National Institute of Technology Rourkela

राष्ट्रीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान राउरकेला

ଜାତୀୟ ପ୍ରଯୁକ୍ତି ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠାନ ରାଉରକେଲା

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Faculty Profile

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BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Das is an accomplished researcher and educator who began his academic journey at Jadavpur University, completing his B.Sc. in Geological Sciences in 2014 and earning an M.Sc. degree in Applied Geology in 2016. His Ph.D. research focused on the phenomenon of riverbank erosion, successfully defended in 2021. Seeking further research opportunities, he worked as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the renowned Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, unraveling the complexities of fluid dynamics and sediment entrainment for approximately two years. As of May 2023, he serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela, expanding his expertise in the field. His research interests include cohesive sediment erosion, river mechanics, turbulence, sediment transport, and wave dynamics. With expertise in experimental hydraulics and the use of Acoustic Doppler instruments, he conducts precise experiments to generate reliable data for analysis. Dr. Das actively seeks challenging research projects and has investigated various topics, such as geomorphology, hydrodynamics, bridge pier scouring, cohesive sediment erosion, and ripples under wave-dominated flows. In summary, Dr. Das is an accomplished researcher with expertise in riverbank erosion and a wide range of geological sciences. This experience broadened his understanding of the subject and provided valuable insights into the interplay between fluid dynamics and sediment transport.

EXPERTISE INFORMATION

Research Group
  • Petrology
Areas of Interest
  • River Hydraulics, Riverbank erosion, Sedimentology, Turbulent flow, Open Channel flow, Bridge pier scouring, Wave-current flow

Vikas Kumar Das
विकास कुमार दास Assistant Professor Grade-II, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

dasvk@nitrkl.ac.in

Biosketch

40

PUBLICATIONS

3

SPONSORED PROJECTS

3

DOCTORAL STUDENTS

2

CONTINUING EDUCATION

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Vikas Kumar Das

Assistant Professor Grade-II

Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Room Number:

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Sundargarh, Odisha, India - 769008

2021

Ph.D.
River hydraulics, Sedimentology, Engineering Geology, Open channel flow
Jadavpur University

2016

M.Sc
Applied Geology
Jadavpur University

2014

B.Sc
Geological Sciences
Jadavpur University

Teaching Experience
  • Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, Palaeontology,  National Institute of Technology, Rourkela,,   05 May 2023 - Present
  • Geology of Fuels, Palaeontology, Life Through Ages,  Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology Shibpur,   02 Feb 2023 - 30 Apr 2023
Post Doctoral Research Experience
  • Fractals, Chaos and Complex network,  Indian Institute of Technology Bombay,   01 Jan 2021 - 31 Jan 2023
Laboratory Development
  • Environmental Sediment Dynamics Laboratory,  NIT Rourkela,   The Environmental Sediment Dynamics Lab (ESDL) advances sedimentology by examining how sediments are transported, deposited, and reworked across riverine, coastal, estuarine, and marine systems. It links classical sedimentological concepts with hydrodynamics, turbulence, and morphodynamics, offering a process-based understanding of sediment behavior. The lab investigates bedload and suspended transport, sediment entrainment, and deposition under varying flow and turbulence conditions, including wave–current interactions. It also explores geomorphic features such as ripples, dunes, and bars, which are fundamental to interpreting sedimentary structures in the geological record. Through flume experiments, field observations, and numerical modeling, ESDL provides insights into channel migration, shoreline evolution, and deltaic processes. Its work is particularly relevant for understanding environmental change, as sediment dynamics strongly influence carbon cycling, nutrient fluxes, and ecosystem stability. Overall, ESDL strengthens sedimentology by integrating experimental, theoretical, and applied approaches to decode sediment processes in both modern and ancient environments.

Hydrodynamics of wave breaking around submerged structures in coastal surf zone under dynamic bed morphology DST
  • Principal Investigator
  • 60
  • Running   Sponsored
Studies on condition Assessment & Management Plan for Mahanadi river basin National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD), Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India
  • Co-Investigator
  • 36
  • Running   Sponsored
Characterizing the 'life and death cycle' of slow-moving landslides (SMLs) through the integration of multi-sensor remote sensing measurements and hydro-mechanical modeling ISRO
  • Co-Investigator
  • 36
  • Running   Sponsored

9
GOOGLE SCHOLAR H-INDEX 9
GOOGLE SCHOLAR I10-INDEX 9
SCOPUS H-INDEX
Total Publications: 40
View All Publications

A. Priyadarshini, V. K. Das, and K. K. Khatua,"Experimental analysis of turbulence structures over bimodal sediment bed", Environmental Fluid Mechanics, vol.26, no.8, pp.1-32, Springer 2026, 10.1007/s10652-025-10072-y       Article

S. Sahoo, V. K. Das, and K. Debnath,"Control of sandbar development on morphological evolution & channel dynamics of the Mahanadi Delta", International Journal of River Basin Management, Taylor & Francis 2026, 10.1080/15715124.2026.2613443       Article

S. Roy, K. Debnath, and V. K. Das,"Turbulence characteristics and energy cascade in wave-current flow over an adverse sloping bed", Ocean Engineering, vol.351, no.2, Elsevier, January 2026, 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2026.124427       Article

A. Bhattacharyay, V. K. Das, K. Debnath, S. Banerjee, and B. S. Mazumder,"Unraveling erosive mechanisms in curved river channels: Insights from a controlled 180° meander experiment", Journal of Earth System Science, vol.135, no.62, Springer Nature, March 2026, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-026-02789-1       Article

A. Priyadarshini, N. S. Ray, V. K. Das, and K. K. Khatua,"Characterization of high-order turbulence in bimodal sediment beds in open channel flow", Journal of Earth System Science, vol.135, no.67, Springer Nature, March 2026, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-026-02758-8       Article

RIVER FLOW, SEDIMENT TRANSPORT, AND WAVE DYNAMICS: CONCEPTS, TOOLS, AND APPLICATIONS Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (Short-term Course)
A Five Day Workshop on Mahanadi River Basin Management Civil Engineering (Workshop)
  • Co-Coordinator
  • 05 Nov 2024 - 09 Nov 2024
  • Brochure

  • ER2251 : Mining Geology {Theory}
  • ER4115 : Paleontology {Theory}
  • ER4118 : Sedimentology & Stratigraphy {Theory}
  • ER5103 : Sedimentary Petrology {Theory}
  • ER5202 : Palaeontology {Theory}
  • ER5204 : Stratigraphy {Theory}
  • ER2271 : Mining Geology Laboratory {Practical}
  • ER4163 : Palaeontology Laboratory {Practical}
  • ER4263 : Programming Laboratory {Practical}
  • ER5272 : Palaeontology Laboratory {Practical}

Ph.D. Students [3]
HYDROGEOLOGY
Bismay Das
Enrolled: Aug 2024
Continuing
Co-Supervisor
Sedimentary Petrology
Jyotirmoy Routray
Enrolled: Jan 2025
Continuing
Supervisor
Hydro-Morphodynamic Behaviour of the Mahanadi River system: A Multitemporal Satellite and Experimental Study
Sanatan Sahoo
Enrolled: Jul 2024
Continuing
Supervisor

Awards And Honours
  • Outstanding paper award in 7th Regional Science & Technology Congress, Department of Science & Technology and Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal, January 2025.,   2025
  • Outstanding paper award in 32nd West Bengal State Science & Technology Congress Department of Science & Technology and Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal, March 2025,   2025
  • Best Presentation award in 30th International conference on Hydraulics, Water Resources, River and Coastal Engineering, Indian Society of Hydraulics (ISH),   2025
  • DST INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship,   2023
  • International Travel Grant for attending conferences abroad from (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) RUSA 2.0 for attending conference at Italy,   2019
  • Best paper award in 24th Hydro 2019- International Conference, organized by the Department of Civil Engineering, University college of Engineering, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India in association with the Indian Society for Hydraulics (ISH) held during 18-20, December 2019,   2019
  • Outstanding paper award in 25th State Science & Technology Congress, Department of Higher Education, Science & Technology and Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal, March 2018,   2018
  • Outstanding paper award in 2nd Regional Science & Technology Congress, Department of Higher Education, Science & Technology and Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal, December 2017,   2017
  • Qualification in NET,   2017
  • Qualification in GATE,   2016
Memberships / Fellowships
  • Indian Meteorological Scociety,   2024
  • Indian Association of Sedimentologists,   2023
  • International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS),   2023
  • Senior Research Fellowship under DST-SERB sponsored project,   2019
  • Junior Research Fellowship under DST-SERB sponsored project,   2017