Group Leader

Dr. Dhanyalekshmi K. Pillai

MSc (Physics) MTech (Ocean Tech.)
PhD (natural sciences: Physics)


Associate Professor
Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Head, Max Planck Partner Group

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal,
Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal-462 066,
Madhya Pradesh, INDIA

Room No: 25, Academic Building 2 ("Elements")
Email: dhanya@iiserb.ac.in
Phone: +91 755 269 1379 (Office)
             +91 755 269 1380 (Lab)


    Professional Experience

  • Associate Professor (since December 2023) and Head of the Max Planck Partner Group (since 2017) at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal (IISERB), India.


  • Assistant Professor (since 2017) at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal (IISERB), India.


  • Research Scientist II (2016) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) USA, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
    Main Task: Regional Inverse Modeling in North and South America.

  • Post-doctoral Researcher (2015) at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Germany.
    Main Task: Application of satellite greenhouse measurements (column-integrated mixing ratios) on deriving their sources and sinks.

  • Post-doctoral Researcher (2011- 2014) at the Institute of Environmental Physics (IUP), University of Bremen, Germany.
    Main Task: Application of satellite measurements of greenhouse gases (column-integrated mixing ratios) in the atmospheric inverse modeling framework.

  • PhD Researcher and Post-doc Fellow (2007 - 2011) at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Germany.
    Main tasks:
    Mesoscale simulations and inversions of CO2 using tower and airborne observations.
    Atmospheric Measurement Network Design in Europe as part of Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS).

Basic Education

  • Grade 11 to 12: Govt. Higher Secondary School, Palayamkunnu, Varkala, Kerala

  • Grade 5 to 10: Govt. Model Higher Secondary School, Varkala, Kerala

  • Grade 1 to 4: Govt. Lower Primary Girls School, Varkala, Kerala

    • Honours and Awards

  • Doctoral grant from the Max Planck Society, Germany, for independent research, 2007
  • Advanced Study Program (NCAR, Boulder, USA) - Colloquia grant, 2007
  • Junior Research Fellowship from the Indian Space Research Organization, 2006
  • Research Fellowship from the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, 2005
  • Top student (merit based) prize - M.Sc. Physics (Women's Christian College), 2003

    • Teaching (list of courses)

    @IISER Bhopal
  • EES 308: Oceanography
  • EES 427/631: Greenhouse gas budgets and Climate change
  • EES 102: Introduction to Environmental Sciences
  • EES 201/305: Atmospheric Sciences
  • EES 502: Contemporary Environmental Issues
    • For more information, click here

    @University of Bremen
  • M.Sc. in Environmental Physics: Atmospheric Physics (6 CP course) (Winter 2015)
  • M.Sc. in Environmental Physics: Atmospheric Chemistry (6 CP course) (Summer 2014)
  • Quantum Physics lab (Summer/Winter 2013)

  • MSc. (Physics), M.S University, India
  • MTech. (Ocean Technology), CUSAT, India
  • PhD., Max Planck Institute of Biogeochemistry, Germany