Teaching
- Geostatistics
- Application of AI/ML in geosciences
- Planetary science
Designation: Assistant professor
Department: Applied Geology
Email: rahulkumar[at]iitism[dot]ac[dot]in
Contact Number: 9031735864
Office Number: +91-326-223-5049
Personal Page: Click Here
About Me: I am a planetary scientist and an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad. I completed my Ph.D. in Planetary Science at Okayama University, Japan, where I developed a machine learning-based method to identify micron-sized organic matter in carbonaceous chondrites and Ryugu asteroid samples. My research focuses on geochemistry, cosmochemistry, astrobiology, and planetary science, with a strong emphasis on applying image processing and machine learning to extraterrestrial materials. I have hands-on experience with advanced analytical techniques such as SEM, Raman, SIMS, and TEM, and I contributed to the international analysis of Hayabusa2-returned samples from asteroid Ryugu. I am actively looking for PhD candidates with a background in my research areas. If you are interested in pursuing a PhD, internship, or postdoc in my group, please feel free to contact me.
Research Interest: Geochemistry, Cosmochemistry, Astrobiology, Planetary Science, Image processing, and Machine learning.
2020-2025: Ph.D. (Planetary Science), Institute for Planatery Materials, Okayama University, Japan
2015-2020: Integrated Masters (Applied Geology), Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, India
2026 – Present: Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, India.
1. Kumar, R., Kobayashi, K., Potiszil, C., & Kunihiro, T. (2025). Development of a technique to identify μm-sized organic matter in asteroidal material: An approach using machine learning. Applied Computing and Geosciences, 27, 100277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acags.2025.100277. Impact Factor-3.2
2. Nakamura et.al, On the origin and evolution of the asteroid Ryugu: A comprehensive geochemical perspective, Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and biological sciences, 6, 227-282, 2022. Impact Factor-4.1