Abdur Rahman — Earth Scientist

Research Interests

Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry

C, N, O isotopes in lake sediments, organic matter, and diatoms to reconstruct past environments and biogeochemical cycles.

Black Carbon Dynamics

Tracking wildfire-derived black carbon through the terrestrial–marine continuum using elemental and isotopic signatures.

Paleoclimate Reconstruction

Multi-proxy sedimentary archives from lakes across Taiwan and the Himalayas to reconstruct Holocene and Quaternary climate variability.

Extreme Climate Events

Sedimentary records of past wildfires and typhoons and their connections to monsoon dynamics and human activity.

Carbon & Nitrogen Cycling

Tracing C and N fluxes through terrestrial, lacustrine, and marine systems over geological timescales.

Environmental Pollution

Anthropogenic signatures of black carbon, heavy metals, and microplastics in sedimentary environments.

Teaching Interests

Education

2022

Ph.D. in Earth Sciences

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) & Pondicherry University, India

Thesis: Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of the Himalayan Region Using Stable Isotopes in Lake Sediments

2014–16

M.Sc. in Applied Geology

Aligarh Muslim University, India

2011–14

B.Sc. in Geology

Aligarh Muslim University, India

Experience

2026–
Present

Assistant Research Fellow Tenure Track

National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan

Leading research on Quaternary climate variability, black carbon transport, and wildfire–climate interactions using lake and marine archives.
Mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in fieldwork and laboratory analysis.

2023–26

Postdoctoral Fellow

National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan

Led sedimentary archive-based research on Holocene climate variability in Taiwan.
Collaborated with international teams on paleoclimate proxy interpretation.

2021–23

Postdoctoral Fellow

Physical Research Laboratory, India

Isotope-based research on Himalayan paleoclimate, lake sediment biogeochemistry, and black carbon dynamics.
Trained students on EA-IRMS, Picarro GHG Analyzer, and radiocarbon sample preparation.
Presented research at AGU, EGU, and national geoscience conferences.

2016–22

Senior & Junior Research Fellow

Physical Research Laboratory, India

Doctoral research on Himalayan paleoenvironments using stable isotope systematics in lake sediments.
Guest lectures and lab supervision for MSc/PhD students on Isotope Geochemistry and Paleoclimate methods.

Publications

Rahman, A. et al. (2026). Shifting drivers of lake ecology in northern Taiwan over the last 1800 years: From climate variability to human land-use change.First author

CATENA, 263, 109738

Abdur Rahman et al. (2025). Typhoon and climate history of northeastern Taiwan during mid to late Holocene: Dahu Lake sediment core, Ilan Plain.First author

AGU Palaeoceanography and Paleoclimatology

doi:10.1029/2025PA005282

Rahman, A. & Wang, L.C. (2025). Hydroclimate changes in Northern Taiwan during 13.3 cal kyr BP through the Tsui Tsui Valley sediments.First author

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 663, 112775

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112775

Rahman, A. et al. (2025). Impact of climate and human-induced fire on the Dongyuan Lake, Southern Taiwan during the last 1850 cal years BP.First author

Geoscience Letters, 12(1), 4

doi:10.1186/s40562-025-00378-6

Rahman, A. et al. (2024). Wildfire-vegetation-climate-human interactions in central Taiwan during 17.3–2.0 cal kyr BP: Toushe Basin sediments.First author

Quaternary Science Reviews, 338, 108820

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108820

Rahman, A.* et al. (2024). Carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry of a high-altitude Himalayan lake sediment: late Holocene climate inferences.Corresponding

Quaternary Science Advances, 14, 100199

doi:10.1016/j.qsa.2024.100199

Rahman, A. et al. (2024). Late Holocene paleoclimate reconstruction of northern Taiwan using a multiproxy approach: Dream Lake sediment core.First author

Quaternary International, 693, 27–37

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2024.02.013

Rahman, A.* et al. (2024). Transport pathways of black carbon to a high mountain Himalayan lake during late Holocene: nitrogen isotopes of black carbon.Corresponding

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 633, 111865

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111865

Verma, S.†, Rahman, A.† et al. (2023). Late Holocene fire and precipitation history of the Kashmir Himalaya: black carbon in lake sediments.Equal contribution

Palaeogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology, 613, 111401

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111401

Rahman, A. et al. (2021). Hydrological characteristics of the Bay of Bengal water column using δ¹⁸O during the Indian summer monsoon.First author

Continental Shelf Research, 226, 104491

doi:10.1016/j.csr.2021.104491

Rahman, A. et al. (2021). Signatures of natural to anthropogenic transition in lake sediments from the Central Himalaya using stable isotopes.First author

Applied Geochemistry, 134, 105095

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2021.105095

Rahman, A., Sarkar, S. & Kumar, S. (2020). Paleoenvironment of the Central Himalaya during late MIS 3 using stable isotopic compositions of lacustrine organic matter.First author

Quaternary International, 558, 1–9

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2020.08.024

Saranya P., Sreelash K., Akhil T., Abdur Rahman, Laskar A.H., Kumar S. Eco-hydrological connectivity in soil-vegetation-atmosphere continuum in a tropical biodiversity hotspot.Co-author

Ecohydrology (accepted)

Roy P., Fu C.C., Rahman A. et al. (2026). Fumarolic CO₂ Dynamics: A Case Study from the Tatun Volcano Group, Taiwan.Co-author

ACS Earth and Space Chemistry

Mohanty R.K., Rahman A., Ho Y.C., Lu Y.C., Lin C.T., Chao H.C., Chung L.H., Chao C.Y. and Wang L.C. (2026). Late Holocene human-environment interactions on a small island of the Taiwan Strait.Co-author

Quaternary International, 772, 110337

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2026.110337

Tang Z.W., Wang L.C., Chen H.F., Rahman A. et al. (2025). Holocene environmental evolution of the Pinqing Lagoon: insights from multiproxy sediment analysis.Co-author

Terrestrial, Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences, 36, 26

doi:10.1007/s44195-025-00110-z

Ali S., Dey G., Nuonga N.H.K., Rahman A. et al. (2025). Carbon sequestration in mangrove ecosystems: Sources, transportation pathways, influencing factors, and its role in the carbon budget.Co-author

Earth-Science Reviews, 269, 105184

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105184

Rathi A., Sarkar S., Rahman A., Khan M.A., Kumar S. (2025). Monsoon decline versus summertime intensification of carbon and nitrogen fixation in a shallow tropical lake.Co-author

Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology, 100670

doi:10.1016/j.ecohyd.2025.100670

Sarkar S., Rahman A., Khan M.A. et al. (2024). Isotopic evidence for degradation of particulate black carbon in the ocean.Co-author

Geophysical Research Letters, 51(9), e2023GL106050

doi:10.1029/2023GL106050

Shah R.A., Rahman A., Yadava M.G., Kumar S. (2024). Mid–late Holocene palaeoclimate and biogeochemical evolution of Wular Lake, Kashmir Valley, India.Co-author

Journal of Quaternary Science, 39(1), 119–129

doi:10.1002/jqs.3565

Sarkar S., Khan M.A., Sharma N., Rahman A. et al. (2023). Lake Desiccation drives carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry of a sub-tropical hypersaline lake.Co-author

Hydrobiologia, 850(20), 4557–4574

doi:10.1007/s10750-023-05193-8

Ragavan P., Rahman A., Sarkar S. et al. (2023). Variability in soil organic carbon stock and isotopic signature in tropical island mangrove forests of India.Co-author

Regional Environmental Change, 23(4), 135

doi:10.1007/s10113-023-02130-2

Khan M.A., Rahman A., Sahoo D. et al. (2022). Nitrous oxide in the central Bay of Bengal during the summer monsoon.Co-author

Regional Studies in Marine Science, 52, 102314

doi:10.1016/j.rsma.2022.102314

Behera D., Bhattacharya S., Rahman A., Kumar S., Anoop A. (2022). Molecular tracers for characterization and distribution of organic matter in a freshwater lake system from the Lesser Himalaya.Co-author

Biogeochemistry, 161, 315–334

doi:10.1007/s10533-022-00984-y

Shah R.A., Khan I., Rahman A. et al. (2022). Holocene climate events and associated land use changes in the eastern coast of India: Inferences from the Chilika Lagoon.Co-author

The Holocene, 32(10), 1081–1090

doi:10.1177/09596836221106964

Shah R.A., Achyuthan H., Lone A., Kumar P., Ali A., Rahman A. (2021). Paleoenvironment shifts during last ~500 years and eutrophic evolution of Wular Lake, Kashmir Valley.Co-author

Limnology, 22(1), 111–110

doi:10.1007/s10201-020-00639-7

Sahoo D., Saxena H., Tripathi N., Khan M.A., Rahman A., Kumar S., Singh A. (2020). Non-Redfieldian C:N:P ratio in the Bay of Bengal during the summer monsoon.Co-author

Marine Ecology Progress Series, 653, 41–55

doi:10.3354/meps13498

Students Mentored

PhD Project Students · Physical Research Laboratory, India

2018–19

Siddhartha Sarkar

Paleo-lake carbon cycle using carbon isotopes of diatom-bound organic matter (PRL-JRF)

2018–19

Yash Shrivastava

Oxygen isotope analysis using laser fluorination system (PRL-JRF)

2019–20

Ajayeta Rathi

Identification of natural vs. human-induced forest fire signals using sedimentary black carbon (PRL-JRF)

2021–22

Rahul Kumar Agrawal

Himalayan forest fire history over the last 4000 years using sedimentary black carbon (PRL-JRF)

2023

P. Janarthanan

Oxygen isotope analysis of silicates using laser fluorination (PRL-JRF)

Internship & Project Students

2019 · PRL

Madhusmita Sahoo

Paleo-carbon cycle dynamics of Garud Lake over the last 66 years

2024 · CCU

Czarina Mei Laope

Preliminary black carbon analysis from a sediment core in Liyu Lake, Taiwan

2025 · CCU

Ellaine Jalos

Assessment of trace metal pollution in Philippine coastal surface sediments

2025 · CCU

Fatin Faizdal

Organic and black carbon sequestration in mangrove sediments in Malaysia

2025 · CCU

Ayaka Shimizu

Fire reconstruction of last 100 kiloyears in central Taiwan using black carbon in Sun Moon Lake sediments

Awards & Fellowships

2026

Assistant Research Fellowship (equivalent to Assistant Professor) — National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan

2023–26

National Science and Technology Council Postdoctoral Fellowship — Taiwan

2021–23

Physical Research Laboratory Postdoctoral Fellowship — India

2017–22

Physical Research Laboratory Senior Research Fellowship — India

2016–17

Physical Research Laboratory Junior Research Fellowship — India

2016, 17

Qualified GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)

2015

Qualified UGC-NET (National Eligibility Test for Lectureship)

2014

Qualified IIT-JAM (Joint Admission Test for M.Sc.)

Talks & Conferences

TGA 2025
Oral

Hydroclimate Changes in Northern Taiwan Since 13.3 cal kyr BP: Multiproxy Evidence from Tsui Tsui Valley Sediments

Taiwan Geosciences Assembly

TROPQUA
2024

Long-term Interactions Among Wildfires, Vegetation, Climate, and Human Activities in Central Taiwan: Toushe Basin Sediments 17.3–2.0 cal kyr BP

TROPQUA 2024 · Poster & Flash Talk

EGU 2024

Primary Production and Dinitrogen Fixation in a Subtropical Inland Saline Environment

EGU General Assembly 2024

Invited
2023

History of Forest Fires in the Western Himalaya and Their Linkages to Climate and Human Activity

Paleopercs Seminar Series (Online) · February 2023

EGU 2023

Isotopic Exploration of Eco-Hydrological Connectivity in the Riparian Zones of Southern Western Ghats, India

EGU General Assembly 2023

AGU 2020
Oral

Paleo-Biogeochemistry of the Central Himalayan Region During Late MIS 3 Using Stable Isotopic Composition of Organic Matter

AGU Fall Meeting 2020 · Online

SIL
Congress

Reconstruction of the Environment and Biogeochemistry of a High-Altitude Himalayan Lake (33–7 ka) Using Stable Isotope Systematics

36th International Society of Limnology Congress

NCAOR
2017

Diatom Oxygen Isotopes: A Potential Tool for Paleoclimate Reconstruction

Workshop on Quantitative Reconstruction & Numerical Methods, Goa · Poster