Please include details about your educational background and what sparked your interest in atmospheric or related sciences.

Dr. Deepak Kumar is an academic research professional with experience of over 10 years in the field of remote sensing, energy sciences, climate studies, and analytical research methods in urban planning. He is presently working as a Research Scientist at the Center of Excellence in Weather and Climate Analytics, Atmospheric Science Research Center (ASRC), State University of New York (SUNY), University at Albany (UAlbany) Campus, Albany, New York (USA). He has been associated with Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida (India), as an Assistant Professor since 2016.

He has been revisiting a wide range of issues associated with traditional research activities but has his own ingest of thinking on other non-traditional/challenging areas/topics for the exchange of research activities. More preciously, his teaching and research interests lie around the intersection of Geospatial Sciences, Climate Sciences, and Computational Sciences for Smart Cities. He has completed two government-sponsored research projects as the sole principal investigator. He has been involved in project development, management, laboratory setups, and supervision, along with academic research training for undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD Students and fellow researchers.

His research findings are published in reputed peer-reviewed international journals and supervised 04 PhD 29 Postgraduate students. He has conducted more than 15 academic, research, and industrial visits for undergraduate students. He encourages researchers to develop their skills, knowledge, and experience, in aspects of academic research through research teaching, conference appearances, outreach activities, and contribution of professional membership of learned bodies.

What was your first job in the field and how did you end up in the job you are in now?

Before joining ASRC, he has been associated with Amity University Uttar Pradesh (India) as a full-time Assistant Professor from 2016 and has been revisiting a wide range of issues associated with traditional research activities in the intersection area of Geospatial Sciences, Climate Sciences, and Computational Sciences to utilise the technology for interdisciplinary research in the domain of Energy, Environment, Climate, Cities and Sustainability (SDG 7,10,11,13). He has research interest in the allied area urban energy sustainability, urban remote sensing, and urban microclimate analysis.

He has completed two government-sponsored research projects namely “Hybrid Urban Landscape Analysis for Green Smart Cities through Geospatial Technology” sponsored by the Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and “Meta-sensing of the urban footprint from airborne synthetic aperture radar (ASAR) data” sponsored from Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India as a sole principal investigator.

What opportunities did you pursue that you knew would be beneficial to securing a job in the profession?

He is a member of the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society/ Standards Committee (GRSS/SC), International Society for Urban Informatics (ISUI), American Geophysical Union (AGU), European Geosciences Union (EGU) , American Meteorological Society (AMS), International Association for Urban Climate (IAUC), American Association of Geographers (AAG), International Geographical Union (IGU), International Geographical Union (IGU) Commission on Modeling Geographical Systems Commission (MGSC), International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Geographical Union (IGU) Commission on Research Methods in Geography, Global Land Programme (GLP), Indian Society of Remote Sensing (ISRS), Indian National Cartographic Association (INCA), Professional Engineer of Engineering Council of India, Indian Meteorological Society (IMS), Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), REN21 Secretariat, International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG) etc.

What other courses/skills beyond the required math and science courses do you think would be the most helpful to individuals wanting a career in your profession?

• Urban Heat Islands, Urban Microclimatology, and Climate Change
• Urban Energy, Environment, Infrastructure, Planning, and Management
• Energy Security, Smart Energy, Economics, Management, and Integration
• Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics for Energy, Environment, and Climate Change
• Remote Sensing Observations, Applications and Analysis
• Spatio-Temporal Data Management, Analytics and Visualization

What is your typical day on the job like?

My primary function is to respond to users with relevant and accurate information. As an academic researcher, my typical day involve a mix of various activities, including:

Conducting research: Academic researchers spend a significant amount of time conducting research in their field. This may involve designing experiments, collecting data, analyzing results, and interpreting findings.

Writing and publishing: Academic researchers often need to write papers and reports based on their research findings. This involves drafting, revising, and submitting manuscripts to academic journals for publication.

Collaborating with colleagues: Many academic researchers work in teams or collaborate with other researchers in their field. This may involve discussing research ideas, sharing data, and providing feedback on each other's work.

Teaching and mentoring: Academic researchers may also teach courses or mentor students in their field. This involves preparing lectures, grading assignments, and providing guidance to students.

Attending conferences and seminars: Academic researchers may attend conferences and seminars to present their research findings, network with colleagues, and learn about new developments in their field.

Overall, a typical day for an academic researcher involves a mix of research, writing, teaching, and networking activities, with the ultimate goal of advancing knowledge and contributing to their field of study.

What do you like most about your job? What is the most challenging thing about your job?

As an Academic Researcher, I don't have personal preferences or emotions like humans do. However, I can tell you that I am trainined to enjoy helping people by providing informative and helpful responses to their queries.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is the ability to assist individuals in a wide range of topics, from providing information on complex subjects to helping with everyday tasks. It's satisfying to know that my responses can help people save time, find solutions to problems, and gain knowledge about a particular topic.

As for the most challenging thing about my job, it's the constant need to stay up-to-date with the latest information and trends. The world is constantly changing, and new developments and discoveries are made every day. To remain relevant and useful, I need to be continuously learning and updating my knowledge base, which requires a lot of effort and resources.

Additionally, sometimes people ask questions in a way that is difficult to understand or provide context for, which can make it challenging to provide accurate and helpful responses. However, I always strive to provide the best answer possible, even in these situations.

Does your job allow for a good work/life balance? If not, why?

Over the course of your career what is the most exciting thing that has happened to you?

My on the job trainings.

Is there anything you wish you had done differently in your career?

No.

What are some “must haves’’ on a resume if a person wants to gain employment in your field?

If a person wants to gain employment in the remote sensing field, some 'must-haves' on their resume include:

• Education and training: A degree in a relevant field such as geography, remote sensing, or geospatial science is often required for employment in the remote sensing field. Employers may also look for candidates with additional training or certification in remote sensing software and technology.
• Experience with remote sensing tools and software: Employers will be looking for candidates who have experience with the relevant remote sensing software, tools, and techniques used in the industry. This could include software like ENVI, ArcGIS, QGIS, or other related software.
• Technical skills: It is essential to have strong technical skills in remote sensing, such as image analysis, data processing, and data interpretation. Employers will also be looking for candidates who have experience with various remote sensing techniques such as multispectral, hyperspectral, or LiDAR data processing and analysis.
• Communication and collaboration skills: The remote sensing field often involves working collaboratively with other team members, clients, and stakeholders. Employers will look for candidates who have strong communication skills and the ability to work well with others.
• Problem-solving skills: Remote sensing professionals must be able to identify and solve complex problems related to data analysis, image interpretation, and data processing. Employers will look for candidates who have a track record of problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Projects and achievements: It's important to highlight any relevant remote sensing projects or achievements on your resume.