Ishwar Kumar Cukkemane

Dr. Ishwar Kumar Cukkemane is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK). He has been a faculty member since June 2018, following a brief period as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the same institution. His academic journey includes a PhD from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and several post-doctoral fellowships, including a DST-SERB National Post-Doctoral Fellowship.

Education:

• PhD (2015), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – Thesis: Mesoproterozoic suturing of Archean crustal blocks in western peninsular India
• MSc (2008), Kuvempu University – Gold Medalist
• BSc (2006), Mangalore University

Research Interests:
Dr. Cukkemane's research lies at the intersection of petrology, tectonics, and crustal evolution. He investigates the evolution of shear zones, Archean tectonics, TTG genesis, and the metamorphic history of crustal domains. His work also explores the interaction between crustal and surface processes and the paleogeography of Eastern Gondwana, particularly the India-Madagascar-Sri Lanka-Antarctica correlation. He employs a multidisciplinary approach combining remote sensing, GIS, field geology, petrology, geochemistry, and geochronology.

Scientific Awards & Fellowships:

• National Post-Doctoral Fellowship (NPDF), SERB-DST, 2017
• Research Associate Fellowship, IISc Bangalore, 2015
• First Rank & Gold Medal in MSc, 2008

Teaching & Mentoring:
He teaches courses such as Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Economic Geology, Field Geology, Remote Sensing and GIS, and Advanced Metamorphic Petrology. While no specific advisees are listed, his role includes mentoring graduate and undergraduate students in Earth Sciences.

Laboratory & Fieldwork:
Dr. Cukkemane leads field-based structural and lithological studies across India and Madagascar. His lab work includes petrological, geochemical, and isotopic analyses, often integrating geophysical and sedimentological data to reconstruct tectonic histories.