DEPARTMENTS
Dr. Ravi Varma Mundakkara Kovilakam
Dr. Ravi Varma Mundakkara Kovilakam

Professor

Office Address:

212B Department of Physics

  • 2003. Ph.D. (Atmospheric Sciences), Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada Reno, USA. (Supervisor: Prof. Hans Moosmüller)

  • 1999. M.Sc. (Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences), McGill University, Montréal, Canada. (Supervisor: Prof. René Laprise)

  • 1995. M.Sc. (Physics), University of Hyderabad

  • 1992. B.Sc. (Physics), University of Calicut

  • Educational Qualifications

    • 2003. Ph.D. (Atmospheric Sciences), Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada Reno, USA. (Supervisor: Prof. Hans Moosmüller)

    • 1999. M.Sc. (Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences), McGill University, Montréal, Canada. (Supervisor: Prof. René Laprise)

    • 1995. M.Sc. (Physics), University of Hyderabad

    • 1992. B.Sc. (Physics), University of Calicut

    Professional Experience

    • Professor, Physics, NIT Calicut (2018 - present)

    • Associate Professor, Physics, NIT Calicut (2012 - 2018)

    • Assistant Professor, Physics, NIT Calicut (2009 - 2012)

    • Irish EPA Research Fellow, Laser Spectroscopy Group, Department of Physics, University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland, (2008 - 2009)

    • Post-doctoral fellow (Irish EPA STRIVE Fellowship), Laser Spectroscopy Group, Department of Physics, University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland, (2006 - 2008)

    • Project Scientist/ Associate Project Manager, ARCADIS, Research triangle Park, NC 27709, USA (2002 - 2006)

    • Research Assistant, Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada System, Reno NV, USA. (1999 - 2002)

    • Research Assistant, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. (1996 -1998)

    Awards/Fellowship

    • Dr. S. Vasudev Award, 2022, awarded by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) for the best project completed under Science Research Scheme (SRS)
    • Foreign Expert Visiting Fellowship, 2015 – 2017, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology sponsored by Chinese Foreign Ministry, P. R. China. (Host: Dr. Jun Chen)
    • Visiting Researcher Fellowship, Fall Semester 2016, Department of Physics, Michigan Technological University, USA. (Host: Dr. Claudio Mazzoleni)
    • Irish EPA Research Fellowship, 2008 – 2009. It is a prestigious fellowship with a research project (hosted at University College Cork in Republic of Ireland. Host: Dr. Albert Ruth)
    • Irish EPA STRIVE Fellowship, 2006 – 2008. Post-doctoral fellowship, employed at University College Cork in Republic of Ireland. (Employers: Dr. Albert Ruth and Dr. Dean Venables)
    • Graduate Research Assistantship, 1999 – 2002. It was for developing a Cavity-ring down instrument and an Integrating Nephelometer for aerosol studies. Part of Ph.D. program in Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada Reno, USA. (Supervisor: Dr. Hans Moosmüller)
    • Graduate Assistantship, 1996 – 1998. It was for validating Canadian Regional Climate Model using spectral methods. Part of master’s studies at McGill University, Montréal, Canada. (Supervisor: Dr. René Laprise)
    • GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering-1996) in Physics, 93.1 percentile, India.
    • Summer Research Fellowship, Department of Atomic Energy of Government of India, Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore, India, June-August 1994. (Host: Dr. L. M. Kukreja)
    • National Merit Scholarship, India, 1987.

    1. N Sandhyarani, Tushar Pathak, Haritha K, Arun R and M K Ravi Varma (2023): No.202241053140 :
    "A Low-Cost Portable Electrochemical Biosensor for Rapid Detection of Endotoxin and Method Thereof  "

    Journals

                                           ORCiD     Google Scholar  [h-index: 19,   i10-index: 26]    ResearcherID

    • ES Harsha Haridas, S Bhattacharya, M K Ravi Varma, GK Chandra (2023): "Bioinspired 5-caffeoylquinic acid capped silver nanoparticles using Coffee arabica leaf extract for high-sensitive cysteine detection”, Scientific Reports, 13 (1), 8651. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34944-9
    • Goutam Kumar Chandra,  Harsha Haridas Ellathuveettil Swaminathan, Susmita Bhattacharya, Ravi Varma Mundakkara Kovilakam, Baiju Govindan Nair, Abey Joseph (2023): "Phytochemically enriched male papaya flowers: a better green candidate for silver nanoparticle synthesis and exploring its antibacterial potency. Journal of medical pharmaceutical and allied sciences, 12(3), 5796 – 5802. Doi: https://Doi.org/10.55522/jmpas.V12I3.5018.
    • Sekar, A., D. Alshetty, M. Kumar, M, G. K. Varghese, R. Varma (2023): "Health risk associated with exposure to particulate matter and volatile organic compounds among two-wheeler delivery personnel in Ghaziabad, India", Atmospheric Pollution Research14(7), 101806.
      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2023.101806 
    • Wang, M., S. Lou, W. Hu, H. Wang, X. Wang, F. Fan, R. Varma, D. S. Venables and J. Chem (2023): "Intercomparison of NO3 under Humid Conditions with Open-Path and Extractive IBBCEAS in a Atmospheric Reaction Chamber", Remote Sens., 15, 739. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15030739
    • Sekar, A., G. K. Varghese and R. Varma (2022): “Exposure to volatile organic compounds and associated health risk among workers in lignite mines”, Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol., Springer, DOI: 10.1007/s13762-022-04056-4

    • Wang, M., R. Varma, D. S. Venables, W. Zhou, and J. Chen (2022): “ A Demonstration of Broadband Cavity-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy at Deep-Ultraviolet Wavelengths: Application to Sensitive Real-Time Detection of the Aromatic Pollutants Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene”, Analytical Chemistry94, 4286 – 4293. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04940

    • Yang, Z., M. Wang, Y. Hou, Y. Liu, S. Chandran, R. Varma, S. Lou, and J. Chen (2022): “Intercomparison of Ambient Nitrous Acid Measurements in a Shanghai Urban Site”, Atmosphere13, 329. DOI: 10.3390/atmos13020329

    • Saseendran, A., S. John, A. Pakkattil, A. P. Thomas, S. Adiga, J. Chen, C. Mazzoleni, D. Viswanath and R. Varma (2022): "Retrieval of broadband optical properties from ambient aerosols measurements using inverse Mie calculations". Aerosol Science and Engineering​. (Published Online). DOI: /10.1007/s41810-021-00128-z

    • Sekar, A., G. K. Varghese, M. K. R. Varma (2022): “Chloroform—An Emerging Pollutant in the Air”, Book Chapter in New Trends in Emerging Environmental Contaminants. Energy, Environment, and Sustainability, P. Singh S., Agarwal A.K., Gupta T., Maliyekkal S.M. (Editors),Springer, Singapore. pp 101-129. DOI: /10.1007/978-981-16-8367-1_6

    • Sekar, A., G. K. Varghese, M. K. R. Varma (2022): “Design of Standard Questionnaire for Occupational Risk Perception Caused Due to Air Pollution”, Book Chapter in Proceedings of SECON’21. SECON 2021. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Marano G.C., Ray Chaudhuri S., Unni Kartha G., Kavitha P.E., Prasad R., Achison R.J. (Editors), vol 171, pp 49 – 60. Springer, Cham. DOI:10.1007/978-3-030-80312-4_5

    • Suhail, K., A. Pakkattil, A. Ramachandran,  A. Saseendran,  S John, V. Deepa, and R. Varma (2021): Glyoxal in a nocturnal atmosphere measured by incoherent broadband cavity‑enhanced absorption spectroscopy, Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, Springer Nature, (Published online). DOI: 10.1007/s11869-021-01131-6

    • Zhang, J., Chen, J., Wang, M., Su, M., Zhou, W., Varma, R., and Lou, S. (2021): Intercomparison of Photoacoustic and Cavity Attenuated Phase Shift Instruments: Laboratory Calibration and Field Measurements, Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst.10, 245–255. DOI: doi.org/10.5194/gi-10-245-2021

    • John, S., M. Wang, J. Chen,  A. Pakkatil, Y. Du, J. Zhang, A. Ramachandran, A. Saseendran, A. P. Thomas, V. Deepa, C. Mazzoleni, and R. Varma (2021): " A broadband cavity-enhanced spectrometer for atmospheric aerosol light extinction measurements", Aerosol Sci. Tech.55(11), 1264-1276. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2021.1944604

    • Sekar, A, G. K. Varghese and R. M. K. Varma (2021): Occupational exposure to particulate matter during blackboard teaching and its deposition in the airways of human lungs". International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, Springer Nature. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01713-y

    • Arun, R., P. Anoop, S. John, J. Chen, V. Deepa and R. Varma (2021): "Atmospheric aerosol scattering coefficients in a broad visible spectral region", Aerosol Science and Engineering, 5(3), 373-382. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41810-021-00101-w

    • Pakkattil, A., M. Muhsin and M. K. R. Varma (2021): "COVID-19 lockdown: Effects on selected volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions over the major Indian metro cities", Urban Climate37, 100838. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2021.100838

    • Pakkattil, A., A. Saseendran, A. P. Thomas, A. S. Raj, A. Mohan, D. Viswanath, R. Chatanathodi, and R. Varma (2021): "Dual-channel incoherent broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectrometer for sensitive atmospheric NOx measurements", Analyst146, 2542 - 2549. DOI: doi.org/10.1039/D1AN00132A

    • Pakkattil, A.,  M. Muhsin, S. John, A. Saseendran, A. P. Thomas, V. Deepa, R. Varma (2020): “Trace pollutant fluctuations observed in Calicut city, India, during the annular solar eclipse on 26 December 2019”, Atmospheric Pollution Research11(11), 2049 - 2055. DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2020.07.026

    • Chen, J., D-N. Wang, A. Ramachandran, S. Chandran, M. Li and R. Varma (2020): "An open-path dual-beam laser spectrometer for path-integrated urban NO2 sensing". Sens. Actuators A Phys., 315,112208.  DOI: 10.1016/j.sna.2020.112208

    • Saseendran, A., S. Mathai, S. Joshi, A. Pakkattil, T. Capek, G. Kinney, C. Mazzoleni and R. Varma (2020): "Dual-Cavity Spectrometer for Monitoring Broadband Light Extinction by Atmospheric Aerosols". Aerosol Sci. Tech.54(10), 1183-1196.  DOI: 10.1080/02786826.2020.1763249 

    • Sekar, A.,  P. Mohan, G. K. Varghese and M. K. R. Varma (2020): "Exposure to Particulate Matter in Classrooms and Laboratories of a University Building", Book Chapter in "Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering - Vol 60: Indoor Environmental Quality; Select Proceedings of 1st ACIEQ". Editors: A. Sharma, A. Goyal and R. Mittal, Springer Nature, Singapore, 109-117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1334-3.

    • Sekar, A., G. K. Varghese, and M. K. R. Varma (2019): "Analysis of benzene air quality standards, monitoring methods and concentrations in indoor and outdoor environment", Heliyon, 5, e02918, (2019). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02918

    • Suhail, K. , R. Arun, S. Joshi, J. Shebin, S. Aiswarya, P. Anoop, V. Deepa, and R. Varma (2019): "Observation of nocturnal NO3 during vehicular activities in the medium sized city of Calicut in coastal India". Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2019-6

    • Suhail, K., M. George, S. Chandran, R. Varma, D. S. Venables, M. Wang and J. Chen (2019): "Open path incoherent broadband cavity-enhanced measurements of NO3 radical and aerosol extinction in the north China Plain". Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc208, 24-31. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2018.09.023

    • Prakash, N., A. Ramachandran, R. Varma, J. Chen, C. Mazzoleni and K. Du (2018): " Near-infrared incoherent broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy (NIR-IBBCEAS) for detection and quantification of naturalgas components". Analyst, 2018, 143, 3284-3291. DOI: 10.1039/c8an00819a

    • Chandran, S., A. Puthukkudy and R. Varma (2017): “Dual Wavelength Dual Cavity Spectrometer for NO2 Detection in the Presence of Aerosol Interference”. Appl. Phys. B.123, 213. DOI: 10.1007/s00340-017-6789-5

    • Nimmy, J. V., E. Shiju, R. Arun, M. K. R. Varma, K. Chandrasekharan, N. Sandhyarani and S. Varghese (2017). “Effect of ferroelectric nanoparticles in the alignment layer of twisted nematic liquid crystal display”. Optical Materials67, 7 – 13.

    • Chandran, S., A. Panayamthatta, R. Varma and S. Athiyanathil (2016). "The real time optical transmittance of swollen heterogeneous natural rubber/poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) blends". Journal of Polymer Engineering, DOI: 10.1515/polyeng-2015-0235

    • Issac, S. I., K. Suhail, R. Arun and R. Varma (2016). "Scattering cross-sections of common calibration gases measured by IBBCEAS technique". Res. Phys.6, 84 - 85. DOI: j.rinp.2016.01.014

    • Chandran, S. and R. Varma (2016). "Near infrared cavity enhanced absorption spectra of atmospherically relevant ether-1, 4-Dioxane". Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc., 158, 704-708. DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2015.09.030

    • Varma, R. M., S. M. Ball, T. Brauers, H.-P. Dorn, U. Heitmann, R. L. Jones, U. Platt, D. Pöhler, A. A. Ruth, A. J. L. Shillings, J. Thieser, A. Wahner, and D. S. Venables (2013): "Light extinction by Secondary Organic Aerosol: an intercomparison of three broadband cavity spectrometers", Atmos. Meas. Tech., 6, 3115-3130. DOI: 10.5194/amt-6-3115-2013

    • Du. K., Shi. P., Rood. M. J., Wang. K., Wang. Y., and Varma. R. M. (2013): "Digital Optical Method to quantify the visual opacity of fugitive plumes", Atmospheric Environment, 77, 983 – 989, DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.06.017

    • Dorn, H.-P. R. L. Apodaca, S. M. Ball, T. Brauers, S. S. Brown, J. N. Crowley, W. P. Dubé, H. Fuchs, R. Häseler, U. Heitmann, R. L. Jones, A. Kiendler-Scharr, I. Labazan, J. M. Langridge, J. Meinen, T. F. Mentel, U. Platt, D. Pöhler, F. Rohrer, A. A. Ruth, E. Schlosser, G. Schuster, A. J. L. Shillings, W. R. Simpson, J. Thieser, R. Tillmann, R. Varma, D. S. Venables, and A. Wahner (2013): “Intercomparison of NO3 radical detection instruments in the atmosphere simulation chamber SAPHIR”, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 6, 1111–1140. DOI: 10.5194/amt-6-1111-2013

    • O’Leary, D. M., A. A. Ruth, S. Dixneuf, J. Orphal and R. Varma (2012). “The near infrared cavity-enhanced absorption spectrum of methyl cyanide”, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer113, 1138 – 1147. DOI: 10.1016/j.jqsrt.2012.02.022

    • Du, K., W. Yuen, W. Wang, M. J. Rood, R. M. Varma, R. A. Hashmonay, B. J. Kim and M. R. Kemme (2011). “Optical Remote Sensing To Quantify Fugitive Particulate Mass Emissions from Stationary Short-Term and Mobile Continuous Sources: Part II. Field Applications”, Environ. Sci. Technol.45(2), 658 – 665. DOI: 10.1021/es101904q

    • Du, K., M. J. Rood, E. J. Welton, R. M. Varma, R. A. Hashmonay, B. J. Kim and M. R. Kemme (2011). “Optical Remote Sensing To Quantify Fugitive Particulate Mass Emissions from Stationary Short-Term and Mobile Continuous Sources: Part I. Method and Examples”, Environ. Sci. Technol.45(2), 666 – 672. DOI: 10.1021/es101906v

    • Chandran, P. M. S., C. P. Krishnakumar, W. Yuen, M. J. Rood and R. Varma (2011). "An Open-path Laser Transmissometer for Atmospheric Extinction Measurements". Optics: Phenomena, Materials, Devices, and Characterisation, AIP Conf. Proc. 1391, 288 – 290. DOI: 10.1063/1.3646865

    • Fuchs, H., S. M. Ball, B. Bohn, T. Brauers, R. C. Cohen, H.-P. Dorn, W. P. Dubé, J. L. Fry, R. Häseler, U. Heitmann, R. L. Jones, J. Kleffmann, T. F. Mentel, P. Müsgen, F. Rohrer, A. W. Rollins, A. A. Ruth, A. Kiendler-Scharr, E. Schlosser, A. J. L. Shillings, R. Tillmann, R. M. Varma, D. S. Venables, G. Villena Tapia, A. Wahner, R. Wegener, P. J. Wooldridge, and S. S. Brown (2010). "Intercomparison of measurements of NO2 concentrations in the atmosphere simulation chamber SAPHIR during the NO3Comp campaign". Atmos. Meas. Tech., 3, 21 - 37. DOI: 10.5194/amt-3-21-2010

    • Ro, K. S., Johnson, M. H., Varma, R. M., Hashmonay, R. A. and Hunt, P. (2009). "Measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural sites using open-path optical remote sensing method". J. Environ. Sci. Health A Tox. Hazard. Subst. Environ. Eng., 44(10), 1011 -1018. DOI: 10.1080/10934520902996963 

    • Varma, R. M., D. Venables, A. A. Ruth, U. Heitmann, E. Schlosser and S. Dixneuf (2009). “Long optical cavities for open-path monitoring of atmospheric trace gases and aerosol extinction”, Appl. Opt.48 (4), B159-B171.

    • Dixneuf, S., A. A. Ruth, S. Vaughan, R. M. Varma, and J. Orphal (2009). “The time dependence of molecular iodine emission from Laminaria digitata” Atm. Chem. Phys.9, 823-829.

    • Varma, R. M., R. A. Hashmonay, K. Du, M. J. Rood, B. J. Kim and M. R. Kemme (2007). A Novel Method for Fugitive Dust Emission Estimation using Optical Remote Sensing. Chapter 11 in “Advanced Environmental Monitoring”, Editors Y. J. Kim and U. Platt, Springer-Verlag GmbH, Germany, 143-154.

    • Hashmonay, R. A., R. M. Varma, M. T. Modrak, R. H. Kagann, R. R. Segall and P. D. Sullivan (2007). Radial Plume Mapping: A US EPA Test Method for Area and Fugitive Source Emission Monitoring Using Optical Remote Sensing. Chapter 2 in “Advanced Environmental Monitoring”, Editors Y. J. Kim and U. Platt, Springer-Verlag GmbH, Germany, 21-36.

    • Moosmüller, H, R. Varma, W. P. Arnott, H. D. Kuhns, V. Etyemezian, and J. A. Gillies (2005). Scattering Cross Section Emission Factors for Visibility and Radiative Transfer Applications: Military Vehicles Traveling on Unpaved Roads. J. Air & Waste Manage. Assoc.55, 1743–1750.

    • Moosmüller, H., R. Varma, and W. P. Arnott (2005). Cavity Ring-Down and Cavity-Enhanced Detection Techniques for the Local Measurements of Aerosol Particulate Extinction.  Aerosol Sci. Tech.39, 30-39.

    • Sheridan, P. J., W. P. Arnott, J. A. Ogren, E. Andrews, D. B. Atkinson, D. S. Covert, H. Moosmüller, A. Petzold, B. Schmid, A. W. Strawa, R. Varma and A. Virkkula (2005). The Reno Aerosol Optics Study: Overview and Summary of Results. Aerosol Sci. Tech.39(1), 1-16.

    • Thoma, E. D., R. C. Shores, E. L. Thompson, D. B. Harris, S. A. Thornloe, R. M. Varma, R. A. Hashmonay, M. T. Modrak, D. F. Natschke and H. A. Gamble (2005). Open Path Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy for Acquisition of Fugitive Emission Flux Data. J. Air & Waste Manage. Assoc.55, 658-668.

    • VarmaR., H. Moosmüller and W. P. Arnott (2003): Toward an Ideal Integrating Nephelometer, Optics Letters, 28, 1007-1009.

    • R. Laprise, M. R. Varma, B. Dennis, D. Caya and I. Zawadzki (2000): Predictability of a Nested Limited-Area Model, Monthly Weather Review128, 4149-4154.

    Conferences

    • N. Prakash, K. Du, A. Ramachandran, R. Varma, J. Chen, S. Yu and C. Mazzoleni (2017). Near-infrared Cavity-enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy for Detection of Natural Gases. Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium, May 22 – 25, 2017, St. Petersburg, Russia.

    • A. Ramachandran, J. Chen, R. Varma and S. Yu (2017). A Multi-wavelength Integrating Nephelometer for Aerosol Light Scattering Measurements. Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium, May 22 – 25, 2017, St. Petersburg, Russia.

    • M. Li, J. Chen, M. Su, H. Yang, A. Ramachandran and R. Varma (2017). An LP-DOAS Instrument with a Laser Driven Light Source for Open-path Measurement of Atmospheric NO2 in Shanghai, Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium, May 22 – 25, 2017, St. Petersburg, Russia.

    • Y. Gao, R. Varma,  J. Chen, S. Lou, S. and D. Venables (2016). Study of nephelometer correction factors in winter Shanghai. Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium, August 8 - 11, 2016, Shanghai, China. (Published in PIERS 2016 Proceedings)

    • S. Chandran and R. Varma (2015). A Two beam cavity enhanced absorption spectrometer for atmospheric trace gas sensing. American Geophysical Union, Meeting, May 3-7, 2015, Montreal, Canada.

    • S. Chandran and R. Varma (2015). Incoherent broad-band cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy for sensing environmental ethers. Presented at International Conference on Frontiers of Spectroscopy, January, 10-12, 2015, Banaras Hindu University, India.

    • S. Kuttoth, M. George, A. Puthukkudy, S. Chandran, R. Varma (2015). Incoherent Broadband Cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy for sensing trace-pollutants in Urban Atmosphere. Presented at International Conference on Frontiers of Spectroscopy, January, 10-12, 2015, Banaras Hindu University, India.

    • S. I. Issac, K. Suhail, R. Arun and R. Varma (2015). Calibration of an incoherent broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectrometer using Rayleigh scattering, International Conference of New Frontiers in Science, Engineering & Technology ICNFSET ’15. 8-9 October 2015, AWH Engineering College, Kozhikode, India.

    • R. Arun, M. George, S. Sahadevan, N. Prakash, R. Varma and S. Varghese (2015): Fully Automated Instrument for Transparency Measurement for Thin Film Characterizaton,  Savishkar iFAST-2015, 26-28, February 2015, MANIT, Bhopal, India.

    • S. Chandran, P. Ashok, P. Anin, A. Sujith, R. Varma (2013) Accurate real time optical transmission study of vulcanized poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) in aromatic solvent. PROCEEDING OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RECENT TRENDS IN APPLIED PHYSICS AND MATERIAL SCIENCE: RAM 2013. AIP Conference Proceedings,  1536, pp. 861-862. DOI: 10.1063/1.4810500

    • E.M. Wilson, J. Chen, R.M. Varma, J.C. Wenger, and D. S. Venables (2012) A Novel, Broadband Spectroscopic Method to Measure the Extinction Coefficient of Aerosols in the Near-Ultraviolet, International Radiation Symposium 2012, 06 – 10 August 2012, Dahlem Cube, Berlin, Germany.

    • P. M. S. Chandran, C. P. Krishnakumar, W. Yuen, M. J. Rood and R. Varma (2011) An Open-path Laser Transmissometer for Atmospheric Extinction Measurements. Optics: Phenomena, Materials, Devices, and Characterisation (Optics '11), May 23 - 25, 2011, National Institute of Calicut, Kerala, India.

    • R. M. Varma, A. A. Ruth and D. O’Leary (2009) Incoherent broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy for in situ trace gas sensing using a Fourier transform approach. Poster presented at the EGU General Assembly 2009, April 19 – 22, 2009, Vienna, Austria

    • D. S. Venables, T. Brauers, H.-P. Dorn, U. Heitmann, A. A. Ruth, E. Schlosser, R. Varma (2008) High sensitivity in situ absorption measurements in simulation chambers: Intercomparison results and application to field and chamber studies. EGU General Assembly 2008, April 14 – 18, 2008, Vienna, Austria (Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 10, EGU2008-A-02751, 2008)

    • T. Brauers, H.-P. Dorn, E. Schlosser, A. A. Ruth, D. S. Venables, U. Heitmann, R. Varma, J. Thieser, U. Platt (2008) The NO3 instrument intercomparison at SAPHIR: Results from 3 in-situ instruments. Fourth DOAS International Workshop For Environmental Research and Monitoring, March 30 – April 3, 2008, Hefei, China (abstract at http://doas.aiofm.ac.cn/tables/Workshop%20Programme.pdf, page 35)

    • R. M. Varma, A. A. Ruth, D. Venables, U. Heitmann (2008) A New Field Instrument for NO3 Detection Using Incoherent Broadband Cavity Enhanced Spectroscopy. Optical Society of America, Laser Applications of Chemical, Security and Environmental Analysis (LACSEA) meeting, March 16-20, 2008, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA

    • K. Du, Rood, M. J., Kim, B. J., Kemme, M. R., Hashmonay, R. A., and Varma, R. (2007) Ground–based Lidar Measurements of Dust Plumes Generated from Unique Military Activities. 100th Annual Conference of the Air & Waste Management Association, June 26-29, Pittsburgh, USA

    • R. M. Varma, R. A. Hashmonay, K. Du, M. J. Rood, B. J. Kim and M. R. Kemme (2006). A Novel Methodology for Fugitive Dust Emission Estimation using Optical Remote Sensing. The 6th International Symposium on Advanced Environmental Monitoring, Heidelberg, Germany, June 27-30, 2006

    • R. A. Hashmonay, R. M. Varma, M. T. Modrak, R. H. Kagann, R. R. Segall and P. D. Sullivan (2006). Radial Plume Mapping: an EPA method for area source emission monitoring using Optical Remote Sensing. The 6th International Symposium on Advanced Environmental Monitoring, Heidelberg, Germany, June 27-30, 2006

    • Du K., Rood M., Kim B., Kemme M., Hashmonay R., and Varma R. (2006), Optical Remote Sensing of Dust Plumes Using Micropulse Lidar, The 99th Annual Meeting of the Air & Waste Management Association, 20 – 23 June, 2006, New Orleans, USA.

    • R. A. Hashmonay, R. M. Varma, M. Modrak, R. H. Kagann and P. D. Sullivan (2004). Simultaneous Measurement of Vaporous and Aerosolized Threats by Active Open Path FTIR. 2004 Scientific Conference on Chemical and Biological Defense Research, Hunt Valley, MD, USA, November 15-17, 2004,  (http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA449529)

    • Varma, R. M., R. A, Hashmonay, R. H. Kagann, M. T. Modrak, M. A. Bolch, D. B. Harris and B. J. Kim (2004). Optical Remote Sensing for Air Quality Monitoring. Better Air Quality Workshop, Agra, India, December 6-8, 2004. (Available at http://www.cleanairnet.org/baq2004/1527/articles-59245_varma.doc)

    • VarmaR., H. Moosmüller, W. P. Arnott, H. Kuhns, V. Etymezian and J. Gillies (2004). Emission Factors for Visibility Impairment from Fugitive Dust Emissions by Military Vehicles on Unpaved Roads. Visibility Specialty Conference, Asheville, North Caroline, USA, October 26-29, 2004.

    • Varma, R. M, R. A. Hashmonay, M. A. Bolch, B. J. Kim and H. A. Gamble (2004). Remote Sensing Measurements of light extinction by fugitive particulate matters used as obscurants for wide spectral range. Proceedings of the 97th Air & Waste Management Association Conference, Indianapolis, IN, June 21-25, 2004

    • VarmaR. M., M. T. Modrak, R. A. Hashmonay, R. H. Kagann, M. A. Bolch and P. D. Sullivan (2004). Demonstration of Optical Remote Sensing Method for Flux Measurement from Non-Point Sources. Proceedings of the 97th Air & Waste Management Association Conference, Indianapolis, IN, June 21-25, 2004.

    • Moosmüller, H., R. Varma, W. P. Arnott, J. Walker, H. D. Kuhns, V. Etyemezian, and J. A. Gillies (2003). Emission Factors for Visibility Impairment from Fugitive Dust Emissions. NARSTO Workshop on Innovative Methods for Emission-Inventory Development and Evaluation, Texas, Austin, October 14-17, 2003.

    • Moosmüller, H., W. P. Arnott, and R. Varma (2003). A New Integrating Nephelometer for the Measurement of Mineral Dust Light Scattering Coefficients. Second International Workshop on Mineral Dust, Paris, France, September 10-12, 2003.

    • Varma, R. M, R. Hashmonay, R. H. Kagann, M. Modrak, P. D. Sullivan and R. R. Segall (2003). Optical Remote Sensing Method for Flux Measurement from Non-Point Sources. Proceedings of the 96th Air & Waste Management Association Conference, San Diego, CA, June 22-26, 2003.

    • Varma, R. M, R. Hashmonay, R. H. Kagann, M. Modrak, P. D. Sullivan and R. R. Segall (2003). Optical Remote Sensing Method for Flux Measurement from Non-Point Sources. The 19th Annual National Environmental Monitoring Conference, Arlington, VA, July 21-23, 2003.

    • Moosmüller, H., W. P. Arnott, and R. Varma (2003).  Measurement of Atmospheric Visibility with a High-Quality Cavity.  American Association for Aerosol Research Particulate Matter Meeting: Atmospheric Sciences, Exposure, and the Fourth Colloquium on PM and Human Health, Pittsburgh, PA, March 31-April 4, 2003.

    • Moosmüller, H., W. P. Arnott, and R. Varma (2003).  A New Integrating Nephelometer for Visibility Studies.  American Association for Aerosol Research Particulate Matter Meeting: Atmospheric Sciences, Exposure, and the Fourth Colloquium on PM and Human Health, Pittsburgh, PA, March 31-April 4, 2003.

    • Moosmüller, H., W. P. Arnott, and R. Varma (2002).  Sensitive Measurement of Atmospheric Aerosol Extinction in a High-Quality Cavity.  2002 Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, December 6-10, 2002.

    • Varma, R., W. P. Arnott, H. Moosmüller, J. Gillies, H. D. Kuhns and V. Etyemezian (2002).  A New Integrating Nephelometer for Aerosol Light Scattering Studies.  American Association of Aerosol Research (AAAR) Annual Conference, Adam Mark’s HotelCharlotte, NC, October 7-11, 2002.

    Selected Technical Reports

    • Varma, R. M., R. Hashmonay, R. Kagann and A. Bolch (2005). Optical Remote Sensing to Determine Strength of Nonpoint Sources: Duke Forest Validation Study. Published by Tyndall Air Force Research Laboratory, Florida, USA.  (http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA440825)
    • Modrak, M., R. A. Hashmonay, R. M. Varma, R. Kagann (2005). Evaluation of Fugitive Emissions at a Former Landfill Site in Colorado Springs, Colorado Using Ground-Based Optical Remote Sensing Technology. Published by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/600r05041/600r05041.pdf)
    • Modrak, M., R. A. Hashmonay, R. M. Varma, R. Kagann (2005). Evaluation of a Former Landfill Site in Fort Collins, Colorado Using Ground-Based Optical Remote Sensing Technology. Published by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/600r05042/600r05042.pdf)
    • Heitmann, U., A. A. Ruth, R. M. Varma and D. S. Venables (2008). Air Pollution – Trace Radical Absorption Spectroscopy (TRACES), STRIVE Report Series No. 15, published by Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under “EPA Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) Programme 2007-2013”. (http://www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/research/tech/strive_15_heitman_traces_web.pdf)
    • Kim, B. J., M. R. Kemme, M. J. Rood, K. Du, W. Yuen, W. Wang, R. Hashmonay and R. Varma (2010). Development of Emission Factors for Dust Generated by Unique Military Activities. SERDP Project RC-1400. Published by SERDP, September 2010. (SERDP Project RC-1400)

    Research Contributions

    • Research interests are: Spectroscopy, Development of Instrumentation for Atmospheric, and Environmental monitoring using principles of Optics, Radiative transfer and aerosol forcing on Climate (Global and Regional)

    • Contributed to development of optical instrumentation and spectroscopy for atmosphere, environmental and climate monitoring. Published 40+ research papers, 30+ conference presentations, 1 patent granted

    Selected Administrative duties performed at NIT Calicut

    • Chairperson, Centre for International Relations & Foreign Languages, 2022 – present

    • Head of the Department, Physics Department, NIT Calicut, June 2022 – present

    • Member of Senate, NIT Calicut. April 2018 – present

    • President, Institute’s Innovation Council of NIT Calicut (IIC-NITC), 2018 – 2020 (This is an initiative of Govt. of India, Ministry of Education. NIT Calicut obtained 5-star rating in 2019-'20, top in South-West region)

    • Secretary, Technology Business Incubator (TBI) of NIT Calicut, 2019 – 2022

    • Head of the Department, Physics Department, NIT Calicut, May 2014 – June 2016

    • Warden, NIT Calicut (2019 – 2021)

    • Member, National Innovation and Start-up Policy (NISP) implementation committee of NIT Calicut, 2020 - 2021

    • Member, Institute Curriculum Revision Committee (PG), 2021

    • Member of Institute Curriculum Revision Committee of NIT Calicut 2013 – 2014

    • Member of the Institute Research and Consultancy Committee of NIT Calicut (2013 – 14)

    • In-charge of  UG Admission Centre and Help Centre, NIT Sikkim for Central Counseling Board (CCB, AIEEE-2011) [on deputation]

    • Chief Warden, NIT Sikkim, Monsoon 2011 [on deputation]

    • Course coordinator for Physics-1 (Monsoon Semester 2009) and Physics-II (Winter Semester 2010) for first year UG (BTech) students – all streams, NIT Calicut

    • Course coordinator for common course on Physics (2 semesters in 2012), NIT Calicut

    • Faculty advisor for MSc.Tech.(Photonics) students of batch 2009 – 2012, BTech (EP) 2012 – 2016 batch, BTech (EP) 2016 – 2020 batch

    • Member -  Physics Department committee to modify MSc.Tech.(Photonics) curriculum in 2010/M.Sc. (Physics) curriculum in 2015

     

    Professional Membership and Conference Organisations

    • Co-Convenor, SERB Sponsored High-End Workshop (online) on SOLAR ACTIVITIES AND THEIR INFLUENCES IN THE HELIOSPHERE AND PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES, March 8 – 14, 2021, NIT Calicut. (Convenor: Dr. Ram Ajor Maurya)

    • Convenor for the 5-day self-financed "INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION & COMPLIANCE - ATMOPSTIC-2018", August 7 - 11, 2018, NIT Campus, Calicut. (Other organizers: Dr. George K. Varghese - Convenor; Prof. Lynn Mazzoleni - Co-convenor, Dr. Jun Chen - Co-convenor)

    • Co-Convenor for the Faculty Development Program MONITORING ENVIROMENTAL QUALITY (MEQ 2018), August 6 - 11, 2018, NIT Campus, Calicut. (Convenor - Dr. George K. Varghese)

    • GIAN course on "Atmospheric Aerosol: Optical properties, Composition and Climate, July 23 - 28, 2018, Department of Physics, NIT Calicut. Resource Persons: Prof. Claudio Mazzoleni and Prof. Lynn Mazzoleni, Michigan Technological University, USA.

    • Judge, Technical Session on Physical Sciences, 28th Kerala Science Congress, Organised by The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment (KSCSTE), held in University of Calicut, 28-30 January, 2016 

    • Joint Coordinator, “INSPIRE-2011”, a winter science camp organized for 11th standard students at NITC during 18 – 22 December, 2011. (Coordinator: Prof. P. Predeep)

    • Co-Convenor, "OPTICS'11 - A conference on Light" [Optics: Phenomena, Materials, Devices, and Characterisation], held in National Institute of Technology Calicut during May 23 - 25, 2011. (Convenor: Prof. P. Predeep)

    • Member of - Air & Waste Management Association, American Association for  Aerosol Research, American Geophysical Union, Optical Society of America.

    • Secretary, Air & Waste Management Association's Technical Committee AO-1,  Techniques of Optical Sensing for the Environment & Industry (2003 - 2004)

    • Vice-Chair, Air & Waste Management Association's Technical Committee AO-1,  Techniques of Optical Sensing for the Environment & Industry (2004 - 2008)

    • Co-Chair, Session AO-1a: Innovative Optical Monitoring Techniques for  Environmental & Industrial Applications, 97th Annual Conference of the Air &  Waste Management Association (Indianapolis, IN, USA, June 22 - 25, 2004)

    • Co-Chair, Session EI-1g: Estimating Air Pollutant Emissions from Department of  Defense Training, 98th Annual Conference of the Air & Waste Management  Association (Minneapolis, MN, USA, June 21 - 24, 2005)

    • Judge for Student Paper/Poster Competition, 98th Annual Conference of the Air  & Waste Management Association (Minneapolis, MN, USA, June 21 - 24, 2005)