Saugata Datta

PhD: Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, Canada : 2001
Mellon-Barnard & Columbia  Earth Institute PostDoctoral Fellow, Columbia University, New York: 2004
 

	Assistant Professor Geology (Hydrogeology and Environmental Geochemistry) Department of Geology,  Kansas State University 104 Thompson Hall,  Manhattan,  Kansas,  66506 Phn: (785) 532 2241       Fax: (785) 532 5159 Email: sdatta@ksu.edu                           Prior Appointments:                           Assistant Professor                           Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences,                           Georgia College & State University, Georgia  (2004 - 2008)                                                Reader, University of Calcutta,                           Department of Geology, India  (2005 - 2006)
	Research                               Publications                           Research Group                      Links                           Teaching                                Research Photos

WELCOME TO DATTA LAB !

We are hydrogeologists and low temperature geochemists who work on environmental sustainability.

CURRENT NEWS IN LAB:

.Undergraduate Interns - started June 2011: Sophia Ford and Logan Kelly

RESEARCH TOPICS:

• BioGeochemistry and Synchrotron Studies of Tungsten in aquifer sediments and groundwater (involves collaboration with Tulane University and Brookhaven NationalLaboratory). Funding: National Science Foundation - Hydrologic Sciences.
  Title of proposal: Collaborative Research: Chemical Hydrogeologic Investigations of Tungsten: Field, Laboratory, and Modeling Studies of an Emerging Environmental Contaminant. Funding  (3 years) for Graduate Research Assistant- Chad Hobson joining Aug 2011.
  
  
• Modeling CO2 Sequestration in Saline Aquifer and Depleted Oil Reservoir to Evaluate Regional CO2 Sequestration Potential of Ozark Platea Aquifer System, South-Central Kansas ; In Collaboration with: Kansas Geological Survey; KU Department of Geology, Lawrence, Kansas. Funding U.S.Department of Energy; Recovery Act: Site Characterization of Promising Geologic Formations for CO2 Storage. Website: http://www.kgs.ku.edu/PRS/Ozark/people.html. Graduate Research Assistant: Robin Barker
  
  
• Arsenic Biogeochemistry and Environmental Modeling towards Developing Water Resource Management in India (West Bengal) and Bangladesh: This study includes groundwater and surface water chemistry; sediment biogeochemistry; synchrotron studies (at beamline X27A of NSLS, BNL) of sediments, groundwater stable isotope studies (d18O and D: to determine the source of water); (Funding: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/ + NSF + USRG-KSU) (Current Collaborations: Tulane University, Duquesne University, University of Oregon, Geological Survey of India, India) Graduate students joining in August 2011- M.S. Sankar and Matt Rankin (joining ; Past Graduate Student: Andrew Neal. News Clips: K-State; Collaborators from Tulane; K-State Influence;
  
  
• Selenium Biogechemistry and Wetland Restoration in Pariette Wetlands, Uinta Basin, Utah - (Collaborations with Utah State University, Logan + Department of Veterinary Medicine and Pathobiology and Department of Agronomy-KSU + USGS Denver) - Funding: Bureau of Land Management Utah-Vernal; Current Graduate Student: Mathew Crawford. See Poster - GSA South Central Meeting Branson, MO April 2010.
  
  
• Nitrate cycling in a Mesic Grassland-Konza Prarie-a Stable isotopic (N15, dD and d18O) study: (Collaborations Division of Biology, Kansas State University) - Current Graduate Student: O.C Eke
  
  
• Synchrotron Studies on (National Synchrotron Light Source- beamlines (X11A, X19A, X10C)
    a) Air Particulate Matters- determination of Fe, Mn, Cr oxidation states and their source apportionment and public health aspects (in 8 cities in USA). (Funds from Johns Hopkins Subcontract on EPA STAR grant) (Current Collaborations: Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University)
    b) Air Pollution studies in New York City Subway Systems and comparison with Nethrelands subway systems (Funds via Columbia University) regarding Health issues of subway workers from inhalation of subway air particulates. Contamination from inhalation of metallic Fe, Cr and Mn originating from steel abrasion from train wheels
  
  
• Searching for traces of life and water in Martian analogue environments: Basaltic caves and lava tube: Current Collaborations with Canadian Space Agency, CA. (Funds from CSA, CA + NASA Space Grant-KSU). See Poster - ABSCICON League City TX, April 2010.
   
• Andaman, India and Great Basin, USA Mud Volcanoes/Diapirs - Low Temperature Geochemistry of mud and eruptive fluids and potential hydrocarbon source  (In Collaboration with Geological Survey of India + PANalytical Inc-XRD, XRF + University of Western Ontario, CA)
  
  
• Great Basins (California and Nevada) Hot Springs Evolution- Collaborations with NASA JPL-Houston and University of Houston
  
  
• Developing Brownfield Action in Undergraduate Geosciences and Environmental Sciences Curricula, SENCERising courses with Lafayette College, Gannon College and Barnard College and NY University. See Poster - SENCER SSI 2010 Asheville.
  
  

• Mathew Crawford, M.S Student - Selenium Biogeochemistry in Pariette Draw wetlands, Utah
• O.C. Eke, M.S Student - Isotopes as tracers in delineation of source of nitrates in groundwaters in Konza Prairie, Kansas
• Robinson Barker, M.S. Student - CO2 sequestration in the Arbuckle and Geochemical Modelling
• Chad Hobson
• M S Sankar
• Mathew Rankin
  

Past Graduate Students:

• Andrew Neal, M.S. - 2010, Kansas State University, Arsenic Geochemistry in India 
• Debjani Sarkar, MSc  - 2006, University of Calcutta, India
• Anurupa Basak, MSc  - 2006, University if Calcutta, India
• Pradipta Sur, MSc - 2006, University of Calcutta, India

Several awards of current graduate students: