{"id":852,"date":"2026-03-27T09:39:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T09:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/?p=852"},"modified":"2026-03-27T11:42:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T11:42:13","slug":"sharmila-bhattacharya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/sharmila-bhattacharya\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharmila Bhattacharya"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"responsive-tabs\">\n<h2 class=\"tabtitle\">About<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n<br \/>\nI 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nAcademics<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"faclist\">\n<li> Ph.D. Organic Geochemistry, IIT Bombay 2010-2015 <\/li>\n<li>  M.Sc. Applied Geology, Presidency College, Kolkata 2007-2009 <\/li>\n<li>  B.Sc. Geology, Presidency College, Kolkata 2004-2007  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>ScholarGoogle:<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en&#038;user=W-eyqaEAAAAJ&#038;view_op=list_works&#038;sortby=pubdate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nhttps:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en&#038;user=W-eyqaEAAAAJ&#038;view_op=list_works&#038;sortby=pubdate<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Research<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">People<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<div class=\"aboutttt staff table-responsive\">\n<table class=\"table table-striped table-hover\" border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Serial No.<\/th>\n<th>Name<\/th>\n<th>Role<\/th>\n<th>Joining Year<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td>Vasudev Kushwaha<\/td>\n<td>MS<\/td>\n<td>2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2<\/td>\n<td>Pushpit Yadav<\/td>\n<td>MS<\/td>\n<td>2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3<\/td>\n<td>Harsh Kishor<\/td>\n<td>MS<\/td>\n<td>2020<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4<\/td>\n<td>Sarthak Sahoo<\/td>\n<td>MS<\/td>\n<td>2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5<\/td>\n<td>Abhijit Sahoo<\/td>\n<td>MS<\/td>\n<td>2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6<\/td>\n<td>Prabjyot Kour<\/td>\n<td>PhD<\/td>\n<td>2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>7<\/td>\n<td>Raj Kumar<\/td>\n<td>Post doc<\/td>\n<td>2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>8<\/td>\n<td>Kamal Nayan<\/td>\n<td>MS<\/td>\n<td>2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Alumni<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Publications<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<ul class=\"faclist\">\n<li><strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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\u201341.<\/li>\n<li><strong>V. Selvakumar<\/strong>, V. Mushtrif Tripathi, G.S. Abhayan, S. Naik, R.K. Prasad, V.N. Prabhakar, <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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\u2013109.<\/li>\n<li>Srivastava, P., Sanyal, P., <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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\u201337.<\/li>\n<li>Behera, D., Mishra, P.K., Sabale, P., <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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.<\/li>\n<li>Behera, D., <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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\u2013334.<\/li>\n<li>Bulbul, M., <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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.<\/li>\n<li>Ankit, Y., Muneer, W., Gaye, B., Lahajnar, N., <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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 \u03b415N. Environmental Research 205, 112409.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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.<\/li>\n<li>Bhatt, A., Behera, D., <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, Dutta, S., Kumar, S., 2021. Identification of lanostanes, A-ring methylated steranes and secosteranes in late Neoproterozoic crude oils by GC\u00d7GC-TOFMS: New insights into molecular taphonomy of steroids. Geobios 68, 47-59.<\/li>\n<li>Misra, S., <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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.<\/li>\n<li>Tewari, A., D\u2019Rozario, A., <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, Barua, A., Bera, M., Bera, S., Dutta, S., 2019. Biomarker signatures of the iconic Glossopteris plant. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 531, Part B, 108887.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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\u2013227.<\/li>\n<li>Dutta, S., Mehrotra, R.C., Paul, S., Tiwari, R.P., <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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\u20136.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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\u2013112.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 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\u2013374.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, Dutta, S., Dutta, R., 2014. Molecular fossils in Cretaceous condensate from western India. Journal of Earth System Science 123, 923\u2013934.<\/li>\n<li>Dutta, S., <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, Raju, S.V., 2013. Biomarker signatures from Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian oil, western India. Organic Geochemistry 56, 68\u201380.<\/li>\n<li>Chatterjee, A., <strong>Bhattacharya, S.<\/strong>, 2013. Identification of regional-scale cuspate\u2013lobate folds in Singhbhum region, India using satellite remote sensing. Current Science 104, 31\u201334.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Courses<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<ul class=\"faclist\">\n<li>Introduction to Earth Sciences (EES 201)<\/li>\n<li>Geochemistry (IDC 631)<\/li>\n<li>Sedimentology and Concepts in Stratigraphy (EES 304)<\/li>\n<li>Global Tectonics (EES 640)<\/li>\n<li>Geomorphology and Earth Surface Processes (EES 413)<\/li>\n<li>IDC 623 Field and Lab based methods in Geology, Ecology and Archeology<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Lab Facilities<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n<br \/>\nComing soon\u2026<\/p>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Additional Info<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<p><strong>Completed Projects:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"faclist\">\n<li>\u201cA probe into the changeover of flora and fauna during Permian\u2013Triassic mass extinction: Biomarker, palynomorph and stable isotope investigations from marine and terrestrial successions, India\u201d; INSPIRE grant &#8211; Funded by Department of Science and Technology (DST), India; Research grant &#8211; 35 lakhs @ 7 lakhs\/year; November 2017-November 2022. Principal investigator.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cDistribution and quantification of organic contaminants and micro-plastic concentrations in lake systems from Himachal Pradesh, India\u201d; Small grant project funded by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoFE&#038;CC); Research grant 38.5 lakhs for 3 years; February 2019- February 2022. Co-Principal investigator.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Projects Approved (Discontinued when joined a private company):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"faclist\">\n<li>\u201cOrganic geochemical and palynological investigations of Cretaceous\u2013Palaeocene rocks from the Indian Subcontinent: Exploring the most recent mass extinction event\u201d; SRS grant &#8211; Funded by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India; Research grant &#8211; 14 lakhs @ 7 lakhs\/year; September 2023-September 2025. Principal investigator.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Collaborators:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"faclist\">\n<li>Prof. Prabir Dasgupta, (formerly) Presidency College Kolkata, Durgapur Govt. College<\/li>\n<li>Prof. Roger E Summons, MIT, USA<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Srikanta Murthy, BSIP Lucknow, India<\/li>\n<li>Prof. Clinton Foster, ANU, Australia<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Anudeb Mandal, Presidency University<\/li>\n<li>Prof. GVR Prasad, Delhi University<\/li>\n<li>Mr. Trishit Ghosh, Coal India Limited<\/li>\n<li>Mr. Rahul Mohan Bind, Coal India Limited<\/li>\n<li>Mr. Rosan Mallik, Geological Survey of India<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Birgit Gaye, University of Hamburg, Germany<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Professional Recognition and Services:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"faclist\">\n<li>Recipient of DST Inspire Faculty Fellowship<\/li>\n<li>Recipient of bursary from Geological Society of London (for attending conference)<\/li>\n<li>Reviewer of journal articles \u2013 Organic Geochemistry, Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Earth Science, Journal of Petroleum Geology, The Holocene, Biogeosciences, Applied Geochemistry, Arabian Journal of Geosciences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Gallery<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<p>Coming soon\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&#038;user=W-eyqaEAAAAJ&#038;view_op=list_works&#038;sortby=pubdate I study organic molecular fossils (biomarkers) preserved&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/sharmila-bhattacharya\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Sharmila Bhattacharya<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-s","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=852"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":893,"href":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852\/revisions\/893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.iisermohali.ac.in\/dept\/ees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}