CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute | India
Dr. Tarun Khanna is a distinguished geologist and geochemist whose research has significantly advanced the understanding of Earth’s crust–mantle interactions and magmatic processes. He earned his B.Sc. from Bhavans New Science College, Hyderabad, followed by an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Geology from Osmania University, India, and pursued postdoctoral research at the University of South Carolina, USA. His career at CSIR-NGRI has spanned over two decades, progressing from Junior Scientist to Principal Scientist, while also serving as Associate Professor at the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). Dr. Khanna specializes in radiogenic isotope geochemistry (Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf), subduction and plume magmatism, and the geochronology of greenstone terrains, supracrustal belts, and the Deccan Volcanic Province. He has conducted extensive fieldwork across the Dharwar and Bastar cratons, contributing key insights into crustal evolution and mantle dynamics. Widely recognized for his contributions, he has received prestigious honors including the BOYSCAST Fellowship, Krishnan Gold Medal, Raman Research Fellowship, and Khem Raj Gupta Gold Medal. A Fellow of the Geological Society of India and member of IAVCEI and IGU, Dr. Khanna has also mentored young researchers through training programs. His career reflects a deep commitment to advancing geoscience research and inspiring future generations of earth scientists.
Featured Publications
Boninites from the Neoarchaean Gadwal greenstone belt, Eastern Dharwar Craton, India: implications for Archaean subduction processes