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Amar Agarwal
PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Earth Sciences
Research Interest
Shock waves are generated during hypervelocity meteoritic impacts and explosions. While traversing through a solid medium, the shock waves impart plastic deformation. Depending upon the characteristics of the medium and the shock waves, the deformation ranges from fracturing, pulverization, polymorphism, melting to vaporization. Led by Dr. Amar Agarwal, we investigate this deformation. We use standard techniques such as field studies, microstructural analysis, spectral studies and magnetic investigations (induced and remanent). This is coupled with various innovative investigative techniques like high-speed deformation experiments, mathematical modelling and hydrocode simulations. Refer to our latest publications and projects for more information.
Room 104, ESB 3 Building,
Department of Earth Sciences,
Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur,
208016-Kanpur, India.
Specialization
Structural Geology
Shock deformation
Impact cratering
Rock Magnetism
Education
Doctor of Philosophy. 2015. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India
Master of Science (Technology) in Geology. 2011. Banaras Hindu University, India
Bachelor of Science in Geology, Maths, Physics. 2008. Lucknow University, India
Teaching Area
Structural Geology (U.G.)
Microstructures in Earth Sciences (U.G.)
Engineering Geology (U.G.)
Applied methods in Structural Geology (U.G.)
Fundamentals of Earth Sciences (U.G.)
Rock Magnetism (P.G.)
Previous Work Experience
2025 to present: Associate Professor of structural geology, Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur, Kanpur, India.
2019 to 2025: Assistant Professor of structural geology, Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur, Kanpur, India.
2017 to 2019: Alexander von Humboldt Postdoc at University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
2015 to 2017: Postdoc researcher at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CD Mexico, Mexico.
2012 to 2014: Doctoral candidate at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany (DAAD sandwich model).
2011 to 2015: Doctoral candidate at Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India.
Awards & Fellowships
Guest Scientist of Applied Structural Geology, Institute of Applied Geology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. May 2023 onwards.
DAAD Research Ambassador, German Academic Exchange Service, 2022-2025.
Top Cited Article 2020-2021 by Willey for Ramgarh, Rajasthan, India: a 10 km diameter complex impact crater.
Associate of the Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc), Bengaluru, India (2021-2024).
Alexander von Humboldt Postdoc fellowship at University of Freiburg, Germany (2017 – 2019).
Dirección General Asuntos del Personal Académico (DGAPA) fellowship for Postdoctoral Research in Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Mexico (2015 – 2017).
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) Sandwich Model Scholarship for PhD in Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany (2012 – 2014).
CSIR-UGC JRF, Junior Research Fellowship for PhD.
Ongoing Project
An experimental and simulation approach to understand shock attenuation in layered heterogeneous targets. Funded by: DIA-CoE, India. 2025 - 2028. ₹ 359.84 Lakhs.
Developing discrete element methods to understand ejecta evolution using Lonar as a terrestrial analogue. Co-PI: Prof. Anurag Tripathi. Funded by: STC, ISRO, India. 2025-2027. ₹ 32.49 Lakhs.
Numerical and hydrocode simulation of shock attenuation in layered target. Funded by: HEMRL, DRDO, India. 2024-2026. ₹ 26.59 Lakhs
Determining the origin of the Simlipal Volcanics: meteoritic Impact vs effusive volcanism. 2024-2026. Funded by: STC, ISRO, India. ₹ 23.8 Lakhs.
Flow sense and emplacement setting of the Mid-Norwegian continental margin basalts. 2023-2026, Funded by: NCPOR, MoES, India. ₹ 28.21 Lakhs.
Sponsored Project
Bagh Dinosaur Fossil Region, UNESCO Global Geopark, Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh. Funded by: MPTB, India. Co-PI: Dr. S.C. Tripathi, Lucknow, India. Funds awaited. ₹ 62.7 Lakhs
Material resource program. 2024. Funded by: BMZ, Germany. Co-PI: Prof. T.G. Gopakumar, ChE, IITK, India. € 23,968.
Impact excavation processes on terrestrial analogues for Mars: a case study at Lonar Crater, India. 2021-2025. Funded by: AvH Foundation, Germany. Co-PI: Dr. J. Wilk, Uni. Freiburg, Germany. € 54,947.
Origin and emplacement of impact melt at Dhala Impact structure, India. 2020-2024. IIT-K, India. ₹ 25.00 Lakhs.
Linking microstructures, magnetic fabrics and magnetic anomaly at impact structures. 2020-2022. Funded by: SERB-DST (startup grant), India. ₹ 29.19 Lakhs.
PhD Supervision
Awarded
Dr. Sonal Tiwari. 2020 – 2025. Understanding the deformation in target rocks due to hypervelocity meteoritic impact.
Ongoing
Mr. Ambrish K. Pandey. 2021 – Ongoing. Effects of shock waves on magnetic properties of crystalline rocks: A case study from Dhala Impact structure, India.
Mr. Pradyut Phukon. 2021 – Ongoing. Flow sense and emplacement setting of the Mid-Norwegian continental margin basalts.
Mr. Gourab Dey. 2022 - Ongoing. Evolution of the Lonar crater and its ejecta: studies based on magnetic fabrics, ground penetrating radar, drone survey and numerical simulation.
Mr. Swastik S. Behera. 2023 - Ongoing. Microstructural, experimental and simulation-based studies to understand the mechanism of fast deformation due to shock waves.
Ms. Gayatri Sahoo. 2024 - Ongoing. Experiments and simulations to understand the interactions of hypervelocity impact induced shock waves with porosity.
Mr. Vaasudev Rawat. 2024 - Ongoing. Understanding excavation flow and ejecta emplacement at impact craters.