Daya Shanker | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Forensic Scientist

Prof. Daya Shanker | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee | India

Prof. Daya Shanker is a highly respected academic and researcher in the field of Engineering Seismology, currently serving as a Professor in the Department of Earthquake Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has developed an exceptional record of teaching, research, and consultancy, with expertise covering earthquake seismology, seismic hazard and risk assessment, earthquake prediction, landslide hazard zonation, tsunami damage assessment, and advanced geophysical studies. His commitment to science is reflected in his guidance of numerous doctoral and postgraduate scholars, many of whom have gone on to make their own significant contributions. He has delivered invited lectures across multiple continents, chaired scientific sessions at leading conferences, and served in advisory and leadership roles for professional organizations and editorial boards. His scientific work has been cited widely, and his insights have influenced seismic hazard policy, disaster management frameworks, and engineering practices at both national and international levels.

Professional Profile

ORCID

Google Scholar

Education

Prof. Shanker’s academic foundation began with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics (Hons), earned with distinction, followed by a Master’s in Geophysics, where he specialized in the theoretical and practical aspects of seismology. His scholarly journey culminated in a Doctorate in Geophysics (Seismology) from Banaras Hindu University, where he undertook advanced research on seismic wave behavior, fault mechanics, and earthquake precursor modeling. Alongside his degrees, he earned numerous academic fellowships and scholarships, including national merit distinctions and international research awards. These formative years not only equipped him with technical mastery in the earth sciences but also exposed him to collaborative research environments, enabling him to integrate multidisciplinary approaches in his later work.

Experience

Prof. Shanker’s professional career began with prestigious research fellowships in seismology before progressing into academia, where he held successive positions from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and ultimately Professor. His teaching portfolio spans undergraduate and postgraduate courses in engineering seismology, seismotectonics, geophysics, earthquake disaster studies, and solid mechanics. He has played a pivotal role in curriculum design, examination systems, and research evaluation. As a mentor, he has supervised multiple Ph.D. theses and over two dozen M.Tech dissertations on topics ranging from probabilistic seismic hazard assessment to tsunami hazard modeling. Beyond academia, he has served as a consultant for seismic safety evaluations, microzonation studies, and geotechnical investigations. His administrative contributions include roles as Coordinator for International Relations, member of faculty recruitment panels, school management positions, and organizer of scientific events. His active participation in both scientific and community-based initiatives demonstrates his versatility as a leader and educator.

Research Interest

Prof. Shanker’s research interests are broad yet interconnected, centering on understanding seismic phenomena and mitigating earthquake risks. His work encompasses engineering seismology, seismotectonic modeling, marine geophysics, tsunami hazard forecasting, and earthquake-induced landslide analysis. He has advanced methods for ground motion prediction, statistical seismology, and earthquake microzonation, integrating geophysical, geotechnical, and geological data to produce highly detailed hazard maps. His studies on induced seismicity and earthquake control strategies have offered valuable insights for infrastructure safety and resource exploration. Additionally, his interest in applied geophysics has led to innovative applications in tunneling, civil engineering, and coastal resilience planning. His multidisciplinary approach ensures that his research findings are relevant to both scientific advancement and real-world engineering solutions.

Awards

Prof. Shanker’s achievements have been recognized with numerous honors from national and international bodies. He has received best paper awards from leading professional societies, international travel grants for presenting research at global conferences, and visiting scientist fellowships from prestigious institutions. His early academic performance was distinguished by multiple scholarships, including national merit awards and government-sponsored research fellowships. These recognitions reflect his sustained excellence in research, scholarly writing, and contributions to the advancement of earthquake science. His awards also highlight his role in building cross-border collaborations that have enriched seismic hazard research worldwide.

Publications

Prof. Shanker has authored and co-authored more than 220 publications in high-impact journals, conference proceedings, and edited volumes. His work has been widely cited by researchers in seismology, geophysics, and disaster risk reduction. Selected publications include:

1. Artificial Neural Network for Tsunami Forecasting
Journal/Conference: National Symposium on Natural Hazard & Build Better for Risk Mitigation and 8th Annual Convention on Advances in Earthquake Science (AES-2024)
Published on: 2024

2. Enhancing Coastal Resilience: Modelling for Tsunami Protections Heights in the Indian Ocean
Journal/Conference: International Conference on Society, Environment and Sustainable Development: Emerging Issues and Achievements
Published on: 2024

3. Estimating Tsunami Magnitude (Mt) in the Indo-Pacific Region using Machine Learning
Journal/Conference: 18th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (WCEE)
Published on: 2024

4. Estimation of Tsunami Hazard in the Indo-Pacific Region
Journal/Conference: 18th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (WCEE)
Published on: 2024

5. Forecast of Tsunamigenic Earthquakes in the Indo-Pacific Region using Artificial Neural Networks
Journal/Conference: 13th International Statistical Seismology (StatSei13) Workshop
Published on: 2024

6. Plant Based Biosorbents for Oil Removal from Wastewater
Journal/Conference: International Conference on Society, Environment and Sustainable Development: Emerging Issues and Achievements
Published on: 2024

7. Present Seismicity Scenario and Earthquake Statistics of Northeast India Himalaya and Vicinity
Journal/Conference: 34th Conference on Mathematical Geophysics (Mathematical Geophysics for Sustainable Development)
Published on: 2024

Conclusion

Prof. Daya Shanker’s career reflects a rare combination of deep scientific expertise, innovative research capability, and unwavering commitment to public safety in the face of natural hazards. His contributions have not only expanded the scientific understanding of earthquakes and related phenomena but also shaped practical measures for risk reduction and disaster resilience. His mentorship has nurtured a new generation of earthquake engineers and seismologists, ensuring that his legacy continues through their work. With an extensive record of publications, leadership roles in international collaborations, and impactful field studies, he stands as an exemplary figure in earthquake science and a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

Jin Fu | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jin Fu | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Hohai University | China

Dr. Jin Fu is an esteemed Associate Professor at the College of Geography and Remote Sensing, Hohai University, China. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg, Germany, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Peking University. Her work seamlessly integrates network observation, controlled experimentation, and model simulations to examine how climate extremes influence crop productivity and agroecosystem sustainability. With a proven track record of research excellence, Dr. Fu has made significant contributions to understanding nitrogen and phosphorus emissions in agricultural systems, aiming to enhance food security under climate uncertainty.

Author Profile👤

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

Dr. Jin Fu has made outstanding and original contributions to the field of agroecosystem science, particularly under the pressures of climate extremes. Her research employs an interdisciplinary approach—blending network observation, controlled experiments, and simulation modeling—to evaluate how extreme weather events affect crop productivity and nutrient emissions. This is evident in her leading publications in high-impact journals such as Nature Food, Environmental Pollution, and Agricultural and Forest Meteorology.

Key strengths include:

  • Prolific Research Output: 27+ research publications, including first-author articles in top-tier journals with high citation value.

  • Impactful Research: Her work on nitrogen and phosphorus emissions and rice yield reduction due to extreme precipitation has direct implications for sustainable agriculture and food security in China and globally.

  • International Collaboration & Leadership: She has worked across Germany and China, holding prestigious fellowships (Boya Postdoc, CSC PhD) and currently leads national-level projects on climate impacts on agriculture.

  • Strong Funding Record: Principal investigator for several projects funded by the NSFC, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, and the National Foreign Experts Program.

  • Academic Service: She serves as an early-career editor for Biogeochemistry and Climate Smart Agriculture, reflecting her commitment to academic leadership.

  • Recognitions: Recipient of the 9th Soil Society of China Outstanding Young Scholar Award, a key national recognition of her contributions.

🎓 Education

Dr. Fu’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Resources and Environment from Huazhong Agricultural University (2005–2009). She then obtained her Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2009–2012). She pursued her Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT/IMK-IFU), Germany (2012–2017), where her focus was on climate-ecosystem interactions and nutrient cycling.

💼 Experience

Currently serving as an Associate Professor since March 2024 at Hohai University, Dr. Fu previously worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow (2018–2024) at the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University. Her academic experience is underscored by her leadership and involvement in numerous high-impact national and international projects, addressing climate change effects on rice yield, water-nutrient cycles, and sustainable agriculture.

🔬 Research Interests On Earth and Planetary Sciences

Dr. Fu’s primary research interests include the response and adaptation of agroecosystems to extreme climatic events, nutrient cycling (particularly nitrogen and phosphorus), and sustainable field management strategies. She employs multidisciplinary tools to unravel the complex interactions between climate variability and agricultural productivity, providing practical insights for policy and practice in climate-smart agriculture.

🏅 Awards & Honors

  • Outstanding Young Scholar Award (2024) – Soil Society of China

  • Best Presentation Award (2023) – GeoSus Organizing Committee

  • Boya Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018–2020) – Peking University

  • Ph.D. Fellowship (2012–2017) – China Scholarship Council & Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

  • Merit Student & Excellence Awards (2006–2012) – Multiple honors from CAS & Huazhong Agricultural University

  •  Member of the Nitrogen Working Group – Soil Society of China

📚 Publications

Here are some of Dr. Jin Fu’s impactful peer-reviewed publications, with citation and indexing info:

  1. Extreme rainfall reduces one-twelfth of China’s rice yield over the last two decades – Nature Food, 2023. Cited by: 8

  2. Regionally variable responses of maize and soybean yield to rainfall events in China – Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2025. Cited by: 3

  3. Declines in nutrient losses from China’s rice paddies driven by fertilizer and rainfall – Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2023. Cited by: 5

  4. Nationwide estimates of nitrogen and phosphorus losses via runoff from rice paddies – Journal of Cleaner Production, 2021. Cited by: 15

  5. Dissolved organic carbon leaching of montane grasslands – Biogeochemistry, 2019. Cited by: 12

  6. Importance of subsurface nutrient fluxes in rice paddy systems – Agricultural Water Management, 2019. Cited by: 10

🧾 Conclusion

🌏 Dr. Jin Fu exemplifies research excellence in the intersection of agriculture and climate science. Her groundbreaking contributions to understanding how extreme weather events affect agroecosystems and nutrient dynamics are critical for global food security and environmental sustainability. A proactive leader and collaborative scientist, Dr. Fu continues to influence national and international research agendas through her impactful publications, leadership roles, and academic service. Her profile makes her an outstanding candidate for prestigious honors such as the Best Researcher Award.