Anup Upadhyaya
I am a Prime Minister’s Research Fellow and PhD Candidate at the Centre for Ocean, River, Atmosphere and Land Sciences (CORAL), Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India (2019–present), working under the supervision of Dr. Abhishek K. Rai.
My research focuses on climate change and extreme events in the Himalayan region, particularly:
- 🌡️ Heatwaves and extreme temperature events
- 🌧️ Extreme precipitation and rainfall variability
- 🏔️ Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
- ⛰️ Landslide susceptibility modeling
I integrate statistical analysis, machine learning (Python & R), and geospatial techniques (ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth Engine) with climate datasets including CMIP6 projections and reanalysis products.
Education
| Degree | Institution | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. (Climate & Extreme Events) | IIT Kharagpur | 2019–Present |
| M.Sc. Applied Geology (Gold Medallist, CGPA: 8.62) | University of Mysore | 2017–2019 |
| M.Sc. Geoinformatics (CGPA: 8.64) | BIT Mesra, Ranchi | 2012–2014 |
| B.Sc. Hons. Geology | University of Delhi | 2009–2012 |
Work Experience
Consultant (Statistical Analyst) — Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), New Delhi (June–September 2025)
- Analyzed global indices: Environmental Performance Index & Climate Change Performance Index
- Reviewed UN technical reports and provided statistical inputs
PhD Research Fellow — IIT Kharagpur (July 2019–Present)
- Statistical analysis of extreme climate events, GLOFs, and landslide susceptibility in NW Himalayas
- High-performance computing using IIT Kharagpur’s Param Shakti facility (WRF model)
Junior Research Fellow — G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Almora (December 2014–July 2015)
- Forest cover modeling using remote sensing and GIS for Manas Biosphere Reserve
Academic Achievements
- 🏆 Prime Minister’s Research Fellow (December 2020)
- 🏅 Best Oral Presentation Award, Research Scholar Day, CORAL, IIT Kharagpur (January 2024)
- 🥇 Gold Medal, M.Sc. Applied Geology, University of Mysore (2019)
- ✅ GATE 2019: AIR 430, Score 487
- ✅ KSET 2018 (Karnataka State Eligibility Test for Lectureship)
Skills
- Programming: Python, R
- Geospatial: ArcGIS, QGIS, SNAP, Google Earth Engine
- Climate Modeling: WRF, HEC-RAS, CMIP6
- Methods: Machine Learning, MCDM (AHP-TOPSIS, AHP-COPRAS), Trend Analysis, Return Period Analysis
PhD Research Overview
My doctoral research addresses the growing threat of climate extremes and associated natural hazards in the Northwest Himalayan region of India. The work spans three interconnected themes:
Objective 1 — Climate Extremes & Future Projections: Spatio-temporal analysis of heatwave indices and extreme precipitation trends using bias-corrected CMIP6 models under multiple SSP scenarios.
Objective 2 — Hazard Susceptibility Mapping: Landslide susceptibility assessment via machine learning (Upper Ganga Basin) and GLOF susceptibility mapping using AHP-TOPSIS and AHP-COPRAS for the Northwest Himalayas.
Objective 3 — Hydrodynamic Flood Modelling: HEC-RAS 2D modelling of GLOF scenarios from high-priority glacial lakes to map downstream flood extent, water depth, flow velocity, and risk zones.
The thesis integrates reanalysis products, remote sensing datasets, digital elevation models, and CMIP6 climate projections — combining statistical rigour with geospatial and computational tools to inform disaster risk management in the Himalayas.