Innovative Research Award

Nafees Ahmad
Affiliation	Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali
Position	Postdoctoral Research Associate
Country	India
Google Scholar	FEpcFJ4AAAAJ
Scopus ID	57381947600
ORCID	0000-0001-6514-6674
Citations	49
Documents	7
h-index	4
Research Areas	Microplastics, PAHs, PAEs, Sediment Geochemistry, Eutrophication
Event	Indian Scientist Awards

Nafees Ahmad
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, India

Nafees Ahmad is an Indian geoscientist and environmental researcher specializing in emerging contaminants, aquatic geochemistry, paleoclimate reconstruction, environmental pollution, and earth surface processes. He currently serves as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, India.

His research integrates geochemical proxies, isotopic techniques, sedimentology, environmental monitoring, and biomarker analysis to understand anthropogenic impacts on freshwater ecosystems, atmospheric pollution, and climate-driven environmental changes.  Ahmad’s interdisciplinary scientific contributions have advanced understanding of microplastic contamination, heavy metal pollution, sediment provenance, and aquatic biogeochemical cycling in Indian environmental systems.

Abstract

Nafees Ahmad is actively engaged in interdisciplinary environmental and geochemical research focusing on emerging contaminants, aquatic pollution, paleoclimate reconstruction, sediment geochemistry, and atmospheric processes. His work combines modern geochemical tools, isotopic techniques, biomarker analyses, and environmental monitoring to investigate anthropogenic and natural impacts on freshwater ecosystems and environmental sustainability.

Through extensive field investigations, laboratory-based geochemical analyses, and scientific publications, Ahmad has contributed significantly toward understanding microplastic contamination, heavy metal pollution, lake eutrophication, sediment provenance, hydroclimatic variability, and environmental risk assessment in India.

Keywords

Emerging Contaminants, Environmental Geochemistry, Microplastics, Paleoclimate, Aquatic Pollution, Heavy Metals, Sediment Geochemistry, Isotope Geochemistry, Eutrophication, Atmospheric Pollution, Water Geochemistry, Paleoenvironment, PAHs, PAEs, Earth Surface Processes.

Introduction

Environmental geochemistry and aquatic pollution studies have become increasingly important for understanding the impacts of anthropogenic activities on freshwater ecosystems, atmospheric processes, and global environmental change. Modern environmental research integrates isotopic geochemistry, sedimentology, biomarker studies, and pollution monitoring to assess ecosystem degradation, climate variability, and contaminant transport pathways.

Nafees Ahmad’s research contributes substantially to these scientific domains through investigations on microplastic pollution, heavy metal contamination, lake geochemistry, atmospheric deposition, hydroclimate variability, and sedimentary processes. His multidisciplinary research demonstrates strong relevance to environmental sustainability, climate science, and pollution mitigation strategies.

Research Profile

Nafees Ahmad completed his Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal in July 2024. His doctoral research focused on the geochemical assessment of anthropogenic impacts on protected freshwater lakes in Central India.

He obtained his M.Sc. in Applied Geology from Aligarh Muslim University in 2017, where his research examined the mineralogy, genesis, and distribution of bauxite deposits in India. He also completed his B.Sc. (Hons.) in Geology from Aligarh Muslim University in 2015.

Currently, he is working as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at IISER Mohali, where his research investigates natural and anthropogenic impacts on aquatic biogeochemical cycling using lipid biomarkers, microplastics, phthalates, and geochemical proxies.

Research Interests

• Emerging contaminants including microplastics, PAHs, and phthalate esters.
• Aquatic pollution and eutrophication studies in freshwater systems.
• Paleoenvironment and paleoclimate reconstruction using sedimentary archives.
• Sediment provenance, weathering conditions, and earth surface processes.
• Atmospheric geochemistry, aerosol chemistry, and rainwater isotopic studies.
• Stable isotope geochemistry involving C, N, O, and H isotopes.
• Radiogenic isotope applications involving Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes.
• Lipid biomarkers, sterols, hopanes, stanols, and organic matter tracing.

Professional Experience

Ahmad has extensive research and academic experience in environmental sciences, geochemistry, and geological field investigations. Since May 2024, he has been serving as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at IISER Mohali.

He previously worked as a Junior Research Fellow at IISER Bhopal, where he investigated the role of Thar Desert mineral dust in contributing atmospheric dust to northern India and the Himalayan foothills.

He has also served as a Teaching Assistant for courses including Introduction to Environmental Sciences, Geochemistry, Oceanography, and Earth Materials and Processes. In addition, he has mentored graduate students and contributed to the development of geochemical laboratory infrastructure and research grant preparation.

Research Contributions

Nafees Ahmad’s research contributions focus on understanding anthropogenic and natural controls on aquatic and atmospheric geochemical systems. His studies combine sediment geochemistry, isotopic analyses, biomarker techniques, and environmental monitoring to reconstruct pollution histories and climate variability.

He has significantly contributed to research on microplastic contamination, heavy metal pollution, sediment provenance, hydroclimate reconstruction, geochemical proxy development, and environmental risk assessment. His interdisciplinary studies provide valuable insights into contaminant transport, lake ecosystem health, and long-term environmental change.

His recent work on microplastics and phthalate esters in freshwater systems represents an important contribution toward understanding emerging contaminants and their environmental implications in developing regions.

Scientific Field Expeditions

• Detailed geological, hydrological, and atmospheric sampling around Upper Lake Bhopal from 2017–2020.
• Sediment and soil sampling in Bhoj Wetland and Shahpura Lake, Central India.
• Atmospheric dust sampling in the Thar Desert and Himalayan foothills from 2021–2022.
• Water and suspended sediment investigations in the Narmada and Tapi estuaries in Gujarat.
• Sediment core, soil, and basaltic rock sampling at Dhom Lake, Maharashtra.
• Geological mapping of the Aravalli and Vindhyan Supergroups in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Selected Publications

• Isotopic evidence of autochthonous organic matter acting as a major sink of anthropogenic heavy metals in modern lacustrine sediments, Environmental Pollution, 2024.
• Decadal growth of atmospheric heavy metal pollution in Central India: Evidence from sediment geochemistry of Upper Lake Bhopal, Environmental Earth Sciences, 2023.
• Historical variations in autochthonous and allochthonous sediment supplies to the largest freshwater lake in Central India, International Journal of Sediment Research, 2022.
• The late Holocene hydroclimate variability in the Northwest Himalaya: Sedimentary clues from the Wular Lake, Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2022.
• Inter-estuarine and seasonal to decadal variations of heavy metal pollution in the Gulf of Cambay, India, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2022.
• Terrane-specific REE composition in modern soils and aquatic sediments as a reliable provenance tracer, CATENA, 2025.
• Seasonal contamination of heavy metals in Tawi River: Sources, fate, and health implications, Environmental Challenges, 2025.
• Microplastic sources and distribution dynamics across contrasting anthropogenic settings, Environmental Science: Advances, 2026.
• Co-occurrence and environmental controls of microplastics and phthalate esters in freshwater systems of Central India, Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 2026.

Awards & Achievements

• Qualified the IIT-GATE Examination in 2017.
• Awarded the prestigious DST-Inspire Fellowship in 2018.
• Recipient of the Inspire-SHE Scholarship during 2012–2017.
• Awarded a waiver of abstract and registration fees for Goldschmidt 2023 Conference participation.
• Awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship from IISER Mohali in 2024.
• Coordinated the capacity-building workshop on Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Management at IISER Mohali in 2025.

Research Impact

Nafees Ahmad’s research has contributed significantly toward environmental geochemistry, pollution monitoring, aquatic ecosystem studies, and climate-related environmental investigations. His interdisciplinary work addressing emerging contaminants, sediment geochemistry, and isotopic proxies has important implications for environmental sustainability and ecosystem management.

His studies on heavy metal contamination, microplastics, hydroclimate variability, and lake sediment dynamics provide valuable scientific evidence for pollution assessment, environmental monitoring, and freshwater conservation strategies.

The combination of advanced geochemical methodologies, field-based environmental investigations, and internationally published scientific research highlights his growing academic impact in earth and environmental sciences.

Award Suitability

Nafees Ahmad’s academic and scientific profile strongly aligns with the objectives of the Research Excellence Award under the Indian Scientist Awards framework. His contributions in environmental geochemistry, emerging contaminants, aquatic pollution, and paleoclimate research represent highly relevant and impactful scientific investigations addressing global environmental challenges.

His publication record in internationally reputed journals, extensive field-based environmental studies, interdisciplinary research collaborations, conference presentations, and expertise in advanced geochemical techniques collectively demonstrate research excellence and scientific innovation.

The societal relevance of his research on freshwater pollution, microplastic contamination, environmental sustainability, and climate variability further supports his recognition in the field of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Conclusion

Nafees Ahmad is an emerging environmental geochemist whose research integrates modern geochemical tools, isotopic techniques, sedimentology, and environmental monitoring to address critical challenges related to aquatic pollution, emerging contaminants, and environmental change. Through scientific innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and field-based environmental research, he continues to contribute meaningfully toward advancing Earth and Environmental Sciences in India and beyond.

External Links

• Google Scholar Profile
  
• Scopus Author Profile
  
• ORCID Profile
  
• Indian Scientist Awards Website