Doctorate Ruby Saha: Researcher at IIT Madras, India

Dr. Ruby Saha is a dedicated Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, with a focus on understanding the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) through the lens of complex network theory. Her research delves into the study of global climate phenomena and their interconnections using advanced statistical physics techniques. By modeling climate systems as complex networks, she investigates how phenomena like ENSO manifest in network topologies and how these structures can be utilized to predict the strength and duration of future climate events. Her work is an interdisciplinary intersection of climatology, physics, and data science, contributing to more accurate climate forecasting and understanding of long-range climate dynamics. Ruby is passionate about environmental sustainability and advancing our knowledge of how global weather systems interact and evolve over time.

Online Profiles

Education

  • Ph.D. in Physics (January 2016 – March 2024)
    Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, India
    Ruby’s doctoral research focuses on studying the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) using complex network analysis. By constructing climate networks based on temperature reanalysis data, she investigates the spatial and temporal correlations within the network, aiming to improve predictions of ENSO events. Her work is crucial for understanding the dynamics of global climate systems and refining long-term climate models.

  • M.Tech. in Earth Science (2013 – 2015)
    Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India
    Her M.Tech. thesis centered on first-principles methods in geochemistry, exploring advanced computational techniques to model the properties of materials at the atomic level. This work laid a solid foundation in applying theoretical models to real-world scientific problems, which later influenced her research in climate science.

  • M.Sc. in Physics (2009 – 2011)
    Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, India
    Ruby’s master’s research involved Many-Body Perturbation Theory, focusing on the hyperfine structures of alkali atoms. This fundamental work deepened her understanding of quantum mechanics and the interactions between particles, which later enriched her approach to studying large-scale systems like climate networks.

  • B.Sc. (Honors) in Physics (2006 – 2009)
    University of North Bengal, Darjeeling, India
    Ruby earned her undergraduate degree with honors in Physics, furthering her interest in mathematical methods and their applications in physical sciences. Her studies also included a minor in Mathematics and Chemistry, broadening her academic perspective and equipping her with diverse scientific knowledge.

Research Focus

Ruby’s research investigates the behavior of climate phenomena, especially the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), by applying complex network theory to large-scale climate data. She constructs networks from temperature reanalysis data, where geographical sites act as nodes, and their correlations form the links. Through this approach, she uncovers patterns of teleconnections that reveal underlying dynamics of ENSO and other climatic phenomena. By studying network topology, such as small-world characteristics, she has been able to forecast the onset and intensity of ENSO events with greater precision. Her work aims to create a better understanding of how climate systems are interconnected and to predict future weather patterns with improved accuracy, which has profound implications for environmental management and disaster preparedness.

Experience

Ruby has been involved in both teaching and research throughout her academic career. As a course instructor, she has taught and mentored students in various laboratory courses at IIT Madras, including PH5210, PH1030, and PH5060, fostering their understanding of advanced physics concepts and experimental methods. Additionally, she has participated in multiple international conferences, such as the AGU Fall Meeting and EGU, where she presented her research findings and engaged with the global scientific community. Her role as a mentor for the AGU Mentoring365 program (2022-2023) further reflects her commitment to nurturing young scientists. She also attended specialized workshops like the ICTP Workshop on Climate Data and Seasonal Forecast Analysis Techniques, expanding her expertise in climate data analysis and predictive modeling.

Research Timeline

  • 2016 – 2024: Ph.D. in Physics, IIT Madras
    Ruby’s doctoral research focuses on the complex network analysis of ENSO and other climate events, with an emphasis on predicting climate behavior based on network topologies.

  • 2014 – 2015: M.Tech. in Earth Science, IISc Bangalore
    Conducted research in geochemistry, focusing on first-principles methods to model material properties at the atomic scale.

  • 2010 – 2011: M.Sc. in Physics, IIT Kharagpur
    Worked on Many-Body Perturbation Theory, specifically examining the hyperfine structures of alkali atoms and gaining a deeper understanding of quantum systems.

  • 2006 – 2009: B.Sc. (Honors) in Physics, University of North Bengal
    Developed a strong foundation in Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry, which laid the groundwork for Ruby’s interdisciplinary approach to complex scientific problems.

Awards & Honors

  • Dynamical Days 2023: Financial Support for conference participation

  • Women Leading IIT M Grants (2021-22): Recognition for outstanding research contributions

  • AGU Students Virtual Travel Grant (2020): Awarded for the AGU Fall Meeting presentation

  • GATE SRF (Ph.D. Fellowship) in Physical Sciences (2018): For exceptional performance in graduate studies

  • CSIR-UGC NET JRF (Ph.D. Fellowship) in Physical Sciences (2010): National-level fellowship for research excellence

  • MCM Award (2011): Recognized by IIT Kharagpur for academic excellence

  • JAM Physics Fellowship (2009): Fellowship for outstanding performance in the Joint Admission Test for M.Sc. in IITs

Top-Noted Publications

Journal Articles

  1. Saha, R., Ghosh, D. (2025). Analysis of pre-El Niño and La Niña events using climate network approach. Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 191, 115781.

  2. Saha, R., Gupte, N. (2023). Signatures of climatic phenomena in climate networks: El Niño and La Niña. Physical Review E, 107(6), 064306.

  3. Sonone, R., Saha, R., Gupte, N. (2020). Signatures of climatic phenomena in climate networks: Cyclones, El Niño and La Niña. Indian Academy of Sciences Conference Series, 3(3).

Conference Presentations and Abstracts

Saha, R. (2023). Prognosis of ENSO episodes: A complex climate network approach. Dynamics Days Europe 2023.

Saha, R. (2022). The role of teleconnections in complex climate network. EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, EGU22-91.

Saha, R., Gupte, N. (2021). Signatures and predictors of the El Niño and La Niña phenomena in climate networks. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, NG52A-05.

Saha, R., Gupte, N. (2020). Signatures of Climatic Phenomena in Climate Networks: El Niño and La Niña events. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, OS015-0015.

Ruby Saha, Physics, Best Researcher Award