MISS VIBHA CHAUHAN

Biography

I completed my Bachelor of Science at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune. My academic path allowed me to engage in a wide range of projects ,analyzing banded iron formations from the ancient Singhbhum Craton, mapping the shifting stratigraphy of Kutch from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic, and experimenting with climate models using Python to understand planetary energy balances. I have also explored satellite-based remote sensing.

I worked for the Engineering division of the Indian Army, where I served as a Research Assistant for 1.5 years. There, I specialised in soil mechanics, trained Army officers in geotechnical testing, and contributed to real-world MTech projects.

As a PhD researcher at the University of Aberdeen, I’m exploring how mineral enrichment beneath glacial deposits in northeast Scotland can be detected using a combination of glacial geology, geochemistry, and machine learning. My project aims to trace the provenance of ore-bearing material in glacial tills by integrating flow path modelling, mineralogical and geochemical data, and data-driven methods. In short, I’m trying to figure out where valuable minerals have been hiding beneath layers of till left behind by ancient ice —ie. equal parts detective work, data analysis, and geological storytelling.