, Presidency University
• Prof. GVR Prasad, Delhi University
• Mr. Trishit Ghosh, Coal India Limited
• Mr. Rahul Mohan Bind, Coal India Limited
• Mr. Rosan Mallik, Geological Survey of India
• Dr. Birgit Gaye, University of Hamburg, Germany

Professional Recognition and Services:

• Recipient of DST Inspire Faculty Fellowship
• Recipient of bursary from Geological Society of London (for attending conference)
• Reviewer of journal articles – Organic Geochemistry, Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Earth Science, Journal of Petroleum Geology, The Holocene, Biogeosciences, Applied Geochemistry, Arabian Journal of Geosciences

Coming soon…