Saugata Datta

Saugata Datta is a Professor and Department Chair at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), holding the Dr. Weldon W. Hammond, Jr. Endowed Distinguished Professorship in Hydrogeology. He directs the Institute for Water Research, Sustainability, and Policy and leads the Chemical Hydrology and Mass Spectrometry Lab. His research focuses on chemical hydrogeology, low-temperature geochemistry, and biogeochemical processes affecting water resources and contaminant migration in groundwater, soils, and sediments.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario
  • M.S. and B.S. in Geology, University of Calcutta
• Prior Appointments:
  • Michel T. Halbouty Visiting Chair Professor at Texas A&M University
  • Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor at Kansas State University
  • Assistant Professor at Georgia College & State University
• Research Overview:
  • Investigates groundwater quality, soil contamination, and trace element cycling using tools like synchrotron spectroscopy.
  • Projects span India, Bangladesh, Argentina, Mexico, and the U.S., including studies on Edwards Aquifer and Meghna River systems.
• Scientific Awards:
  • Geological Society of America Fellow (2022)
  • Meritorious Service Award, GSA Geology and Health Division (2022)
  • Big 12 Faculty Fellow Award (2015)
• Teaching & Collaborations:
  • Teaches courses like Aqueous Geochemistry, Physical Hydrogeology, and Brownfield Action.
  • Active in cross-disciplinary collaborations with UTSA Centers & Institutes and international institutions.