Harshawardhan Borde

I am a NERC-CENTA DTP funded, PGR (PhD) Student at the School of Geography, Geology and Environment, University of Leicester. I am working in the OSL/TL lab with Dr Andy Carr, looking at the past climate and (last 1 ma) coastal landscape change in response to environmental and sea level changes on the coast of South Africa. I study coastal aeolian sand dunes (aeolianites) to understand the coastal geomorphology and landscape evolution. I have completed my master's from IISER Kolkata, Department of Earth Sciences in OSL/TL (Luminescence dating lab) working on Kashmir aeolian Loess. I am keenly interested in Luminescence dating, aeolian deposits, landscape evolution, Quaternary climate change and Geochronology. I use combination of different methods and techniques like OSL (pIRIR, BSL, IRSL, TT-OSL), pOSL, GPR, ICP-MS, XRF, SEM, isotope, trace element and major oxides. 

I like other science disciplines and I follow them out of curiosity like Physics-Quantum mechanics and Quantum Tunneling, Biological Sciences- Behavioral biology, ecology, cognition, environmental stressors and evolution. 

1) University of Leicester | PhD project | sep 2023-present

Title:- "Luminescence dating- A tool to Interrogate Multi-scale Coastal Landscape Response: Cape South Coast, South Africa.” 

• I am investigate the past climate change and coastal landscape change on the south coast of South Africa in response to changes in environmental conditions and sea level for the last 1 million years (ma).
• The extraordinary south coast of South Africa has some unusual aeolian sand dune deposits rich in calcium carbonate and some lithified called as Aeolianites. These well preserved dunes hold records of long term coastal evolution and local paleoenvironmental conditions like animal tracks, habitat, vegetation and archaeological evidences. The dune formation which is controlled by sea level change, wind, accommodation space, sediment availability is very dynamic along the coast formed in both glacial and interracial environments.
• However, we do not have better understanding of how these conditions control the dune formation and long term preservation. We have insufficient understanding of Aeolianite formation beyond one interglacial cycle. There is no model relating the modern/Holocene dunes to older pleistocene dune system in order to understand the big picture landscape evolution. 
• I am trying to answer these questions using Luminescence dating (OSL) and  Portable luminescence (pOSL) dating methods, Field dosimetry, GPR (Ground penetrating radar) and geochemical and physical analysis.

2) IISER Kolkata | Master's thesis | Aug 2021-June 2022

Title:- "Luminescence Chronology of Loess-Paleosol Sequence (LPS) in Kashmir Valley: Paleoclimate Studies and it's Implications"

• I worked on the Kashmir Valley Loess-Paleosol sequence (LPS) and interpreted Glacial (Cold-Dry) and Interglacial (Wet-Warm) climatic cycle evolution in the Quaternary period. Using the strati-graphic sampling and geophysical and chemical analysis (deposition rate, 13C, major oxides and trace element studies).
• I reconstructed the paleoclimate of the last 300 Ka using optically stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating proxy. These dates are the oldest and first extensive high-resolution study in the region and mark the boundary of the Major climate shift from Lacustrine to Aeolian deposition. The project was lead by Dr Rayees Shah (University of Kashmir) and will be published soon.
• I used OSL technique of Multi grain Feldspar IRSL for dating the sediments. The Loess aeolian deposits are very fine grain and had inadequate and probably saturated quartz. I did anomalous fading corrections later. 

Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), University of Leicester:

1) GL 2105- Depositional processes and Environments (Demonstrator)

2) GY 1421- Working with Geographical Information (Demonstrator)

3) GY 0011- Principle of Earth Science and Earth Systems (Demonstrator)

4) GY 1431- Evolution of Earth System (Tutorial Lead and Marker)

Teaching Assistant (IISER Kolkata):

1) Introduction to Economics (Tutorial Lead, Marker and Examiner)

Other Roles: 

1) Main Invigilator Central Exams, University of Leicester: May 2025, Jan 2025

2) Geologise theatre-Creative Workshops (NERC-Oxford DTP) (Demonstrator)

Internship:

1) UKRI Policy Internship 2025

Government Office for Science (GO-Science), Government of the United Kingdom |  July 2025-Oct 2025

Field Experience: 

1) PhD field visit to South Africa, University of Leicester | Sept 2024

2) NERC CENTA DTP Speed PhD Field Visit, Cheltnham, UK |  Feb 2022-Mar 2022

3) OSL/TL Lab sample collection, IISER Kolkata |  Feb 2022-Mar 2022

4) Structural Geology Lab field visit to Galudih folding zone, IISER Kolkata | Dec 2019

Positions Held:

1) Co-Chair, Centre for Paleobiology and Biosphere Evolution, SGGE, University of Leicester | Jan 2025-Dec 2025.

2) Student Representative of CENTA Cohort 2023 and Management board student Member NERC-CENTA DTP. | 2023-2027

3) Convener of Student Monitored Canteen, IISER Kolkata | 2019-2021

4) Member of Hostel Accommodation Committee, IISER Kolkata | 2020-2022

5) Head of Media and Design In Inquivesta-9 (Annual Science and Cultural Festival of IISER Kolkata) | 2018-2019

6) The organizer of Inter IISER Cultural Meet (IICM) | 2019

7) Secretary Photography club, IISER Kolkata | 2018-2019

8) Oragniser and participant of Treck to Sandakphu in Himalayas (Elevation- 3636 amsl) | 2018

9) Member of Ek pehal (Outreach of IISER Kolkata to provide free education to underprivileged students) | 2017-2020

10) Organiser departmental day, Department of Earth Sciences, IISER Kolkata. | 2019

1) Mapathon 2023 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and AICTE | March 2022 - Winner

2) Mapathon 2022 | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and AICTE | March 2021- Notable Participants

1) Explorers Conference, Natural History Museum, London | Nov 2024

2) Conference and Workshop on Luminescence dating and application, IISER Kolkata, India | Feb 2023

3) Asia Pacific Luminescence and Electron Spin Dating-APLED 2022 | Sept 2022

Earth Science: Luminescence (OSL) dating, Quaternary Aeolian sediments, Coastal landscape change, Quaternary paleoclimate reconstruction, Quaternary geochronology, Geomorphology, Loess (fine sediments), RS and GIS

Biological Science: Cognition, Behavioral Biology, Ecology, Brain function, Environmental stressors and evolution, adaptation, mutation. 

1) PhD, University of Leicester | 2023-2027

I am a NERC CENTA DTP-funded PGR student studying Physical geography and working in OSL/TL lab with Dr Andrew Carr and Dr Mark Powell.

2) BS-MS (Dual Degree), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata | 2017-2022

Department of Earth Sciences, OSL/TL lab with Prof. Manoj K Jaiswal (IISER-K). Minor in Biological Sciences.