Rakesh Tiwari Email & Phone Number

Bengaluru, Ka, In

Uppsala, Uppsala County, Sweden

I have developed Aghora v2.0, a field-ready photosynthesis analyzer that can measure photosynthetic light absorption dynamics and gas exchange simultaneously. This patent-pending instrument builds on my research from my PhD and a short postdoc at the University of Leeds, UK.I will be conducting experiments and trials using Aghora at Prof. Bob Muscarella's lab, with a focus on tropical forest trees (and to a limited extent, crop plants). We will be conducting measurements at TRACE in situ warming site in Puerto Rico as well as other tropical forest sites.This work will inform our understanding of electron transport rate regulation dynamics and how photosynthesis in tropical forest trees varies in response to high temperatures. The results will have implications to understand how tropical forest trees function in a warmer world. By better understanding the mechanisms of photosynthesis in these trees, we can better predict how they will respond to future temperature increases. This information is essential for developing effective strategies to conserve tropical forests. The innovation and measurements are relevant to crop plants. I am happy to speak with interested industry collaborators about developing commercial prototypes of Aghora v2.0.

Conducted photosynthesis measurements in the Western Ghats field site in between lockdowns. I was also involved in deploying and managing environmental sensors, and data organisation for a NERC-funded project site led by the University of Leeds.I continue to work on photosynthetic light absorption dynamics with Prof Emanuel Gloor

EPSRC funded the Impact Acceleration Account project to develop a field-ready prototype of the technology titled 'Device for the measurement of photosynthesis' (19009). Developed and calibrated a field-ready prototype of the instrument for measuring leaf-light absorption. The prototype includes the development of a light source, optical leaf chamber with gas exchange capabilities, infrared greenhouse gas analyser, temperature and flow measurement, and complete electronics for instrument control using Arduino. The instrument was calibrated at the NERC Field Spectroscopy Facility, Edinburgh. The prototype was named Aghora v1.0 and enables testing of the technology.

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

1) Set up a state-of-the-art trace gas analysis facility at the West Bengal project site (Birbhum district) to enable the measurement of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in rice paddies enabling the team to measure the emission reduction potential of improved water management practices. During this process, I have trained a team of 15 members in various capacities, from assembling chambers for trace gas sampling to gas sampling, trace gas analysis, instrument optimization, flux measurements, and agricultural experimental plot management.2) Secondly, I developed a data structure specifically designed to monitor this smallholder rice methane project.3) Thirdly, conducted a state-wide baseline millet nitrogen input and yield survey organising a consortium of NGOs across Karnataka to establish a crop management baseline to develop an N2O emission reduction project.

Bengaluru Area, India

We started off as a group of volunteers on Facebook creating Unicode textbook chapters in Kannada, a major Indian language for the benefit of visually challenged students. Textbooks for visually challenged students are mostly printed on paper or sometimes supplied as Braille prints. However, these take their time and are not easily accessible to all students. Students prefer audio and this is where we started making use of text-to-speech converter developed by IISc. Converting printed books to Unicode editable text provided the flexibility to convert to formats such as synthesized audio, Braille, and DAISY formats.The technology/protocol was transferred to the Karnataka Textbook Society, a Government of Karnataka body (2021-2022).

Birmingham, United Kingdom

At Prof Christine Foyer lab, based in the School of Biosciences, I planned to study the sugar feedback limitation due to CO2 enhancement on the photosynthesis of trees in the Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment of the Birmingham Forestry Institute (BIFOR). This project was suspended due to COVID-19.

Leeds, United Kingdom

In 2015, record temperatures were recorded across much of the Tropics, with temperatures in many tropical forests approaching or exceeding 40 °C. Such temperatures are thought to be close to threshold temperatures at which impairment of plant physiological functioning occurs. Climate change is further expected to aggravate the occurrence and intensity of tropical heatwaves in the 21st century [IPCC AR5, SPM Page 10]. Tropical forest response to heatwaves is little understood and the existing literature is biased towards temperate areas. An analysis of heatwaves across tropics and possible impacts on rainforest function form the focus of my Ph.D.

Manage three labs and monitoring GHG flux on agricultural experimental plots in two states of South India

I took up this assignment of the consortium of NGOs, the Fair Climate Network, India, to contribute towards developing a pro-smallholder farmer sustainable agriculture pilot project to access carbon finance through implementing climate-smart, agricultural practices. During this period,a) I developed a methodology for the measurement and monitoring of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions across four sites, b) set up four GHG laboratories working with five grassroots NGOs in four districts of South India. c) Trained, and managed experimental sites working with the NGOs, and subject experts in India and outside India. d) Developed simplified project monitoring workflow or farm diary formats.e) Developed produced and improved sampling chambers for trace gas sampling from cropland soils that involved working across various small manufacturers in Southern India and across various stakeholders at different levels and f) improved trace gas analysis throughput, conducted trials and tests at the instrument manufacturer factory (Chemito/Thermo Fisher, India) to reduce the sample runtime and improve the analytical accuracy of trace gas fluxes. The project was adopted by the Environmental Defense Fund, New York.

Bengaluru Area, India

This was my first work assignment after my master's. I joined the Centre for Sustainable Technologies, with Prof NH Ravindranath. My research training focused on understanding ecosystem functioning, resource pressures (both climate-related and non-climate), and system vulnerability. I later worked on an assessment of a village natural resource management project across three states and coordinated an India-UK consortium project with the University of Liverpool in characterising ecosystem services in a wetland ecosystem in India. I was also involved in India's National Communications to UNFCCC and led the field campaign for the assessment of the environmental impacts of a natural resource management-linked national wage employment scheme in India across a district in Karnataka.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Geography

M.Sc, Applied Botany

Master of Science in Applied Botany

B.Sc, Botany, Biochemistry, Microbiology

Bachelor of Science