Alka Rani | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award Posted on 26/09/202426/09/2024 by sciencefather Dr. Alka Rani | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award Dr. Alka Rani, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, India Dr. Alka Rani is a prominent researcher at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science in Bhopal, India. She specializes in soil science, focusing on sustainable agricultural practices and soil health management. With a strong background in agronomy and environmental science, Dr. Rani has contributed significantly to understanding soil dynamics and enhancing soil fertility. Her work emphasizes the importance of soil conservation and the role of innovative practices in improving crop productivity. She is actively involved in various research projects and has published numerous papers in national and international journals, contributing to the advancement of soil science in India. PROFILE Orcid Profile Educational Details Dr. Alka Rani holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture (Hons.) from Punjab Agricultural University, where she graduated in 2014 with an impressive 88.8%. She continued her academic journey at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, earning her M.Sc. in Agricultural Physics in 2016 with a distinction of 90.3%. Dr. Rani completed her Ph.D. in the same field in 2023, achieving a commendable 89.4%. Her strong educational foundation has equipped her with a deep understanding of soil science and its critical applications in sustainable agriculture. Work experience: Dr. Alka Rani has held significant positions in various esteemed institutions. She began her career as a Scientist at the ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management in Hyderabad from January to April 2019. Following that, she worked as a Scientist (Trainee) at the ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning in Nagpur for a brief period in mid-2019. Since August 2019, Dr. Rani has been serving as a Scientist at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science in Bhopal, where she continues to contribute to research in soil science and sustainable agriculture. Her roles have been recognized within the pay scale of PB-3 (15,600–39,100) with a grade pay of 6,000, reflecting her expertise and dedication to the field. Awards: Dr. Alka Rani has received numerous awards and fellowships throughout her academic and professional career, highlighting her dedication to research in soil science. In 2024, she was honored with the Young Scientist Award at the 39th M.P. Young Scientist Congress and a Fellowship for Training of Young Scientists from the M.P. Council of Science and Technology. Her research presentations have also garnered recognition, including Best Poster Presentation Awards at the International Conference on Sustainable Natural Resource Management in 2023 and the National Seminar on Agrophysics for Smart Agriculture in 2022. Dr. Rani was awarded the 3rd Best Paper Presentation at the National Symposium on i-GEOMATICS in 2021 and received multiple accolades during her undergraduate studies, including a Gold Medal for securing the first position in her B.Sc. Agri. (Hons.) from Punjab Agricultural University in 2014. Her accomplishments reflect her commitment to excellence in agricultural research and education. Top Notable Publications Spatiotemporal Variations in Near-Surface Soil Water Content across Agroecological Regions of Mainland India: 1979–2022 (44 Years) Authors: [Author names not provided] Year: 2024 Journal: Remote Sensing DOI: 10.3390/rs16163108 Identification of salt-affected soils using remote sensing data through random forest technique: a case study from India Authors: [Author names not provided] Year: 2022 Journal: Arabian Journal of Geosciences DOI: 10.1007/s12517-022-09682-3 Machine learning for soil moisture assessment Authors: [Author names not provided] Year: 2022 Book Chapter: [Publisher and book details not provided] DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-323-85214-2.00001-X