Sushil Kumar

Professor Sushil Kumar is a distinguished researcher at the University of the South Pacific, where he serves in the School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics in Suva, Fiji. With over 30 years of research experience evidenced by his publication record spanning from the 1990s to 2025, he has established himself as a leading expert in ionospheric physics, focusing on the Earth's upper atmosphere and its interactions with space weather phenomena.

His research primarily centers on Ionospheric Physics, with particular emphasis on:

• Using Very Low Frequency (VLF) signals to probe the D-region ionosphere
• Studying ionospheric responses to solar eclipses, geomagnetic storms, and solar flares
• Investigating connections between tropospheric weather (lightning, tropical cyclones) and ionospheric phenomena
• Exploring earthquake precursors through ionospheric monitoring
• Analyzing traveling ionospheric disturbances in the Australian and South Pacific regions

Professor Kumar's recent work has examined unusual VLF anomalies associated with the January 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption, VLF perturbations related to lightning activity in the South Pacific, and large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances during geomagnetic storms. His research demonstrates a consistent pattern of investigating how various geophysical events affect the Earth's ionosphere, with particular attention to the unique conditions of the low-latitude South Pacific region.

Professor Kumar has received significant recognition for his work, with his publications accumulating over 16,000 reads and 1,275 citations on ResearchGate alone. His research has practical applications for understanding space weather effects on communication systems and potentially developing methods for natural hazard monitoring.

As a supervisor, Professor Kumar offers opportunities to work on cutting-edge ionospheric research using VLF techniques, with potential for field work in the South Pacific and collaborations with international research teams. His extensive publication record and active research program suggest a dynamic and productive research environment for graduate students.