Ms. SUJATA SHASHIDHAR KULKARNI | Climate science | Best Academic Researcher Award

Ms. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee India

Dr. Sujata S. Kulkarni is an early-career hydrology researcher at IIT Roorkee with a strong academic record, interdisciplinary expertise, and global research collaborations. She integrates climate science, data analytics, and complex systems to understand Indian monsoon variability. Passionate about research and teaching, Sujata has worked with premier institutions like IITM Pune and PIK Germany. Her contributions span hydrology, climate impact modeling, and network science. She has published in reputed journals, presented internationally, and is a recipient of the prestigious PMRF fellowship. Her research informs policy and climate adaptation strategies, particularly in the context of Arctic teleconnections.

Publication Profile

Scopus

🎓 Education

Sujata is pursuing her Ph.D. in Hydrology at IIT Roorkee with a perfect GPA of 10/10, following an M.Tech. in Civil Engineering from IIT Gandhinagar (2021, 9/10 CGPA). She completed her B.E. in Civil Engineering from BVBCET, VTU, Belgaum (2018, 9.52/10), secured 95.33% in Pre-University from Tungal PU Science College, and 96.48% in SSLC from St. Joseph’s School, Vijayapura. Her academic journey reflects consistent academic excellence, a deep interest in environmental systems, and a multidisciplinary approach blending engineering, hydrology, and computational tools.

💼 Experience

Sujata has taught Python and Disaster Management at COER under the PMRF deliverables and served as a Teaching Assistant for advanced hydrology courses (HYN513 & HYN555). She was a Research Associate at IIT Roorkee on a climate change impact project for São Paulo, Brazil. She has hands-on experience with climate model analysis, statistical downscaling, and environmental modeling. Sujata gained international exposure through her research visits to IITM Pune and PIK Germany, attended the Potsdam Summer School (2022), and coordinated key workshops on natural hazards in the Indian Himalayas, blending research with academic leadership.

🏆 Awards & Honors

Sujata is a Prime Minister’s Research Fellow and recipient of multiple fellowships, including CoPREPARE (PIK Germany, 2022) and MHRD Scholarship (M.Tech.). She earned a travel grant to EGU 2024, organized a DAAD-funded workshop on Indian Himalayan hazards, and secured funding from KSCST for her B.Tech. thesis. Sujata also ranked second in her undergraduate department, receiving a silver medal, and qualified GATE with 98.96 percentile. Her academic diligence was also recognized with the PM’s Student Scholarship for her undergraduate studies from 2014–2018.

🔬 Research Focus

Sujata’s research focuses on climate-hydrology interactions, particularly the predictive modeling of the Indian Summer Monsoon using Arctic teleconnections and complex network theory. She explores multiscale associations between Arctic sea ice variability and Indian precipitation patterns, advancing methods like wavelet analysis and SARIMA modeling. Her M.Tech. thesis analyzed interstate trade networks in India through network science. Her work bridges data science, hydrologic science, and climate policy, contributing to adaptive strategies against climate change. She also investigates biofilters, nanotechnology in water purification, and glacier dynamics, integrating science and sustainability.

Conclusion

Sujata S. Kulkarni is an exceptionally strong candidate for the Best Academic Researcher Award. Her academic record, interdisciplinary and internationally collaborative research, publications, technical competence, and commitment to both teaching and outreach demonstrate a comprehensive, impactful early-career research trajectory. With minor enhancements in independent funding and product-oriented outcomes, she is well on her way to becoming a leading scholar in climate-hydrology studies.

Publication Top Notes

• Tracing spatiotemporal changes in agricultural and non-agricultural trade networks of India | 2023 | Kulkarni, S. and Agarwal, A.

• Quantifying the association between Arctic Sea ice extent and Indian precipitation | 2023 | Kulkarni, S. & Agarwal, A.

• Arctic sea ice variability and its multiscale association with Indian summer monsoon rainfall at different time scales | 2025 | Kulkarni, S. & Agarwal, A.

• Complex networks in hydrologic sciences | Under Review (Submitted in June 2023) | Kulkarni, S., Öztürk, U., Marwan, N., Kurths, J., Merz, B., & Agarwal, A.