Nirmalya Chatterjee

Experience

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  University of Connecticut

  Aug 2005 - May 2009

  Chemistry Graduate Student

  Reconstituted photosynthetic algal proteins/pigment complexes were used to perform transient (pico-second time-scale), two-photon spectroscopy at carotenoid absorption wavelengths to determine degradation pathways for electronic excitations. Models were made for the degradation kinetic data to understand light-harvesting efficiencies and spectral tuning in algal light-harvesting protein complexes.\hspace{5mm} This project gave valuable experience in working with Class III/IV laser systems, ultra-precision pico-second optical delay tracks (transient two photon spectroscopy), and fluorescence and UV/Vis spectrophotometers. Many of the samples of protein/pigment complex had to be monitored in cryogenic cells at liquid N$_2$ and liquid He temperatures to remove thermal interference, thus, this gave additional experience in handling temperature sensitive material and extreme-pressure equipment. In subsequent computational work, MatLab was used to construct multi-step kinetic decay models to explain the transient, two-photon and fluorescence spectra. Show less

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  Washington State University

  Aug 2009 - Aug 2013

  Soil Science Graduate Student

  Experiments were done to measure micro-newton scale capillary forces, using a process tensiometer on meso-scale (mm-scale) particles obtained from the deep vadose zone at the Hanford Site, WA (US-DOE facility). Subsequently, MatLab was used to numerically solve the Young-Laplace equation for these model particle/interface interactions to calculate the capillary forces. The effect of particle shape, size, mineral type, and surface roughness on the capillary forces due to a moving air--water interface (an infiltration front) were investigated. The experimental studies and theoretical calculations on natural sediment particles were compared with similar studies on control particles of standard geometries either obtained from particle bead manufacturers or manufactured using 3D printing technologies by the investigators. The capillary force magnitudes, variation and different capillary force induced phenomena -- like interface pinning, snap-off and surface creeping were explained using theoretical models. Extrapolation of these modeling results to colloidal particle size was found to agree closely with micro-scale measurements of capillary forces reported (later) in the literature. The theoretical estimates were used to understand colloid movement in the vadose zone and implications for colloid-facilitated contaminant mobilization and transport were described. Show less

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  Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

  Jan 2015 - Jun 2016

  Postdoctoral Associate

  * Evaluating soil sediment and nutrient transport and measuring and modeling erosion of montane agricultural systems.* Evaluating merits of organic farming methods over conventional farming - vis-a-vis land cover/land use changes* Soil-groundwater interaction in montane soils and streams.* Prescribing management methods for meeting organic farming directives and certification.

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  University of Engineering and Management

  Jul 2016 - Dec 2016

  Assistant Professor (ad hoc)
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  Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

  Jun 2017 - May 2023

  Faculty Fellow L1
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  University of Louisiana at Monroe

  Aug 2019 - May 2023

  Adjunct Professor
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  Independent

  May 2023 - now

  Researcher / Teacher
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  Tomorrow's Foundation

  Jul 2023 - now

  Scientific Officer